Where to stay in Luoyang: old city or Longmen station

Most travellers should stay in the old city, in the block between Lijing Gate, Luoyi Ancient City and Yingtian Gate. Pick the Longmen station belt only if you arrive late, leave early, or want the grottoes before the tour buses.

Luoyang runs nearly 30 km east to west along the Luo River, so a hotel that looks central on a booking map can be 14 km from the Longmen Grottoes. Two metro lines, both opened in 2021, settle most of the decision. Line 1 crosses the old city east–west and meets Line 2, which runs north–south, at Jiefang Road. Fares are ¥2 to ¥5 by distance; trains run from 6:30 until about 22:30.

Four bases compared

Area	Best for	To the grottoes	Room rates
Old city — Lijing Gate, Luoyi Ancient City, Yingtian Gate	Evening walks, hanfu rental, night food streets	Line 1 to Jiefang Road, Line 2 to Bali Tang, then bus 81, 53 or 60; about 14 km / 25 min by taxi	¥150–300 guesthouses and chains; ¥300–550 courtyard conversions
Xigong — Jiefang Road, Wangcheng Park	Cheapest practical base, both lines, Luoyang Railway Station	Direct on Line 2 to Bali Tang, then bus	¥150–280 budget; ¥300–500 mid-range
Luolong — Wenboyuan, Kaiyuan Lake	Newer rooms, Luoyang Museum, parking	Roughly 6–10 km by taxi	Chains under ¥200; ¥300–550 mid-range
Longmen station belt	One-night transit stays, early high-speed departures	About 6 km / 15 min by taxi	Business chains

No metro station is named after the grottoes. The nearest is Bali Tang, the southern end of Line 2, where you change to bus 81, 53 or 60 for the last few stops. Entry is ¥90 and covers West Hill, East Hill, Xiangshan Temple and Bai Garden; students and teachers pay half with ID.

Which one to pick

First visit, two or three nights: old city. The metro ride is longer, but dinner, the illuminated Yingtian Gate and the costume shops on Minzhu Street are on foot, which is why most people come. For a single night between trains, the station belt wins — no charm, six kilometres from the caves. Luolong suits anyone pairing the grottoes with the Luoyang Museum, which has its own stop at Wenboyuan.

Book ahead in peony season

Luoyang's peonies peak between mid-April and early May. Old-city rooms sell out weeks ahead and rates climb; if you are not here for the flowers, shift your dates. In ordinary weeks two to three weeks' notice is enough. Small guesthouses do overbook, so ring the property after booking rather than relying on the confirmation email.

Rates for the same courtyard room differ by platform, so check more than one before you commit.

Or compare the main booking sites side by side in one search.

Last checked: 2026-11-04