Plan at a glance
First choose the correct service area
Longmen Grottoes is at No. 13 Longmen Middle Street, Luolong District, Luoyang. It is a World Cultural Heritage site and a large-scale stone-carving complex. For a first visit, set “龙门石窟西北服务区” as the destination when taking a taxi or ride-hailing car; this is the visitor transfer hub on the northwest side of the scenic area, not an expressway service area. Xishan Grottoes, Fengxian Temple and the Vairocana Buddha all start from here, while Dongshan, Bai Garden and the Northeast Service Area are separate drop-off points.
Tickets and timing
The reference adult ticket price is CNY 90. Tickets can usually be bought through the official mini program or on site; advance online purchase is more reliable on crowded public holidays. Daytime visiting hours are usually 08:00–18:00, with ticket sales ending at 17:30. On dates with night visits, hours are usually extended to 20:00, ticket sales end at 19:30, and the site is cleared at around 21:00. Check the schedule for your travel date.
How much time to allow
Allow about 1.5–2 hours for Xishan Grottoes and Fengxian Temple only; allow about 3–4 hours to complete Xishan, Dongshan and the Manshui Bridge crossing. If you choose a night visit, entering between 16:30 and 17:30 is recommended so you can see Xishan in daylight before following the evening viewing areas open that night.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
View Visit Optionsvia Trip.comChoose your visit
Xishan Grottoes and Fengxian Temple
The main highlights of Longmen Grottoes are concentrated along both banks of the Yi River. There are about 2,345 surviving caves and niches and more than 100,000 statues. Xishan Grottoes should be the priority for first-time visitors. The Vairocana Buddha at Fengxian Temple is 17.14 meters high, and nearby caves include the Three Binyang Caves and the Ten Thousand Buddha Cave. This area suits visitors interested in stone-carving art from the Northern Wei through the Tang dynasty.
View the full panorama from Dongshan
The Worshipping Buddha Platform on Dongshan looks across the river toward Xishan Grottoes, the Yi River and Fengxian Temple. It is a good viewpoint for the overall landscape and night views. The night-visit area changes by date and usually includes only Xishan Grottoes and Xiangshan Temple; the night route does not include Dongshan Grottoes or Bai Garden. Follow the announcement for that evening.
Who this suits
Visitors interested in history, religious art and archaeology can spend more time in the Xishan caves and Fengxian Temple; photography enthusiasts can reach the Worshipping Buddha Platform on Dongshan before sunset and wait for the changing light. When traveling with older adults or children, include shuttle-bus costs and walking distances in the plan instead of making the entire route a walk.
Build your day
1.5–2 hours: Xishan highlights
Enter from the Longmen Grottoes Northwest Visitor Service Area, walk to Xishan Grottoes, see Fengxian Temple and the Vairocana Buddha first, then choose nearby caves according to the time available. If your walking capacity is limited, take the scenic-area shuttle to skip the roughly 15–20-minute walk through the commercial street between the service-area ticket checkpoint and the main entrance. The reference one-way shuttle fare is CNY 10.
3–4 hours: Xishan plus Dongshan
Enter from the Longmen Grottoes Northwest Visitor Service Area and visit Xishan Grottoes in this order: the Three Binyang Caves, the Ten Thousand Buddha Cave and Fengxian Temple. Xishan usually takes 1.5–2 hours. Then cross the Manshui Bridge to Dongshan and walk to the viewpoint for the panorama of Xishan. Take the shuttle back to the Northwest Service Area when leaving; the Dongshan-to-service-area shuttle is also charged per one-way trip.
How to walk the night route
On dates when night visits are open, entering between 16:30 and 17:30 lets you see Xishan in daylight first. Then follow the on-site directions to Xiangshan Temple or the designated viewing areas open that night. The night route does not include Dongshan Grottoes or Bai Garden; the exact opening range remains subject to the evening arrangements.
Get there
Metro, bus and cycling
Take Metro Line 2 to Balitang Station. After exiting from Exit A or C, walk to the “Longmen Avenue–Yiluo Road Intersection” bus stop and transfer to routes 81, 60 or 53, among others. Get off at the “Longmen Grottoes” stop. You can also ride a shared electric scooter from the station to the Northwest Service Area; distance and road conditions depend on the navigation route that day.
Taxi and self-driving
Set “龙门石窟西北服务区” as the destination for a taxi or ride-hailing car; entering “Longmen Grottoes Parking Lot” may send you to a location far from the entrance. On ordinary days, navigate to the parking lot at the Longmen Grottoes Northwest Service Area. On public holidays, the Northwest parking lot can fill quickly. The Northeast Service Area usually has more spaces, but from there you still need to take the CNY 10 shuttle or walk more than 2 kilometers to the entrance.
Know before you go
Luggage, drones and guide services
The visitor center at the Longmen Grottoes Northwest Service Area provides free luggage storage, usually with collection required before 19:30. The self-service lockers beside the nearby McDonald’s are free for the first 6 hours. The Northeast Service Area no longer provides luggage storage. Drones are prohibited inside the scenic area, and visitors should be cautious with guides or escort services that solicit customers outside the scenic area.
Crowds and food
On public holidays, queues may form for parking at the Northwest Service Area, the core caves and the shuttle buses. Use the shuttle first when traveling with older adults or children. Food around the scenic area is usually more expensive than in the city center, so you can return to the city after the visit for Luoyang water banquet, beef soup or mutton-filled flatbread.