Plan at a glance
Confirm the entrance first
White Horse Temple is at No. 6 Luobai Road, Baima Temple Town, Luolong District, Luoyang. It is the first state-run temple built after Buddhism was introduced to China. Because of traffic controls, the West Gate currently serves as both the visitor entrance and exit. When taking a taxi, first navigate to the West Gate of the Museum of the Ruins of the Ancient City of Luoyang of the Han and Wei Dynasties, then take a shuttle or walk to the West Gate of White Horse Temple.
Tickets and opening hours
The reference adult ticket price is CNY 35. Advance booking is usually not required; tickets can be bought on site or through the official mini program. From April to November, the site usually stays open until 18:30. From December to March of the following year, hours are usually 08:00–17:30. Visitors aged 60 or above and children under 1.4 meters may enter free of charge with valid identification under the current policy.
How much time to allow
Allow about 1.5–2 hours for the central axis and the International Buddhist Hall area; allow about 3–4 hours if adding Qingliang Terrace, the Silent Tea House and Qiyun Pagoda Court outside the temple. Qiyun Pagoda Court is a separate courtyard southeast of the temple and requires an additional walk after leaving White Horse Temple; it should not be treated as part of the same in-temple area.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
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Historic buildings on the central axis and the International Buddhist Halls
The main areas at White Horse Temple include the Hall of the Heavenly Kings, the Hall of the Great Buddha, the Mahavira Hall and the International Buddhist Halls. The international area contains Chinese, Indian, Burmese and Thai-style Buddhist halls. The Mahavira Hall preserves 23 Yuan-dynasty lacquer-dry statues, making it suitable for visitors interested in Buddhist art and ancient sculpture.
Qingliang Terrace and Qiyun Pagoda Court
Qingliang Terrace is connected with the history of Buddhist translation. The Silent Tea House is in the bamboo grove west of Qingliang Terrace, where visitors should remain quiet. Qiyun Pagoda Court outside the temple is calmer and suits visitors who want to continue viewing historic buildings away from the crowds in the main temple, but the additional walking time and return route need to be included.
Who this suits
Visitors interested in historic buildings, Buddhist art and photography can focus on the International Buddhist Halls, the central-axis buildings and Qiyun Pagoda. Those seeking a quieter visit can add Qingliang Terrace, the Silent Tea House and Qiyun Pagoda Court to a longer route. When taking photographs in hanfu, avoid areas where worship or guided visits are in progress.
Build your day
1.5–2 hours: Temple highlights
Enter through the West Gate, follow the central axis to the Hall of the Heavenly Kings, the Hall of the Great Buddha and the Mahavira Hall, then continue to the Thai-, Burmese- and Indian-style International Buddhist Halls. Leave through the West Gate after the visit; it currently serves as both entrance and exit.
3–4 hours: Historic buildings and quieter spaces
After entering through the West Gate, follow the central axis first, then continue to Qingliang Terrace and the Silent Tea House before returning to the International Buddhist Halls. After leaving the temple, walk about 10 minutes to Qiyun Pagoda Court outside the temple, then retrace your route or continue to the next stop. Qiyun Pagoda Court is not part of the same ticketed visiting area inside the White Horse Temple West Gate.
Transfer to other attractions
White Horse Temple can be paired with Longmen Grottoes or Luoyang Museum on the same day, but the transfer between them still depends on traffic that day. Confirm on site whether the tourist shuttle to Longmen Grottoes or Luoyang Museum is operating and when it departs.
Get there
Metro and shuttle
Take Metro Line 1 to Yangwan Station. After exiting from Exit A, you can transfer to the “Shendu You” minibus, with a reference fare of CNY 3 and a journey of about 10 minutes. A local small three-wheeled vehicle is another option near the scenic area; the fare and stopping point depend on the arrangements on site that day.
Taxi and bus
For a taxi or ride-hailing car, navigate to the West Gate of the Museum of the Ruins of the Ancient City of Luoyang of the Han and Wei Dynasties, then take the CNY 1 shuttle or walk about 10–15 minutes to the White Horse Temple West Gate. City bus routes 56 and 87, among others, stop at “White Horse Temple”; the full journey may take about 1 hour, so this suits an unhurried itinerary.
Know before you go
Traffic controls and etiquette
Set the West Gate of the Museum of the Ruins of the Ancient City of Luoyang of the Han and Wei Dynasties as the taxi destination. The main gate and scenic-area parking lot of White Horse Temple are farther from the West Gate, so it is especially easy to go to the wrong place during traffic controls. Some areas inside the temple are for worship or quiet visits. Remain quiet in the Silent Tea House, turn off the flash when photographing, and avoid ongoing worship activities.
Food and the return journey
Food along the commercial street at the scenic-area exit can be expensive. A walk of about 10 minutes takes you to the Yingke Fast Food area, which is suitable for a simple meal of beef soup and flatbread. Before leaving, confirm the city-bound bus, shuttle or tourist-line arrangements; temporary taxi options can be more limited in this outlying location than in the city center.