Luoyang Highlights
Luoyang peony has a plantation history of more than 1500 years, it was first planted in Sui Dynasty, flourishing in Tang Dynasty, and known to the world in Song Dynasty. For its rare beauty, the peony is not only the city flower of Luoyang but also Chinas national flower as the symbol of prosperity and nobility, Right now, the magnificent Peony Festival held in Luoyang every April attracts countless domestic and international visitors.
According to textual record, Luoyang is the oldest city of China with a history of more than 4000 years. 13 dynasties had made Luoyang their capitals over a period of 1,529 years since the East Zhou Dynasty first did this in 770 B.C.
As the culture center in ancient china, it attracted many poets and artists for poetic competition and other literature events. Hence, Luoyang gained its name the 'poet city'.
Luoyang was the world's significant cultural city in the ancient China history. 'He Tu Luo Shu', two mysterious maps regarded as the representative of Heluo(Huanghe river and Luoshui river) culture and passed down by Chinese ancestors is the source of Chinese civilization.
Many Chinese ancient myths related with Chinese ancestors such as Fuxi, Nu Wa, the Yellow Emperor, Tang Yao, Yushun, Xia Yu were originated in Luoyang.
Luoyang water banquet is a well-known cuisine in China with its 1,000 years history. The 24 courses of dishes are noted for their various soups with sour and spicy flavors. The different dishes are served continuously like the flow of water, hence it got the name 'Water Banquet'.
The Longmen Grottoes is one of China's three famous stone carving art treasures. The grottoes were carved since China's Northern Wei dynasty about 1400 years. For its high culture and the finest art value, the Longmen Grottoes was listed as the World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
The White Horse monastery(Bai Ma Si) is the first officially-run Buddhist monastery set up after Buddhism was introduced into China, often called the 'Source' or the' Ancestral Court' of China's Buddhism.
The Mangshan Mountain in the north of Luoyang was considered the best burial place according to the research of Fengshui. The China's largest ancient royal tomb compound of different dynasties since the East Zhou lies in this mountain.
Shaolin Temple, located at Songshan Mountain about 40 kilometer southeast to Luoyang is known throughout the world for its martial arts and the site of the Zen sect of Chinese Buddhism. Enjoy the martial art wonders at Shaolin temple will be another way for visitors to better understand China.