Things to do in Yichuan

The Vairocana Buddha is truly breathtaking. History buffs can hire a guide, but regular tourists can explore on their own (I listened to a 2-hour guided tour but didn't remember much...). In short, seeing the Buddha is worth it. The night view is beautiful, the scenic area isn't large, and the layout is simple and logical—perfect for lazy people! ✌️

The Vairocana Buddha is one of the iconic Buddha statues in the Longmen Grottoes scenic area of ​​Luoyang. Located in Fengxian Temple, it is grand in scale and graceful in appearance. It has a history of more than 1,300 years. It is said that its appearance was sculpted based on the face of Empress Wu Zetian.

The night view of Yingtianmen is beautiful. Walking from Yingtianmen to the platform, you can see the Mingtang and Tiantang (Heavenly Hall) opposite, as if witnessing the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty. There are many places to take traditional Chinese style photos in the Yingtianmen scenic area square; those who want to capture a memorable moment can try it out.

When you visit Luoyang, you should definitely visit Guanlin Forest. There are many other attractions, but only a handful truly deserve the name "Forest." Guanlin Forest boasts thousands of cypress trees, exuding a profound sense of history, planted during the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty and the Kangxi and Qianlong reigns of the Qing Dynasty. There are also some iron lions and stone lions, all from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The main hall dates from the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, while the octagonal pavilion and the Wanshouhou Stele are from the Qing Dynasty. The image of Guan Yu is quite similar to that depicted in the TV series *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*.

The subway was a convenient stop, but when scanning the QR code to enter, the queue got stuck for quite a while, and the staff didn't react at all, just standing there dumbfounded. Why didn't they offer to help and maintain order? It was rather frustrating. The garden is quite large, with a good variety of plants; perhaps we arrived a bit early, it would probably be even better during peak bloom.

On our last morning in Luoyang, we took advantage of some spare time to visit Jiuzhou Pond, which gave us a wonderful surprise! We were lucky enough to catch the first folk music performance of the National Day holiday, which went perfectly with Yaoguang Pavilion!

Luoyang peonies are the best in the world, and April is the best season to see them. The garden is full of peonies of all colors blooming in competition, elegant and luxurious. I was fortunate enough to see the rare varieties, the black peony and the green peony, making the trip worthwhile!

Many tourists write about the beautiful night view of Longfengshan Ancient Town. I stayed here for a night and felt the beauty of the morning. The greatest beauty of the morning is that there are no people. I am the only one wandering around the ancient town and taking beautiful photos. There are also some photos I like.

From Yuntaishan, we boarded a bus bound for Luoyang. The journey was long — more than four hours on the road. We left at 2:30 pm and only arrived close to 7:00 pm, which meant our first day in Luoyang was largely consumed by travel. That evening, drained from the ride, I managed only a brief visit to Yingtianmen, illuminated against the night sky.The following day was devoted entirely to two of Luoyang’s most iconic sites: the Longmen Grottoes and the White Horse Temple. After exploring the temple, we caught bus no. 58 directly to Luoyi Ancient City. By then, the hours of walking through grottoes and temple grounds had left us physically exhausted. Still, the ancient city welcomed us with free admission and a promise of cultural immersion.Dinner was taken at a basement food court along Minzhu Street. By the time we finished, night had fallen, and Luoyi Ancient City had transformed. The streets glittered with lanterns, music pulsed through the air, and the atmosphere was electric. Crowds gathered near the lake to watch 天女散花 — the “Fairy Scattering Flowers” dance performance — though we chose not to linger.Luoyi Ancient City (洛邑古城) remains one of China’s most authentic living historic districts. Here, 3,000 years of dynastic history — from the Zhou to the Ming — can still be felt in its preserved city walls, pagodas, canals, and performances. It is not simply a relic of the past, but a vibrant cultural stage where history and daily life coexist.

The night view is beautiful. There were performances during the National Day holiday, and the overall experience was quite engaging. However, it's a modern imitation of ancient architecture, lacking a sense of history. There were also too many commercial photo shoots, all depicting Wu Zetian's coronation. Traffic outside was heavy, with many people, electric bikes, and tricycles, making it rather chaotic. I wouldn't recommend driving; taking the subway is safer.