Luoyang · history museum
Longmen Grottoes Museum (龙门石窟博物馆, Lóng mén Shíkū Bówùguǎn)
The Longmen Grottoes Museum (龙门石窟博物馆) is located at the Longmen Grottoes site, 12km south of Luoyang. The Longmen (龙门, 'Dragon Gate') Grottoes are one of China's four great Buddhist cave temple sites (with Dunhuang Mogao, Yungang, and Tianlongshan), containing over 100,000 Buddhist images and 2,800 inscriptions carved between 493 CE and the Tang Dynasty.
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Quick Answer
Is Longmen Grottoes Museum worth visiting?
The museum documenting the Longmen Grottoes (龙门石窟) — one of China's four great Buddhist cave temple sites with 100,000+ Buddhist images carved between 493 CE and the Tang Dynasty. ¥90.
Quick facts
| Category | history |
|---|---|
| Ticket | ¥90 (adults), ¥45 (students). Includes the main grottoes and the museum. Book via the official website or WeChat. |
| Hours | March-October: 8:00-18:00. November-February: 8:00-17:30. |
| Recommended duration | 2-3 hours including the museum. |
| Best time to visit | Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November). Summer is very hot. |
| How to get there | Bus route 53 or 60 from Luoyang city center (¥5). From Luoyang Railway Station by DiDi: ¥30-40. |
| English signage | partial |
Why visit
The Longmen Grottoes are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contain some of the finest examples of Chinese Buddhist art from the Northern Wei and Tang periods.
Collection highlights
- Fengxian Temple (奉先寺) — the largest Tang Dynasty cave with the famous 17m-tall Buddha figure
- Guyang Cave (古阳洞) — the earliest Northern Wei cave with detailed Buddhist carvings
- Ten Thousand Buddhas corridor — hundreds of small Buddha figures carved into the cliff face
- The museum at the site provides context for the grottoes
Tips
- Visit the Luoyang Museum first for context
- Go early morning to avoid crowds
- Photography prohibited in most caves
- The site is large — wear comfortable shoes
Frequently asked questions
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Walk through 25 reconstructed underground tombs spanning 1,500 years — from Han Dynasty brick chambers to Song Dynasty frescoed vaults — in the world's only museum dedicated to ancient burial architecture.
Luoyang Museum
China's most historically layered city museum — 13 dynasties of capital city archaeology from the "Nine Dynasties" (九朝古都) city, plus the Longmen Grottoes context. Free.