Renowned worldwide for the rich cultural and tourism resources, China is home to a diverse landscapes. Among them, Chongqing and Luoyang stand out. The former is the the mountainous city in the West and the later the ancient capital in the central plains. Both of them are must-visit destinations that often featured in popular China tour packages.
The two cities are both lands of unique characteristics. For instance, in Chongqing, you have the distinctive food culture and modern urban vitality. While in Luoyang, you can enjoy the profound historical and cultural heritage as well as Buddhist grottoes. In this article, we will explore what cultural attraction, food experience, and practical travel information the two cities have to offer. Let’s join us and plan an efficient and fulfilling itinerary, in which you can have an in-depth appreciation of the unique charm of each.
Discovering the Cultural Heart of Luoyang
Longmen Grottoes – A Masterpiece of Buddhist Art
Luoyang, a city with a long history and a former capital, has always been favored by poets and scholars. It is also a popular tourist destination. As a World Heritage Site and a 5A-level scenic area, Longmen Grottoes, the first of the Four Great Grottoes in China, currently possess 2,345 existing caves and over 110,000 statues. The Vairocana Buddha in Fengxian Temple is renowned as the “Mona Lisa of the East”, and caves like the Ten Thousand Buddha Cave and Guyang Cave is the embodiment of the royal grotto art from the Northern Wei Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty.
White Horse Temple
Luoyang Baima Temple was first built in the 11th year of Yongping in the Eastern Han Dynasty (68 AD). It is the first official Buddhist temple in China, known as the “Origin of Buddhism and the Ancestral Temple”. It is said that Emperor Ming of Han dreamed of a golden man at night and sent envoys to the West to invite Buddhism. The scriptures were brought by a white horse, hence the name “Baima Temple”.
The Temple is not only a Buddhist temple but also a rich cultural treasure house. You can see various exquisite Buddhist artworks here, including murals, sculptures, and stone carvings. The Baima Temple is also an important base for Buddhist academic research, which has attracted countless scholars.
Luoyi Ancient City
Luoyang Ancient City is renowned for its rich historical and cultural connotations and unique architectural style. Here, you can see protected buildings from different historical periods, such as the magnificent Wenfeng Tower, Henan Prefecture Confucian Temple, Tuoling Palace, Four-Eyed Well, and the ruins of the Jin and Yuan City Wall. These buildings are mainly characterized by the architectural styles of the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing, and Republic of China periods, taking you back to the prosperous times of Luoyang.
Immersing in Chongqing’s Flavor and Energy
Hot Pot Culture
Chongqing hotpot is highly renowned nationwide for its spicy and fresh flavors, and it is a representative of Chongqing’s culinary culture. It originated among the dockworkers along the Yangtze River, who would dip beef, mutton, and offal into boiling chili soup. This later gives rise to the unique hotpot culture. When the bright red pot base is served, the pot is filled with a boiling mixture of chili peppers and Sichuan pepper, giving off an aroma that makes one’s heart race.
Landmarks with a Twist – Mountain Views & Urban Wonder
Chongqing, a renowned 8D magical city, has a popular light rail station, Liziba Light Rail, which unexpectedly became a hit due to its unique feature of passing through a building. It has become a must-visit spot during Chongqing tours. Many people take pictures from a distance or squeeze through the crowds to watch it pass through the building.
Hongyadong, composed of stilt houses and ancient-style commercial buildings, is built along the mountain, with a well-arranged layout. At night, Hongyadong is brightly lit. It looks just like a fairy tale town on a cliff. Therefore, it is thus highly favored by anime fans and artistic youth. Geelyang Park is a green oasis in the city of Chongqing, combining natural landscapes with the memories of old Chongqing. Here, visitors can overlook the entire city and find a moment of tranquility in the bustling city.
Travel Planning Tips
Best Times to Visit
The best time for Luoyang tours is from March to April when the peonies are in full bloom. Wangcheng Park and Luoyang National Peony Garden are popular spots for peony viewing. And Chongqing, located in the southwest of China, has a subtropical monsoon humid climate. It is hot in summer and relatively mild in winter. So it is recommended to travel in autumn and winter when the weather is cool and you can enjoy the steaming hotpot to your heart’s content.
Getting Around
Luoyang can be reached by plane. Luoyang Beijiao Airport is located in the northern suburbs of Luoyang City, on the Mengshan Mountain, 10 kilometers away from the city center. It takes about half an hour to get there. If you take a high-speed rail in the Luoyang Longmen Railway Station, it is close to many scenic spots and has convenient transportation. You can take a bus or taxi to travel between the scenic spots in the city.
Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport is the main aviation hub of Chongqing, 19 kilometers away from the city center. There are direct metro lines 10 and 3 from the airport to the city center, which is convenient and fast. Chongqing has several high-speed railway stations, including Chongqing North Railway Station and Chongqing West Railway Station.
Photo by Zihao Chen on Unsplash
