Luoyang: A journey through China's ancient heartland

Luoyang is one of the places where China's history feels especially concentrated. Located in western Henan Province, it was a political, religious and cultural center for long stretches of China's past.

Its name reflects its geography: 洛 refers to the Luo river, while 阳 traditionally denotes the northern side of a river. Luoyang therefore means "north of the Luo." Situated in the Yellow River basin, the city lies in one of the heartlands of early Chinese civilization.

Known as the ancient capital of 13 dynasties, Luoyang's heritage spans successive cities built across the surrounding region. Official accounts trace its cultural roots back more than 5,000 years and its urban history roughly 4,000 years.

Today, more than 100 museums and memorial halls across Luoyang offer visitors a window into that past through their collections, exhibitions and cultural programs.

Its outstanding attraction is the Longmen Grottoes, where thousands of Buddhist sculptures fill caves and niches carved into limestone cliffs on both sides of the Yi River. Inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2000, the complex preserves some of the finest examples of Chinese Buddhist sculpture.