Luoyang travel guide

Phone:

0379-62314888

• There are no shuttle buses between the airport and the city centre. To get to the airport, take a taxi, or take Bus 27, 83 or 98 from the railway station.

Phone:

0379-62561222

Address:

Diagonally opposite the railway station

Phone:

0379-63239453

Getting there:

Take Bus 28, 33, 49, 71, 75 or 76 and get off at Longmen High-Speed Rail Station

The most distinctive style of Luoyang cuisine. Because the main courses are mostly soups, and dishes are served one after another like flowing water, it is called the 'water banquet' (shuixi). It is a traditional delicacy unique to Luoyang. The flavours are sweet, salty, sour and spicy, each dish has its own taste, the portions are generous and served on large bowls and plates, and both meat and vegetarian dishes are included. The banquet once entered the imperial palace before returning to the people, developing a distinctive regional style. In Luoyang it is the first choice for weddings, funerals and banquets for guests.

White radish cut into fine threads and seasoned with a variety of condiments. Legend has it that the name 'yancai' was chosen by Wu Zetian. It is an indispensable famous dish in Luoyang water banquets, past and present.

Besides traditional breakfast items such as soy milk and youtiao (fried dough sticks), the most distinctive Luoyang breakfast is 'paomo', bread soaked in broth. Unlike Xi'an's lamb paomo, Luoyang's paomo is served in large bowls and eaten until you are full. It may not look elegant, but it is utterly delicious. Among the soups, donkey meat soup, beef soup and tofu soup are especially fine, and are rarely found elsewhere.

The most famous place to eat Luoyang water banquet. From cold dishes to hot dishes to staples, almost everything is 'soupy'. Some people love it, others are not used to it, but the peony yancai is a must-try. The prices are not especially cheap, but it certainly lives up to its reputation as a China Time-Honoured Brand (中华老字号).

Address:

393 Zhongzhou East Road, Old Town District, Luoyang City

Phone:

0379-63995080/63952609

A hotel with a strongly artistic atmosphere. Rooms are clean and spacious, and guests can watch films for free at the cinema next door.

Phone:

0379-65197666

¥

Inside Dongfang Creative Park, 23 Jianshe Road

Named for its shape and production technique, which closely resemble Tang-dynasty sancai (three-colour glazed pottery), this craft has been produced in Luoyang for over a century. It falls into four categories: figures, animals, vessels and architectural decoration. Among the animal pieces, the Tang horse and Tang camel are the most popular. The best-known brand is 'Jiudu', made by the Fine Arts Ceramics Factory, and the finest pieces are sold by the Luoyang Fine Arts Ceramics Industrial Company, located in Qilihe.

Replicas of ancient bronzeware. Luoyang was once the earliest centre of bronze casting in China. The reproductions of varieties such as 'Horse Trampling a Flying Swallow' and 'Rhinoceros', inherited and developed locally in recent years, are now almost indistinguishable from the originals.

A traditional craft originating in the Eastern Han dynasty, with a wide variety of styles and a strong local character. Common types include the white-capped square lantern, red gauze lantern, hexagonal dragon-head lantern, revolving 'horse lantern', Luohan lantern and 'Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl' lantern. The red gauze lantern is the most famous.

One of the Four Great Inkstones, it has a surface as lustrous as fine jade. It holds ink without loss, the ink residue does not spoil, it neither freezes in winter nor dries out in summer, and it is immune to insects when used for calligraphy and painting.

Also known as Ru jade, it comes exclusively from Ruyang County in Luoyang and is distinguished by its natural five-coloured plum-blossom patterns. Luoyang produces Plum Blossom Jade items including tea sets, wine sets and traditional crafts.