1. Preparation for a day trip to Luoyang
Essential apps and electronic bus cards
Before embarking on a day trip to Luoyang, it is important to download the "Luoyixing" app in advance. This app can make your bus and subway travel in Luoyang more convenient. Purchase a one-day pass for public transportation and subway, with a ticket price of only 9.9 yuan (activity period from April 1st to May 5th). At the same time, don't forget to get an electronic bus card, such as Alipay Luoyang electronic bus card. At present, Alipay bus code software docking and offline testing are under way. It is planned that mobile payment will be realized on the first three test lines (9, 57, 81) by the end of July, and on all main lines by the end of October. There are also Luoyang Public Transport Electronic Ordinary Card and Electronic Elderly Care Card, jointly developed by the Municipal Public Transport Group and Meituan. Citizens can scan the code to take the bus after receiving the card on the Meituan APP. Electronic ordinary card swiping can enjoy corresponding discounts for taking the bus. The fare for 1 yuan is 0.9 yuan, the fare for 1.5 yuan is 1.4 yuan, and the fare for 2 yuan is 1.8 yuan; The electronic senior citizen card is mainly aimed at elderly people over 70 years old. After receiving the card, they can pay 10 yuan to purchase accidental injury insurance for public transportation, and can take the bus for free, with a monthly limit of 70 times
Booking tickets and carrying certificates
It is very important to book travel dates and purchase tickets in advance on the official account of the scenic spot. Popular attractions in Luoyang often attract a large number of tourists, and making an appointment in advance can avoid unnecessary waiting and disappointment. At the same time, bring valid documents such as ID card, student ID card, tourist annual pass, teacher qualification certificate, etc., because in many scenic spots in Luoyang, such as Longmen Grottoes, elderly people aged 60 and above are free with their resident ID card; Children aged 12 and under or under 1.4 meters in height are free with their resident ID card or household registration book; Tourists holding Luoyang tourist annual passes are free of charge. During specific time periods, Wangcheng Park offers half price tickets for teachers and students, while Luoyang tourist annual tickets can be used normally. These valid documents can bring convenience and discounts to your travel
2. Early Morning Taste Tour
(1) Luoyang's Characteristic Soup Culture
Luoyang, this ancient city, has a rich and diverse characteristic soup culture. Luoyang has a wide variety of soups, such as beef soup, mutton soup, donkey meat soup, miscellaneous liver soup, tofu soup, potpourri soup, Meat-ball soup, bean jelly soup, etc., which has always been said that "if you go to Luoyang without soup, it is useless to go to the gods". Among them, beef soup is one of the representatives of Luoyang soup. Luoyang beef soup is made with spices such as Sichuan pepper, star anise, cinnamon, and grass fruit, with exquisite craftsmanship and unique ingredients. The first beef soup restaurant on Longlin Road is highly regarded, located on the street of drinking soup. In addition to beef soup, there are also various Luoyang specialty soups such as lamb soup, donkey meat soup, tofu soup, etc. Luoyang beef soup is available in different price ranges, with two options: beef and beef offal. The editor suggests buying a 15 yuan mix of beef and beef offal, which can taste two delicious flavors at once. Drink soup early, as morning soup is the most delicious. Luoyang people pay attention to the "three beauties" when drinking soup, namely "lean meat, thin pancakes, and raw soup", all of which are indispensable. In Luoyang, when drinking soup, you can freely add it according to your own needs, and the shop owner will not charge for it. This custom of "adding soup" reflects the ancient way of the ancient capital merchants. Luoyang's lamb soup has also long been renowned, with a history of thousands of years. The selection of materials is exquisite, all made from high-quality and fat goats and precious medicinal herbs. They are slaughtered on the same day, cooked in the same pot, and sold out. There is no mixing of water in the middle, and the original flavor is not added. No artificial synthetic ingredients are added, and the soup is fresh and delicious, without any fishy or gamey taste. Donkey meat soup is also not to be missed. As the saying goes, 'Dragon meat in the sky, donkey meat in the ground'. Donkey meat soup has a fragrant and mellow taste, neither salty nor light nor greasy. The meat is tender, soft and not loose, and has a slight toughness when bitten. Soup houses are scattered throughout the streets and alleys of Luoyang, and the business of each soup house is very prosperous. The storefronts of soup houses are generally not large, and they are popular and accessible to the general public, which may be the main reason why soup in Luoyang can remain popular for a long time
(II) Hanfu Makeup Experience
Hanfu stores can be seen everywhere in Luoyang, and choosing one that you like can start an immersive Hanfu journey. Most Hanfu stores open at 8am in the morning, and it is generally required to return the clothing to the store before 9pm in the evening. Entering the Hanfu store feels like traveling back to ancient times. The store offers a variety of exquisite clothing styles for you to choose from, as well as professional makeup services, allowing you to instantly transform into an ancient beauty or talent. Choose a desired set of Hanfu from different styles such as curved and straight skirts, and dress it with exquisite accessories such as mother of pearl, rouge, green silk like Dai, and red lips like cherry blossoms. After finishing the makeup, you can start a day of Hanfu journey, touch the rich history, appreciate the national color of peonies, and travel through the prosperous times of the Sui and Tang dynasties. Whether in Longmen Grottoes, Wangcheng Park, Luoyi Ancient City, or Yingtianmen, they can all be excellent backgrounds for your photography. Strolling through the streets and alleys of Luoyang in Hanfu, feeling the historical charm and cultural heritage of this ancient city
III. Historical Sites Tour
(1) Artistic Treasures of Longmen Grottoes
Longmen Grottoes is located on Longmen Middle Street in Luolong District, Luoyang City, Henan Province, with convenient transportation. Routes 53, 60, 71, 81, 99, tourist ring roads, and tourist special lines can all be reached. Suggested playtime is 2-3 hours, with a ticket price of 90 yuan per person. Elderly people aged 60 and above are free with their resident ID card; Children aged 12 and under or under 1.4 meters in height are free with their resident ID card or household registration book; Tourists holding Luoyang tourist annual passes are free of charge
Xishan Grottoes are the essence of Longmen Grottoes. Lushena Giant Buddha is magnificent and has a kind face. According to statistics, it is 17.14m high, and is the largest Buddha statue in Longmen Grottoes. The internet celebrity "Scissorhands" Buddha statue has unique features that make people laugh uncontrollably. The Wanfo Cave is engraved with over ten thousand small Buddhas, which have extremely high artistic value. The Medicine Formula Cave preserves many precious ancient prescriptions
In Kanjing Temple, the largest cave in Dongshan Grottoes, there are the most exquisite Arhat group images of the Tang Dynasty, which are lifelike, as if telling an old story
Xiangshan Temple offers a panoramic view of the Longmen Xishan Grottoes and the beautiful scenery of the Yi River, with picturesque views. Standing at Xiangshan Temple, the view is broad and one can take in the magnificent scenery of the entire Longmen Grottoes Wangcheng Park is located at 312 Zhongzhou Middle Road, Xigong District, Luoyang City, Henan Province. Convenient transportation, can be reached by taking bus route 101, subway line 1, etc. From March 25th to March 31st, the ticket price is 30 yuan per person; From April 1st to May 5th, the ticket price is 50 yuan per person The park has seven peony viewing areas: Peony Fairy, Purple Cloud Tianxiang Terrace Aomei Xuanchun, Spring Dawn Shore Danxiang Welcome, and Wangcheng Chunzao Gantangzhou. The characteristic peonies in the park include the "veteran level" peony Luoyang Red, with large flowers and bright colors; Purple spotted peonies have unique characteristics, and the purple spots on the petals add a unique beauty; The 'Mixed Blood' Peony Luo Women's Makeup combines the characteristics of various peonies, creating a beautiful and charming look; Internet famous green peonies and spring willows, with fresh colors, are highly loved by tourists Yingtianmen is located at the southeast corner of the intersection of Dingding South Road and Zhongzhou Middle Road in the old urban area of Luoyang City, Henan Province. It can be reached by taking bus 106 or subway line 1, with an estimated travel time of 1 hour Yingtianmen is the south gate of the Luoyang Palace City during the Sui and Tang dynasties, magnificent and spectacular. Every night at 20:30, the 3D projection show at Yingtianmen North Square is stunning, presenting a cultural and visual feast of the clever collision of history and technology. Amidst the interweaving of light and shadow, it feels as if one has traveled back to the prosperous era of the Sui and Tang dynasties, immersing oneself in the ancient historical atmosphere. Wearing Hanfu here for a photo shoot, any snap is a big time travel through the Sui and Tang dynasties. The brightly lit Ying Tianmen and Tian Tang Mingtang complement each other, forming a beautiful picture Xigong Street is located in the commercial center of Xigong District, Luoyang City, with a history of over a hundred years. It is one of the earliest urban commercial districts in Luoyang. The transportation is very convenient, you can take Metro Line 1 and get off at Zhouwangcheng Square Station Xiaojie Tianfu's braised beef tripe is fresh, tender, and chewy. Paired with a special sauce, it has a rich and mellow taste. The Potsticker on the street are even more unique. The freshly baked Potsticker are shiny and golden, exuding attractive charm. The slightly charred outer skin is wrapped in rich filling, and when bitten down, it is half charred and half tender, with a fragrant aroma. Xigong Restaurant's noodles are made with unique water and paste, with soft and smooth texture. It tastes sour and delicious, with a unique flavor Luoyang Water Banquet is a unique traditional dining method in the Luoyang area. The banquet consists of 24 dishes, including 8 cold dishes, 4 large dishes, 8 medium dishes, and 4 pressed table dishes, with a combination of hot and cold, meat and vegetable, sweet and salty, sour and spicy. Among them, Mudan Yancai is made from cheap and easy to obtain white radish as raw material, but it can make the taste of bird's nest. It is the finale dish in Luoyang Water Banquet and also the most famous dish A one-day trip to Luoyang is undoubtedly an unforgettable historical, cultural, and culinary journey. In this short day, we have experienced the thousand year history of Luoyang, from the artistic treasures of Longmen Grottoes to the peony feast in Wangcheng Park, and to the Sui and Tang Dynasty glory in Yingtianmen. Every attraction seems to be telling an ancient story(II) Peony Feast in Wangcheng Park
(III) The Sui and Tang Dynasties of Yingtianmen
IV. Exploration of Food Culture
(1) Featured Cuisine of Xigong Street
(II) Recommended Other Cuisine in Luoyang
V. Summary and Prospect