Henan: Luoyang, Sep 2024

By Beatrice Wong
December 16, 2024
7:30 pm
2 Comments

Luoyang, in the western part of Henan province, is one of the Eight Ancient Capitals of China. Henan, which translates to “south of the river”, was historically known as the Central Plains and is one of the cradles of Chinese civilization. Of the Eight Ancient Capitals of China, four can be found in Henan: Luoyang, Kaifeng, Anyang, and Zhengzhou. Taoism originated here and the first Buddhist temple was established here by the government. Many ancient inventions such as the seismograph, armillary sphere, paper making, printing, and the compass originated here. Luoyang was the capital city of 13 dynasties for a period of over 1,500 years and the eastern starting point of the Silk Road. I stayed at the recently opened Luoyang Marriott Hotel conveniently located next to a large mall.

Luoyang Marriott Hotel

One of the main sights in Luoyang is the Mingtang and Tiantang Scenic Area (明堂天堂景区). The Mingtang 明堂 (Hall of Enlightenment) and Tiantang 天堂 (Heavenly Hall) were reconstructed on their original sites on the city axis of Luoyang city as in the Sui and Tang Dynasties within the Sui and Tang Dynasties Luoyang City National Heritage Park. This was the heart of the Tang Dynasty’s imperial palace complex known as Ziwei City (紫薇城). The Mingtang, shaped like the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, was where Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu Zetian once governed and managed state affairs. The Tiantang, one of the tallest structures in ancient China, was the royal hall where Empress Wu Zetian practiced Buddhism. In the two halls are exhibitions on the history of Luoyang as well as traditional performances. In the evenings, they are all beautifully lit up.

Mingtang and Tiantang Scenic Area (明堂天堂景区)

Tiantang 天堂 (Heavenly Hall)

Tiantang photographed from the imperial gardens of Jiuzhou Pond (九州池）

Jiuzhou Pond (九州池) was the imperial gardens during the Sui and Tang Dynasties

Jiuzhou Pond (九州池）

Not far from Mingtang and Tiantang is Yingtian Gate (应天门) which was first built in 605 during the Sui Dynasty and was the southern gate of the Ziwei Palace in Luoyang City during the Sui and Tang Dynasties. Similar to the Meridien Gate in Beijing today, this gate witnessed the prosperity of the dynasties that chose Luoyang as their capital. It witnessed the greatness of the Sui Dynasty when Emperor Yang Guang entered the capital and Empress Wu Zetian ascending the throne and proclaiming herself emperor. The gate has an iconic concave shape and during the Tang Dynasty one can see the Longmen Grottoes from here.

Yingtian Gate (应天门)

Yingtian Gate (应天门)

Yingtian Gate (应天门)

Luoyang Museum is one of the first national first-class museums in China. There are more than 400,000 pieces of cultural relics here with over 11,000 pieces on display. I came here to admire the ancient relics and instead got distracted by all the ladies dressed in Han costumes. If you have been to China, especially ancient cities like Xian, Tibet, Shenyang, etc, you would have seen many female tourists in their Han costume posing with the sights. But posing in a museum with bad lighting is a first. To be honest, I find them quite scary in this setting.