Luoyang Longmen Station at a Glance
Luoyang Longmen Railway Station (洛阳龙门站, Luòyáng Lóngmén Zhàn) is the high-speed rail gateway to the Longmen Grottoes — one of China’s four great Buddhist cave complexes and a UNESCO World Heritage site. If you’re visiting Luoyang’s star attraction, this is the station you’ll use. Here’s everything you need to know, from someone who’s been through it.
- Chinese name: 洛阳龙门站 (Luòyáng Lóngmén Zhàn)
- Location: Tongqu Road, Luolong District, Luoyang City, Henan Province (河南省洛阳市洛龙区通衢路)
- Opened: February 6, 2010
- Platforms: 3 platforms, 7 tracks
- Lines served: Xuzhou–Lanzhou HSR (徐兰高铁) — part of the main east-west HSR corridor
- Metro: Line 2 — station directly under the terminal
- Distance to Longmen Grottoes: ~5 km (10 min by taxi)
Important: Luoyang has two railway stations. Luoyang Longmen (洛阳龙门) handles G and D high-speed trains only. Luoyang Railway Station (洛阳站) is the old city-center station for conventional K/T/Z trains. Check your ticket: “洛阳龙门” = this station, “洛阳” = the old station. They’re about 15 km apart — getting it wrong means a 40-minute scramble.
High-Speed Rail Routes from Luoyang Longmen
Luoyang sits on the Xuzhou–Lanzhou HSR, the main east-west artery across central China. Connections are excellent in both directions.
| Destination | Travel Time | 2nd / 1st Class (¥) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zhengzhou | 25 min – 1h 15min | 46.5 / 74 | 50+ daily |
| Xi’an North | 1h 15min – 1h 50min | 174.5 / 279.5 | 30+ daily |
| Beijing West | 3h – 4h 20min | 368 / 589 | 15+ daily |
| Wuhan | 2h 20min – 3h 45min | 276 / 441 | 10+ daily |
| Shanghai Hongqiao | 4h 30min – 7h | 489 / 779.5 | 8+ daily |
| Chengdu East | 4h 30min – 6h | 437.5 / 700 | 6+ daily |
| Guangzhou South | 5h 45min – 8h 15min | 630.5 / 1,008.5 | 4+ daily |
| Hong Kong West Kowloon | ~9h | 910.5 / 1,457.5 | 1 daily (G828, new Jan 2025) |
Getting to Longmen Grottoes (龙门石窟)
The Longmen Grottoes are why most people stop at this station — and they couldn’t be closer. At just ~5 km away, you can be standing in front of the 17-meter Vairocana Buddha within 15 minutes of stepping off the train. Here are your options:
Option 1: Taxi / DiDi (Fastest — ~10 min, ¥10-20)
The simplest option. Taxi rank is on the 1st floor. DiDi works well — use the official queue or the app.
Option 2: Metro Line 2 + Bus (Budget — ~30-40 min, ¥5-7)
Take Metro Line 2 one stop south to Balitang Station (八里堂站), then:
- Exit C: Catch a local bus to the grottoes scenic area
- Exit A: Grab an electric shared bike — short 10-min ride to the Big Stone Gate entrance
- Or taxi from here: ~10 min, cheaper than from the train station
Option 3: Public Bus (Cheapest — ~40-50 min, ¥1)
Buses 67, 71, and 53 run from near the station to the grottoes. Bus 67 is the most direct: Longmen High-Speed Rail Station → East Gate of the grottoes. ¥1 fare. Slow but dirt cheap.
Quick Comparison
| Option | Time | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxi / DiDi | ~10 min | ¥10-20 | Speed, luggage, arriving before noon |
| Metro + Bus/Bike | ~30-40 min | ¥5-7 | Budget, no rush |
| Bus 67/71/53 | ~40-50 min | ¥1 | Cheapest |
Longmen Grottoes: What You Need to Know
- Ticket: ¥90 (adult), ¥45 (student). Free for seniors 60+ and children under 1.2m. Must book online in advance via the “龙门石窟” WeChat mini-program — no on-site ticket sales. Booking opens 7 days ahead at 00:10.
- Hours: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Mar–Oct to 9:00 PM with night lighting). Last entry ~1 hour before close.
- Plan 3-4 hours: The site is huge — 2,300+ caves, 110,000 statues along a 1 km cliff face.
- Luggage storage: Free luggage deposit at the grottoes visitor center — no need to carry bags. The station also has a left-luggage counter (¥5 for up to 3 hours, ¥10 for 3-24h, closes 7:00 PM).
- Night visit tip: Enter around 4:00-5:00 PM in summer to see both daylight detail and the illuminated caves at dusk. The “Light Up Longmen” night tour was suspended from Nov 2025 — check for 2026 updates.
Book Longmen Grottoes tickets on Trip.com
Luoyang Metro Guide
Luoyang opened its metro in March 2021 — the first non-provincial-capital city in central/western China to have a subway. It’s clean, modern, inexpensive, and surprisingly useful for tourists. Two lines cover the city’s key areas, and Luoyang Longmen Station has its own metro stop directly underneath the terminal.
Check official website: www.lysubway.com.cn/index.html
Metro Basics
- Lines: 2 lines (Line 1 east-west, Line 2 north-south), 34 stations, 43.6 km total
- Hours: 6:30 AM – 10:30 PM
- Fare: ¥2-5 (¥2 for first 6 km, capped at ¥5 for the longest ride)
- Payment: Alipay or WeChat Pay QR code at the gate — no physical ticket needed. Just scan and go.
- Transfer station: Jiefang Road (解放路站) — the only interchange, where Line 1 and Line 2 cross
- Free 10-minute rule: Since March 2025, if you enter and exit the same station within 10 minutes (e.g., you went to the wrong platform), it’s free.
Line 2 (Green) — The One You’ll Use Most
Line 2 is the north-south line that connects both railway stations and the Longmen Grottoes area. Relevant stops for travelers:
| Station | What’s Here |
|---|---|
| Luoyang Railway Station (洛阳火车站) | Conventional trains (K/T/Z), Luoyang Bus Station |
| Jiefang Road (解放路) | Transfer to Line 1 — switch here for Old Town, Luoyi Ancient City, Yingtianmen |
| Wenbo Park (文博园) | Luoyang Museum (free, excellent — great for understanding the city’s 13-dynasty history) |
| Sports Center (体育中心) | Luoyang Sports Center, peony garden nearby (spring only) |
| Longmen High-Speed Rail Station (龙门高铁站) | This station — Luoyang Longmen HSR station. Exit directly into the metro. |
| Balitang (八里堂) | Southern terminus — transfer point for buses to Longmen Grottoes. “Grotto art” themed station. |
Line 1 (Red) — Old Town & Cultural Sights
Line 1 runs east-west through the heart of Luoyang. If you’re sightseeing, these are the stops that matter:
| Station | What’s Here |
|---|---|
| Wangcheng Park (王城公园) | Luoyang’s most famous peony garden — ground zero during the April Peony Festival |
| Jiefang Road (解放路) | Transfer to Line 2 |
| Zhou Wangcheng Square (周王城广场) | Zhou Dynasty museum vibes, central shopping area |
| Yingtianmen (应天门) | Yingtian Gate — restored Sui-Tang imperial gate. Night light show at 8:00-8:30 PM. Mingtang-Tiantang scenic area nearby. |
| Lijingmen (丽景门) | Old City West Gate — entry to Luoyang Old Street (洛阳老街) and the snack quarter |
| Luoyi Ancient City (洛邑古城) | Reconstructed ancient city quarter. Best visited after 6:30 PM when lanterns light up. Hanfu photo central — rentals everywhere. |
| Jiamaying (夹马营) | Cross Street Night Market (十字街) — Luoyang’s best food street. Exit B. |
Key Metro Routes for Tourists
| From | To | Route | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luoyang Longmen Station | Longmen Grottoes | Line 2 → Balitang (1 stop) + bus/bike | ~30 min | ¥2 + bus ¥1 |
| Luoyang Longmen Station | Old Town / Luoyi Ancient City | Line 2 → Jiefang Road → Line 1 → Luoyi Ancient City or Jiamaying | ~35-40 min | ¥4-5 |
| Luoyang Longmen Station | Yingtianmen / Mingtang | Line 2 → Jiefang Road → Line 1 → Yingtianmen | ~30 min | ¥4-5 |
| Luoyang Longmen Station | Luoyang Museum | Line 2 → Wenbo Park (3 stops) | ~10 min | ¥2-3 |
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Option 2: China Highlights is a reliable online agency for China train ticketing. They get positive reviews on TripAdvisor & Trustpilot. Sharon and her team help you buy tickets & plan rail routes even deliver tickets to your hotels with a service fee.
