Luoyang ( zh, s=洛阳, t=洛陽, p=Luòyáng) is a city located in the confluence area of the
Luo River and the
Yellow River
The Yellow River, also known as Huanghe, is the second-longest river in China and the List of rivers by length, sixth-longest river system on Earth, with an estimated length of and a Drainage basin, watershed of . Beginning in the Bayan H ...
in the west of
Henan province, China. Governed as a
prefecture-level city
A prefecture-level city () or prefectural city is an administrative division of the China, People's Republic of China (PRC), ranking below a province of China, province and above a Counties of the People's Republic of China, county in China's ...
, it borders the provincial capital of
Zhengzhou
Zhengzhou is the capital of Henan, China. Located in northern Henan, it is one of the nine National central city, national central cities in China, and serves as the political, economic, technological, and educational center of the province. Th ...
to the east,
Pingdingshan to the southeast,
Nanyang to the south,
Sanmenxia to the west,
Jiyuan to the north, and
Jiaozuo to the northeast. As of December 31, 2018, Luoyang had a population of 6,888,500 inhabitants with 2,751,400 people living in the built-up (or metro) area made of the city's five out of six urban districts (except the
Jili District not continuously urbanized) and
Yanshi District, now being conurbated.
By the end of 2022, Luoyang Municipality had jurisdiction over 7 municipal districts, 7 counties and 1 development zone. The permanent population is 7.079 million.
Situated on the
central plain of China, Luoyang is among the
oldest cities in China and one of the
cradles of Chinese civilization. It is the earliest of the
Four Great Ancient Capitals of China.
Etymology
The name "Luoyang" originates from the city's location on the north or sunny (
"yang") side of the
Luo River. Since the river flows from west to east and the sun is to the south of the river, the sun always shines on the north side of the river. Luoyang has had several names over the centuries, including Luoyi () and Luozhou (), but Luoyang has been its primary name. It has also been called Dongdu ( zh, labels=no, t=東都 , l=eastern capital) during the
Tang dynasty
The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, c=唐朝), or the Tang Empire, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907, with an Wu Zhou, interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed ...
, Xijing ( zh, labels=no, c=西京 , l=western capital) during the
Song dynasty
The Song dynasty ( ) was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 960 to 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song, who usurped the throne of the Later Zhou dynasty and went on to conquer the rest of the Fiv ...
, or Jingluo ( zh, c=京洛, l=capital Luo). During the rule of
Wu Zetian, the only
female emperor in Chinese history, the city was known as Shendu ( zh, labels=no, c=神都, l=divine capital). Luoyang was renamed Henanfu () during the
Qing dynasty
The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing, was a Manchu-led Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China and an early modern empire in East Asia. The last imperial dynasty in Chinese history, the Qing dynasty was preceded by the ...
but regained its former name in 1912.
History
Classical era
Several cities – all of which are generally referred to as "Luoyang" – have been built in this area. In 2070 BC, the
Xia dynasty
The Xia dynasty (; ) is the first dynasty in traditional Chinese historiography. According to tradition, it was established by the legendary figure Yu the Great, after Emperor Shun, Shun, the last of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, Fiv ...
king
Tai Kang moved the Xia capital to the intersection of the Luo and Yi and named the city
Zhenxun (). In 1600 BC,
Tang of Shang defeated
Jie, the final Xia dynasty king, and built Western Bo, (), a new capital on the Luo River. The ruins of Western Bo are located in Luoyang Prefecture.
In 1036 BC a settlement named Chengzhou () was constructed by the
Duke of Zhou for the remnants of the captured
Shang nobility. The Duke also moved the
Nine Tripod Cauldrons to
Chengzhou from the
Zhou dynasty capital at
Haojing. A second Western Zhou capital,
Wangcheng (also: Luoyi) was built west of Chengzhou. Wangcheng became the capital of the
Eastern Zhou dynasty in 771 BC. The Eastern Zhou dynasty capital was moved to Chengzhou in 510 BC. Later, the
Eastern Han dynasty capital of Luoyang would be built over Chengzhou. Modern Luoyang is built over the ruins of Wangcheng, which are still visible today at Wangcheng Park.
Qin Shi Huang's chief minister, Lu Buwei, was given Luoyang. Lu began programs to develop and beautify Luoyang. It is said that
Liu Bang visited Luoyang and considered making it his capital but was persuaded to reconsider by his ministers to turn to
Chang'an
Chang'an (; zh, t=長安, s=长安, p=Cháng'ān, first=t) is the traditional name of the city now named Xi'an and was the capital of several Chinese dynasties, ranging from 202 BCE to 907 CE. The site has been inhabited since Neolithic time ...
instead for his capital.
Han dynasty

In 25 AD, Luoyang was declared the capital of the Eastern Han dynasty on November 27 by
Emperor Guangwu of Han.
The city walls formed a rectangle 4 km south to north and 2.5 km west to east, with the Gu River, a tributary of the
Luo River just outside the northern eastern walls. The rectangular Southern Palace and the Northern Palace were 3 km apart and connected by The Covered Way. In 26 AD, the Altar of the Gods of the Soils and Grains, the Altar of Heaven, and the Temple of the eminent Founder,
Emperor Gao of Former Han were inaugurated. The Imperial University was restored in 29 AD. In 48 AD, the Yang Canal linked the capital to the Luo. In 56 AD, the main imperial observatory, the Spiritual Terrace, was constructed.
For several centuries, Luoyang was the focal point of China. In AD 68, the
White Horse Temple, the first
Buddhist
Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...
temple in China, was founded in Luoyang. The temple still exists, though the architecture is of later origin, mainly from the 16th century.
An Shigao was one of the first monks to popularize
Buddhism
Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...
in Luoyang.
The diplomat
Ban Chao restored the
Silk Road during the Eastern Han dynasty, thus making Luoyang the eastern terminus of the Silk Road during the Han dynasty.
In 166 AD, the first
Roman mission, sent by "the king of Da Qin
he Roman Empire Andun" (
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, r. 161–180 AD), reached Luoyang after arriving by sea in
Rinan Commandery in what is now central
Vietnam
Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV), is a country at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of about and a population of over 100 million, making it the world's List of countries and depende ...
.
The late 2nd century saw China decline into
anarchy:
The decline was accelerated by the rebellion of the Yellow Turbans, who, although defeated by the Imperial troops in 184 AD, weakened the state to the point where there was a continuing series of rebellions degenerating into civil war, culminating in the burning of the Han capital of Luoyang on 24 September 189 AD. This was followed by a state of continual unrest and wars in China until a modicum of stability returned in the 220s, but with the establishment of three separate kingdoms, rather than a unified empire.
Wei and Jin dynasties
On April 4, 190 AD, Chancellor
Dong Zhuo ordered his soldiers to ransack, pillage, and raze the city as he retreated from
the coalition set up against him by regional lords all over China. The court was subsequently moved to the more defensible western city of
Chang'an
Chang'an (; zh, t=長安, s=长安, p=Cháng'ān, first=t) is the traditional name of the city now named Xi'an and was the capital of several Chinese dynasties, ranging from 202 BCE to 907 CE. The site has been inhabited since Neolithic time ...
(modern Xi'an). Following a period of disorder, during which warlord
Cao Cao
Cao Cao (; ; ; 15 March 220), courtesy name Mengde, was a Chinese statesman, warlord, and poet who rose to power during the end of the Han dynasty (), ultimately taking effective control of the Han central government. He laid the foundation f ...
held the last Han emperor
Xian in
Xuchang
Xuchang ( zh, s=, t= ; postal: Hsuchang) is a prefecture-level city in central Henan province in Central China. It is bordered by the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the northwest, Kaifeng to the northeast, Zhoukou to the east, Luohe ...
(196–220), Luoyang was restored to prominence when his son Cao Pi,
Emperor Wen of the
Wei dynasty, declared it his capital in 220 AD. The
Jin dynasty, successor to Wei, was also established in Luoyang. At the height of Jin rule, Luoyang had a population of 600,000 and was probably the second largest city in the world after
Rome
Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...
.
At the start of the 4th century, Luoyang was subjected to repeated attacks during the
War of the Eight Princes
The War of the Eight Princes, Rebellion of the Eight Kings, or Rebellion of the Eight Princes ( zh, t=八王之亂, s=八王之乱, p=bā wáng zhī luàn, w=pa wang chih luan) was a series of coups and civil wars among kings/princes (Chinese: '' ...
and
Upheaval of the Five Barbarians under the Jin. In 311 AD, rebel forces of the
Xiongnu
The Xiongnu (, ) were a tribal confederation of Nomad, nomadic peoples who, according to ancient Chinese historiography, Chinese sources, inhabited the eastern Eurasian Steppe from the 3rd century BC to the late 1st century AD. Modu Chanyu, t ...
-led
Han-Zhao dynasty sacked and razed the city in an event known as the
Disaster of Yongjia.
For the next two centuries, Luoyang would cease as a major population hub, but remained a hotly contested region among various states to come.
It was the site of a
pivotal battle in 328 between the Han-Zhao and
Later Zhao dynasties which established the latter as a hegemonic power in the north. The city changed hands several times throughout the
Sixteen Kingdoms period, as it was also controlled by the
Former Yan,
Former Qin
Qin, known as the Former Qin and Fu Qin (苻秦) in historiography, was a Dynasties of China, dynastic state of China ruled by the Fu (Pu) clan of the Di (Five Barbarians), Di peoples during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. Founded in the wake of ...
and
Later Qin dynasties. The Jin dynasty, which had relocated south of the
Yangtze river after the upheaval, was even able to recover the city on a few occasions.
Northern Wei

In winter 416, during
Liu Yu's northern expedition against the Later Qin, Luoyang fell to the Jin general
Tan Daoji. In 422, the city was captured by
Xianbei
The Xianbei (; ) were an ancient nomadic people that once resided in the eastern Eurasian steppes in what is today Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Northeastern China. The Xianbei were likely not of a single ethnicity, but rather a multiling ...
-led
Northern Wei dynasty. The
Liu Song dynasty, which succeeded the Jin, briefly recovered the city in 430, but by the 460s, Luoyang was definitively under Wei control. In 493 AD, as part of his
sinicization campaign,
Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei moved the capital from
Datong to Luoyang, moving over 150,000 people to the site by 495,
and started the construction of the
rock-cut Longmen Grottoes. More than 30,000
Buddhist
Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...
statues from the time of this dynasty have been found in the caves. Many of these sculptures were two-faced. At the same time, the
Shaolin Temple was also built by the Emperor to accommodate an Indian monk on the
Mount Song right next to Luoyang City. The
Yongning Temple (), the tallest pagoda in China, was also built in Luoyang. The city reached a population of 600,000 at its height during the Northern Wei.
The city was destroyed by the warlord
Gao Huan, who captured the city and forced its population to move to his capital at
Ye in 534. The old city was the site of numerous battles between
Western Wei (and its successor
Northern Zhou) and
Eastern Wei (and its successor
Northern Qi) between 538 and 575.
Sui and Tang dynasties
When
Emperor Yang of Sui took control in 604 AD he founded the new Luoyang on the site of the existing city using a layout inspired by his father
Emperor Wen of Sui's work in newly rebuilt Chang'an.

During the
Tang dynasty
The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, c=唐朝), or the Tang Empire, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907, with an Wu Zhou, interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed ...
, Luoyang was Dongdu (), the "Eastern Capital", and at its height had a population of around one million, second only to Chang'an, which, at the time, was the largest city in the world.
During an interval in the Tang dynasty, the first and the only empress in Chinese history –
Empress Wu, moved the capital of her Zhou dynasty to Luoyang and named it as Shen Du (Capital of the God). She constructed the tallest palace in Chinese history, which is now in the site of Sui Tang Luoyang city. Luoyang was heavily damaged during the
An Lushan Rebellion.
Epitaphs were found dating from the Tang dynasty of a Christian couple in Luoyang of a Nestorian Christian Sogdian woman, Lady An (安氏), who died in 821, and her Nestorian Christian Han Chinese husband, Hua Xian (花献), who died in 827. These Han Chinese Christian men may have married Sogdian Christian women because of a lack of Han Chinese women belonging to the Christian religion, limiting their choice of spouses among the same ethnicity. Another epitaph in Luoyang of a Nestorian Christian Sogdian woman also surnamed An was discovered and she was put in her tomb by her military officer son on 22 January, 815. This Sogdian woman's husband was surnamed He (和) and he was a Han Chinese man and the family was indicated to be multiethnic on the epitaph pillar. In Luoyang, the mixed raced sons of Nestorian Christian Sogdian women and Han Chinese men has many career paths available for them. Neither their mixed ethnicity nor their faith were barriers and they were able to become civil officials, a military officers and openly celebrated their Christian religion and support Christian monasteries. Central Asians like Sogdians were called "Hu" (胡) by the Chinese during the Tang dynasty. Central Asian "Hu" women were stereotyped as barmaids or dancers by Han in China. Occasionally, "Hu" women would be involved in prostitution as the "Hu" women in China were at times in occupations that doubled as illicit services.

During the short
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, Luoyang was the capital of the
Later Liang (only for a few years before the court moved to
Kaifeng) and
Later Tang dynasty.
Later history
During the North
Song dynasty
The Song dynasty ( ) was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 960 to 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song, who usurped the throne of the Later Zhou dynasty and went on to conquer the rest of the Fiv ...
, Luoyang was the 'Western Capital' and birthplace of Zhao Kuangyin, the founder of the Song dynasty. It served as a prominent cultural center, housing some of the most important philosophers. This prosperity was mainly caused by Luoyang undergoing new developments and reconstruction during this period.
During the
Jurchen Jin dynasty, Luoyang was the "Middle Capital".
Since the
Yuan dynasty
The Yuan dynasty ( ; zh, c=元朝, p=Yuáncháo), officially the Great Yuan (; Mongolian language, Mongolian: , , literally 'Great Yuan State'), was a Mongol-led imperial dynasty of China and a successor state to the Mongol Empire after Div ...
, Luoyang was no longer the capital of China in the rest of the ancient dynasties. During the Yuan and
Ming dynasties, Luoyang was razed and rebuilt twice. Its walls were destroyed by peasant rebels in the late Ming period. The city walls were then rebuilt during the
Qing dynasty
The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing, was a Manchu-led Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China and an early modern empire in East Asia. The last imperial dynasty in Chinese history, the Qing dynasty was preceded by the ...
.
The population was reduced to that of an average county. However, for one last time, Luoyang city was the capital of the
Republic of China
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...
for a brief period of time during the Japanese invasion. By 1949, Luoyang's population was 75,000.
People's Republic of China
After the People's Republic of China was established, Luoyang was revived as a major heavy industrial hub. In the
first five-year plan of China, 7 of 156 Soviet-aided major industrial programmes were launched in Luoyang's
Jianxi District, including Dongfanghong Tractor Factory, Luoyang Mining Machines Factory and Luoyang Bearing Factory. Later, during the
Third Front construction, a group of heavy industry factories was moved to or founded in Luoyang, including Luoyang Glass Factory. Industrial development significantly shifted Luoyang's demographic makeup, and about half of Luoyang's population are new immigrants after 1949 from outside the province or their descendants.
UNESCO World Heritage Site
*
Longmen Grottoes, added to the
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...
World Heritage List
World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural heritag ...
in 2000
*
The Grand Canal – Huiluo Barn, Hanjia Barn, added to the
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...
World Heritage List
World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural heritag ...
in 2014
*
Silk Roads – Han Wei Luoyang City Site, Dingding Gate Site of Sui Tang Luoyang City, Xin'an
Hangu Guan Site, added to the
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...
World Heritage List
World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural heritag ...
in 2014
Ancient city sites
*
Erlitou Site (
Zhenxun) of
Xia dynasty
The Xia dynasty (; ) is the first dynasty in traditional Chinese historiography. According to tradition, it was established by the legendary figure Yu the Great, after Emperor Shun, Shun, the last of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, Fiv ...
* Yanshi Shang City Site (Xibo) of
Shang dynasty
The Shang dynasty (), also known as the Yin dynasty (), was a Chinese royal dynasty that ruled in the Yellow River valley during the second millennium BC, traditionally succeeding the Xia dynasty and followed by the Western Zhou d ...
* Wangcheng Site of
Eastern Zhou dynasty
* Luoyang City Site of
Han and
Wei dynasty
* Luoyang City Site of
Sui and
Tang dynasty
The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, c=唐朝), or the Tang Empire, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907, with an Wu Zhou, interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed ...
Administrative divisions

The
prefecture-level city
A prefecture-level city () or prefectural city is an administrative division of the China, People's Republic of China (PRC), ranking below a province of China, province and above a Counties of the People's Republic of China, county in China's ...
of Luoyang administers 7
districts and 7
counties:
*Districts
**
Jianxi District
**
Xigong District
**
Laocheng District
**
Chanhe Hui District
**
Luolong District
**
Yanshi District
**
Mengjin District
*Defunct District
**
Jili District, now part of
Mengjin District
*Counties
**
Xin'an County
**
Luoning County
**
Yiyang County
**
Yichuan County
**
Song County
**
Luanchuan County
**
Ruyang County
During the
2010 census, the 5 "built-up" urban districts held a population of 1,857,003, making it the fourth-largest city in
Henan. The entire area of Luoyang's municipal government held 6,549,941 inhabitants total.
2021 administrative reorganization
With the 2017 designation of Zhengzhou as a National Central City, Henan Province in 2020 proposed a new development plan for Zhengzhou Metropolitan Area, which called for the development of Luoyang as a sub-central city. As part of this development, authorities decided to expand the urban area of Luoyang. This not only facilitated planning and coordinated use of resources and infrastructure in Luoyang, but also allowed for better integration towards Zhengzhou, as Yanshi, Jili and Mengjin previously separated the Luoyang urban area from Zhengzhou.
On 28 March 2021, the central government approved a major administrative reorganization of Luoyang city.
Yanshi City was reorganized into an urban district (Yanshi District), while
Jili District and
Mengjin County were merged into Mengjin District. This reorganization effectively doubled the urban area of Luoyang.
Geography
As
its name states, the Old Town of Luoyang is located on the north bank of the
Luo, a southern tributary of the middle reaches of the
Yellow River
The Yellow River, also known as Huanghe, is the second-longest river in China and the List of rivers by length, sixth-longest river system on Earth, with an estimated length of and a Drainage basin, watershed of . Beginning in the Bayan H ...
. The districts of the modern urban center include both banks and some of the surrounding mountains.
The countryside controlled by the municipal government includes still more rugged land: mountains comprise 45.51% of the total area; hills, 40.73%; and plains, 13.8%.
Climate
Luoyang has a highly continental dry-winter
humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a subtropical -temperate climate type, characterized by long and hot summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between ...
(
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
: ''Cwa''). Extremes since 1951 have ranged from (unofficial record of ) was on January 17, 1936) to .
Culture
;Sites
The
Longmen Grottoes south of the city were listed on the
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...
list of
World Heritage Sites in November 2000. Guanlina series of temples built in honor of
Guan Yu, a hero of the
Three Kingdoms periodis nearby. The
White Horse Temple is located east of the modern town.
The
Luoyang Museum (established 1958) features ancient relics dating back to the
Xia,
Shang, and
Zhou dynasties. The total number of exhibits on display is 1,700. China's only tomb museum, the
Luoyang Ancient Tombs Museum, opened to the public in 1987 and is situated north of the modern town.
The
Gaocheng Astronomical Observatory (also known as the Dengfeng Observatory or the Tower of Chou Kong) stands south-east of Luoyang. It was constructed in 1276 during the
Yuan dynasty
The Yuan dynasty ( ; zh, c=元朝, p=Yuáncháo), officially the Great Yuan (; Mongolian language, Mongolian: , , literally 'Great Yuan State'), was a Mongol-led imperial dynasty of China and a successor state to the Mongol Empire after Div ...
by
Guo Shoujing as a giant
gnomon for "the measurement of the sun's shadow". Prior to the
Jesuit China Missions, it was used for establishing the
summer and
winter solstice
The winter solstice, or hibernal solstice, occurs when either of Earth's geographical pole, poles reaches its maximum axial tilt, tilt away from the Sun. This happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere (Northern Hemisphere, Northern and So ...
s in traditional
Chinese astronomy
Astronomy in China has a long history stretching from the Shang dynasty, being refined over a period of more than 3,000 years. The Ancient China, ancient Chinese people have identified stars from 1300 BCE, as Chinese star names later categori ...
.
Luoyang is the foundation of Confucianism, the birth of Taoism, the first transmission of Buddhism, the formation of metaphysics, and the origin of neo-Confucianism. All kinds of cultural thoughts are integrated and symbiosis here, and the
compass,
paper making and
printing among the
four great inventions of ancient China were born here. Luoyang is also the cultural root and ancestral lineage of the global Chinese, more than 100 million Hakka ancestral home in the world, 70% of China's clan name originated here, Heluo culture represented by "Hetu Luoshu" is the ancestral source of Chinese civilization.
;Cuisine
Water Banquet, which is one of the famous banquets passed on for generations in the history of Chinese cuisine, consists of 8 cold and 16 warm dishes all cooked in various broths, gravies, or juices. The water here has two meanings: one is that all the hot dishes have soup-tang soup water; the other is that each dish is served after another smoothly just like flowing water. It comprises a wide selection of ingredients, simple and versatile, diverse tastes, sour, spicy, sweet and salty, comfortable and delicious.
;Botany
Luoyang is also celebrated for the cultivation of
peonies, its city flower. Since 1983, each mid-April the city hosts the Peony Culture Festival of Luoyang. More than 19 million tourists visited Luoyang during the 2014 festival.
;Music
"Spring in Luoyang" ( zh, labels=no, s= , p=Luòyáng Chūn), an ancient Chinese composition, became popular in
Korea
Korea is a peninsular region in East Asia consisting of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and smaller islands. Since the end of World War II in 1945, it has been politically Division of Korea, divided at or near the 38th parallel north, 3 ...
during the
Goryeo dynasty
Goryeo (; ) was a Korean state founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korea, Korean Peninsula until the establishment of Joseon in 1392. Goryeo achieved what has b ...
(918–1392) and is still performed in its ''
dangak'' (Koreanized) version ''Nakyangchun'' ().
Lou Harrison, an American composer, has also created an arrangement of the work.
;Dialect
Residents of Luoyang typically speak a dialect of
Zhongyuan Mandarin. Although Luoyang's dialect was a
prestige dialect of
spoken Chinese from the
Warring States period
The Warring States period in history of China, Chinese history (221 BC) comprises the final two and a half centuries of the Zhou dynasty (256 BC), which were characterized by frequent warfare, bureaucratic and military reforms, and ...
of the
Zhou until the
Ming dynasty
The Ming dynasty, officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming was the last imperial dynasty of ...
, it differs from the
Beijing form of
Mandarin which became the basis of the
standard modern dialect.
;Outer space
Asteroid (239200) 2006 MD13 is named after Luoyang.
Education
*
Luoyang Institute of Science and Technology
*
Henan University of Science and Technology
*Luoyang Normal University
*PLA Foreign Language Institute, formerly known as the Luoyang PLA College of Foreign Languages
Transportation
The city can be reached by highways, trains or planes. Long-distance buses are also an option although they generally tend to take longer. High-speed rail is the most common way to get into the city from either
Xi'an
Xi'an is the list of capitals in China, capital of the Chinese province of Shaanxi. A sub-provincial city on the Guanzhong plain, the city is the third-most populous city in Western China after Chongqing and Chengdu, as well as the most populou ...
or
Zhengzhou
Zhengzhou is the capital of Henan, China. Located in northern Henan, it is one of the nine National central city, national central cities in China, and serves as the political, economic, technological, and educational center of the province. Th ...
.
Luoyang has a bus system of around 30+ lines.
Taxis are also a common sight in the city.
Subway
Line 1 of Luoyang Subway opened 28 March 2021.
Line 2 opened on 26 December 2021.
Rail
;Conventional speed
The main station for conventional rail services is
Luoyang railway station on the
Longhai railway.
Guanlin railway station on the
Jiaozuo–Liuzhou railway has a far less frequent service, only seeing north–south trains or vice versa that don't stop at Luoyang railway station.
;High-speed
Luoyang Longmen railway station sees high-speed services on the
Zhengzhou–Xi'an high-speed railway.
Road
*
G30 Lianyungang–Khorgas Expressway
*
G36 Nanjing–Luoyang Expressway
*
G55 Erenhot–Guangzhou Expressway
*
China National Highway 207
*
China National Highway 310
Air
Luoyang is served by
Luoyang Beijiao Airport.
Twin towns and sister cities
Luoyang is
twinned with:
*
La Crosse, Wisconsin, United States
*
Okayama, Okayama, Japan
Notable people
*
An Chonghui, chief advisor to Li Siyuan (Emperor Mingzong) of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period state Later Tang
*
An Jincang, Tang dynasty court official
*
An Lushan, military general and rebel leader during the Tang dynasty
*
An Shigao, early Buddhist missionary to China
*
Bahram VII, son of
Yazdegerd III, the last
Shahanshah of the
Sasanian Empire
The Sasanian Empire (), officially Eranshahr ( , "Empire of the Iranian peoples, Iranians"), was an List of monarchs of Iran, Iranian empire that was founded and ruled by the House of Sasan from 224 to 651. Enduring for over four centuries, th ...
*
Bai Juyi, musician, poet, and politician during the Tang dynasty
*
Ban Chao, diplomat, explorer, and military general of the Eastern Han dynasty
*
Bao Shanju, cyclist
*
Chen Dong,
astronaut
An astronaut (from the Ancient Greek (), meaning 'star', and (), meaning 'sailor') is a person trained, equipped, and deployed by a List of human spaceflight programs, human spaceflight program to serve as a commander or crew member of a spa ...
of
Shenzhou 11 and
Shenzhou 14
*
Chen Qichang, communist politician
*
Cao Cao
Cao Cao (; ; ; 15 March 220), courtesy name Mengde, was a Chinese statesman, warlord, and poet who rose to power during the end of the Han dynasty (), ultimately taking effective control of the Han central government. He laid the foundation f ...
, statesman, warlord, and poet during the Han dynasty
*
Cao Pi
Cao Pi () (late 187 – 29 June 226), courtesy name Zihuan, was the first emperor of the state of Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms period of China. He was the second son of Cao Cao, a warlord who lived in the late Eastern Han dynasty, but the ...
, first emperor of the state of Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms period
*
Cao Que, official of the Tang dynasty
*
Cao Rui, second emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period
*
Cao Shuang, military general and regent of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period
*
Chen Yixing, historian, military general, and politician during the Tang dynasty
*
Chen Yuyi, poet and politician of the Song dynasty
*
Cheng Hao, philosopher and politician
*
Cheng Lin, singer
*
Cheng Yi, philosopher and politician of the Song Dynasty
*
Deng Yu, statesman and military commander of the early Eastern Han dynasty
*
Di Renjie, politician of the Tang and Wu Zhou dynasties
*
Dong Zhuo, military general, politician, and warlord in the late Eastern Han dynasty
*
Dou Zhengu, historian and politician
*
Du Wei, footballer
*
Dugu Xin, general and official during the Northern and Southern dynasties period
*
Fu Yanqing, military general, monarch, and politician of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period
*
Gao Hong,
pipa player
*
Gao Xingzhou, military general, monarch, and politician
*
Guo Zhenqian, politician and banker
*
Guo Zhongshu, painter, scholar, calligrapher and philologist during the Five Dynasties period and Song dynasty
*
Emperor An of Han, emperor of the Han dynasty
*
Emperor Guangwu of Han, emperor of the Han dynasty
*
Emperor He of Han, emperor of the Han dynasty
*
Emperor Shang of Han, infant emperor of the Han dynasty
*
Han Chao, footballer
*
He Bin, footballer
*
He Jin, military general and politician of the late Eastern Han dynasty
*
He Lei, lieutenant general of the People's Liberation Army
*
Guiguzi,
geomancer and numerologist
*
Ji Bingxuan, politician
*
Ji Xu, politician during Wu Zetian's Zhou dynasty
*
Jia Boyan, footballer
*
Jia Su, official of the Tang dynasty
*
Jia Yi, poet and politician of the Western Han dynasty
*
Jiang Shen, official of the Tang dynasty
*
Emperor Huai of Jin, emperor of the Jin Dynasty
*
Emperor Yuan of Jin, emperor of the Jin dynasty
*
Aowen Jin, British artist and social commentator
*
Jing Yanguang, general and official of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period
*
Princess Lanling, consort of the Rouran khagan
Yujiulü Anluochen
*
Laozi, legendary founder of
Taoism
Taoism or Daoism (, ) is a diverse philosophical and religious tradition indigenous to China, emphasizing harmony with the Tao ( zh, p=dào, w=tao4). With a range of meaning in Chinese philosophy, translations of Tao include 'way', 'road', ' ...
*
Li Binzhu, Chinese-Austrian judge and politician
*
Li Chongmei, imperial prince of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period
*
Li Conghou, emperor of the Later Tang dynasty
*
Li Congrong, son of
Li Siyuan, the second emperor of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period
*
Li Congyi, imperial prince of the Later Tang dynasty
*
Li Cunxu, Emperor Zhuangzong of Tang, founding emperor of the Later Tang dynasty
*
Li He, poet of the mid-Tang dynasty
*
Li Hengde, nuclear physicist and materials scientist
*
Li Jue, military general and politician during the Tang dynasty
*
Li Longji, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
*
Li Mian, judge, military general, musician, poet, and politician during the Tang dynasty
*
Li Qiaoming, general of the Chinese People's Liberation Army
*
Li Shen, historian, military general, poet, and politician of the Tang dynasty
*
Li Song, official of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period
*
Li Xian, Emperor Zhongzong of Tang, fourth and seventh emperor of the Tang dynasty
*
Li Shizhi, poet and politician during the Tang dynasty
*
Li Yu, Emperor Daizong of Tang, emperor of the Chinese Tang dynasty
*
Li Xiang, journalist
*
Li Zhaonan, footballer
*
Li Zhun, novelist
*
Liang Ji, military general and politician
*
Liangqing, Buddhist monk and abbot of Famen Temple
*
George Lindbeck, American Lutheran theologian
*
Linghu Chu, official of the Tang dynasty
*
Liu Bian, 13th emperor of Eastern Han dynasty
*
Liu Zhangqing, poet and politician during the Tang dynasty
*
Liu Cong, emperor of the Han-Zhao dynasty
*
Liu Fangping, Tang dynasty poet
*
Liu Faqing, lieutenant general of the People's Liberation Army
*
Liu Jingyan, empress of the Chen dynasty
*
Liu Qing, crown prince of the Han dynasty
*
Liu Shan, second and last emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period
*
Liu Xie, Emperor Xian of Han
*
Liu Yan, economist and politician during the Tang dynasty
*
Liu Yang, Emperor Ming of Han
*
Liu Yonghong, cinematographer
*
Liu Yuan, Emperor Guangwen of Han (Zhao), founding emperor of the Xiongnu-led Han-Zhao dynasty
*
Liu Yuxi, poet
*
Liu Zhuan, official of the Tang dynasty
*
Lu Feng, footballer
*
Lu Ji, military general, politician, and writer during the late Three Kingdoms period and Jin dynasty
*
Lu Zhuguo, screenwriter and writer
*
Ma Chongchong, footballer
*
Man Chong, military general and politician of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period
*
Men Yang, footballer
*
Meng Guang, official and scholar of the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period
*
Meng Jiao, poet during the Tang dynasty
*
Meng Meiqi, singer, dancer (
WJSN and
Rocket Girls 101)
*
Ouyang Xiu, historian, calligrapher, epigrapher, essayist, poet, and politician of the Song dynasty
*
Pan Yue, poet in the Western Jin dynasty
*
Pang Xi, official during the Eastern Han dynasty
*
Qi Kang, historian and politician of the Tang Dynasty
*
Qiao Wei, footballer
*
Qiao Xuan
Qiao Xuan (110 – 6 June 184), courtesy name Gongzu, was an influential official during the Eastern Han dynasty of China.
Born in a scholarly family, he began his career as a local county officer and eventually gained fame for his sense of ...
, official during the Eastern Han dynasty
*
Sang Hongyang, politician of the Han dynasty
*
Sang Weihan, historian, military general, poet, and politician of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period
*
Shi Yue, professional Go player
*
Sima Guang, historian, politician, and writer in the Song dynasty
*
Sima Wei, imperial prince during Jin Dynasty
*
Sima Yi, military general, politician, and regent of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period
*
Sima Ying, imperial prince during Jin dynasty
*
Sima Yue, imperial prince and regent for Emperor Hui and Emperor Huai
*
Sima Zhao, military general, politician, and regent of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period
*
Empress Song, empress consort of the Song dynasty
*
Song Wo, military officer and general who served the Later Jin, Later Han, Later Zhou, and Song dynasties
*
Sun Bu'er, one of the Taoist Seven Masters of Quanzhen
*
Sun Ru, military general, rebel and politician during the Tang dynasty
*
Sun Shengwu, translator and editor
*
Taishi Ci, military general during the late Eastern Han dynasty
*
Emperor Taizu of Song, founder of the Song dynasty
*
Touzi Yiqing, Zen Buddhist monk during the early Song Dynasty
*
Consort Dowager Wang, noble consort to
Li Siyuan
*
Wang Duo, calligrapher, painter, and poet in Ming dynasty
*
Wang Fei, beach volleyballer
*
Wang Hao, footballer
*
Wang Haoran, footballer
*
Wang Hesheng, composer
*
Wang Huimin, politician
*
Wang Jianan, footballer
*
Wang Jianwu, military officer
*
Wang Kai, politician
*
Wang Luoyong, actor
*
Wang Shanshan, footballer
*
Wang Shufeng, politician
*
Wang Yanqiu, general of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period states
*
Wang Yibo, actor, singer
*
Wang Yun, politician during the late Eastern Han dynasty
*
Wu Yuanheng, poet and politician during the Tang dynasty
*
Wu Zetian, Empress of China from 660 to 705
*
Xi Zheng, poet and politician during the late Three Kingdoms period
*
Xiao Zhi, footballer
*
Xiu Xiu, pentathlete
*
Nora Xu, model and beauty pageant titleholder
*
Emperor Xuanwu of Northern Wei, emperor of the Northern Wei dynasty
*
Xuanzang
Xuanzang (; ; 6 April 6025 February 664), born Chen Hui or Chen Yi (), also known by his Sanskrit Dharma name Mokṣadeva, was a 7th-century Chinese Bhikkhu, Buddhist monk, scholar, traveller, and translator. He is known for the epoch-making ...
, Buddhist monk and hero of the ''
Journey to the West''
*
Yang Jian, imperial prince of the Sui dynasty
*
Yang Jian, Emperor Wen of Sui, founding emperor of the Sui dynasty
*
Yan Lianke, writer
*
Emperor Yang of Sui, second emperor of the Sui dynasty
*
Yang Kuo, footballer
*
Yang Yilin, footballer
*
Yang Yiyang, sport shooter
*
Yang Zhao, crown prince of the Chinese Sui dynasty
*
Yao Shouzhong, poet
*
Yao Sui, poet
*
Ye Chun, Chinese-American writer and literary translator
*
Yu Hai, footballer
*
Yu Zhigang, politician
*
Yuan An, politician during the Han dynasty
*
Yuan Baoju, Emperor Wen of Western Wei
*
Yuan Shao
Yuan Shao (, ; died 28 June 202), courtesy name Benchu (), was a Chinese military general, politician, and warlord who lived in the late Eastern Han dynasty. He occupied the northern territories of China during the civil wars that occurred tow ...
, military general, politician, and warlord in the late Eastern Han dynasty
*
Yuan Ziyou, Emperor Xiaozhuang of Northern Wei
*
Yuan Xu, Emperor Xiaoming of Northern Wei
*
Yuquan Shenxiu, Chan master
*
Zang Ba, military general during the late Eastern Han dynasty and Three Kingdoms period of China
*
Zhang Ce, official of the Tang dynasty
*
Zhang Heng, polymathic scientist and statesman during the Han dynasty
*
Zhang Li, footballer
*
Louxin Zhang, Canadian computational biologist
*
Zhang Quanyi, Tang dynasty warlord
*
Zhang Siqing, politician and magistrate
*
Zhang Yanshang, politician serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Dezong
*
Zhang Yue, historian, military general, poet, and politician
*
Zhangsun Sheng, statesman, diplomat and general who served Sui dynasty
*
Zhangsun Shunde, general and officer in the early Tang dynasty
*
Zhangsun Wuji, chancellor in the early Tang dynasty
*
Zhang Xiaopei, politician
*
Zhao Kuangyin, Emperor Taizu of Song, founding emperor of the Song dynasty
*
Zhao Wenfu, politician
*
Zhao Yin, official of the Tang dynasty
*
Zheng Xunyu, judge and politician during the Tang dynasty
*
Zheng Yuqing, politician during the Tang dynasty
*
Zhong Hui, calligrapher, essayist, military general, and politician of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China
*
Zhou Chi, official of the Tang dynasty
*
Zhou Heyang, professional Go player
*
Zhu Changxun, third son of the Ming dynasty Wanli Emperor.
*
Zhu Shouyin, military general and politician of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period
*
Zhuge Dan, military general and politician of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China
*
Zu Yong, poet of the High Tang period
*
Daughter of Emperor Xiaoming of Northern Wei, emperor of the Northern Wei dynasty
See also
*
Historical capitals of China
*
Sino-Roman Relations
*
Silk Road transmission of Buddhism
*
Roman Catholic Diocese of Luoyang
*
Joraku
References
Further reading
* Abramson, Marc. ''Ethnic Identity in Tang China''. University of Pennsylvania Press (Philadelphia), 2008. .
* Cotterell, Arthur. ''The Imperial Capitals of China: An Inside View of the Celestial Empire''. Pimlico (London), 2008. .
* Hill, John E. ''Through the Jade Gate to Rome: A Study of the Silk Routes during the Later Han Dynasty, 1st to 2nd Centuries CE''. BookSurge (
Charleston), 2009. .
* Jenner, W. J. ''Memories of Loyang''. Clarendon Press (Oxford), 1981.
* Yang Hsüan-chih. ''Lo-yang ch'ien-lan chi'', translated by Wang Yi-t'ung as ''A Record of Buddhist Monasteries in Lo-yang.'' Princeton University Press (
Princeton), 1984. .
External links
Official websiteof the Luoyang Municipal Government
*
at China.org
{{Authority control
Ancient Chinese capitals
National forest cities in China
12th-century BC establishments
2nd-millennium BC establishments in China
Prefecture-level divisions of Henan
Holy cities
National Civilized City
National Famous Historical and Cultural City