[2025 Luoyang Attraction] Travel Guide for Qiyun Tower (Updated Apr)

When visiting China's oldest temple, the White Horse Temple in Luoyang, the nearby Qiyun Tower is a must-see. Originally part of Qiyun Temple, the tower was first built during the Eastern Han Dynasty and later rebuilt during the Jin Dynasty, giving it a history of over 800 years. It is considered the finest Jin Dynasty architectural relic in the Central Plains region. The tower's design combines the characteristics of Tang-style pagodas, featuring a simple yet majestic structure. Its imposing presence and unique charm can be felt even from afar, making it a stunning highlight within the White Horse Temple scenic area. Tips: Admission to the White Horse Temple includes access to Qiyun Tower. After entering the ticket checkpoint, visitors don't need to head directly to the main entrance of the White Horse Temple. Instead, take a leisurely stroll to the east side of the entrance, pass through a tranquil grove, and you'll find Qiyun Tower nestled among the greenery. Continue walking east along the path, and you'll arrive at the base of the tower. Additionally, Qiyun Tower boasts a unique echo effect—clapping or calling out softly will produce clear echoes, adding a touch of mystery and fun to this ancient structure.

| 3-4 Day In-Depth Itinerary. Recommended Itinerary: Immersive Ancient Capital Experience Day 1: First Glimpse of the Ancient City: Culture and Night Views 1. Luoyi Ancient City Core Area - Wenfeng Pagoda and Historical Relics: Enter the park early in the morning to avoid crowds. Climb Wenfeng Pagoda for a panoramic view of the ancient city, and explore the Four-Eyed Well, Henan Prefecture Confucian Temple, and other historical sites to experience the rich history behind every brick and tile. - Intangible Cultural Heritage Experience: Dress up in Hanfu (RMB 80-150 per person) and take stunning photos at the foot of Wenfeng Pagoda, or try paper-cutting and Tang Sancai crafts (reservations available at the intangible cultural heritage workshops in the park). - Night Tour Must-Sees: After 7:30 pm, the Wenfeng Pagoda 3D light show begins. The singing and dancing by Xintan Lake and the bright lights of the ancient lanes create a stunning backdrop for photos. 2. Lijing Gate and Shizi Street Night Market - Walk 10 minutes to Lijing Gate, climb the city wall for a bird's-eye view of the old streets of Luoyang. In the evening, head to Shizi Street to sample Luoyang Water Banquet (recommended: Peony Swallow's Nest and Lian Tang Rou Pian), Bu Fan Tang, and Shaved Beef Tripe. You can enjoy a filling meal for around RMB 40 per person. Day 2: Classic Luoyang: Buddhist Charm and Grottoes 1. White Horse Temple (China's First Ancient Temple) - Explore the Buddhist halls in Chinese, Indian, Burmese, and Thai styles. Visit the Qingliang Terrace to discover the relics of Emperor Han Mingdi's translation of Buddhist scriptures. The Qiyun Pagoda within the temple is a Jin Dynasty architectural gem (entrance fee: RMB 35). 2. Longmen Grottoes (World Cultural Heritage Site) - In the afternoon, head to Longmen Grottoes. The key attractions are the Lushena Buddha at Fengxian Temple and the Ten Thousand Buddha Cave. Renting an audio guide (RMB 30) or hiring a tour guide is recommended. As evening approaches, the lights of the West Hill Grottoes gradually illuminate the niches, creating a scene resembling a starry sky. Day 3 (Optional): Surrounding Hidden Gems and Natural Wonders - Laojun Mountain Day Trip: A 2-hour drive takes you to the "Holy Land of Taoism." Take a cable car to the Golden Summit, where you'll be greeted by a sea of clouds, creating a fairyland-like scene. The winter snowscape resembles an ink painting. - Sui and Tang Luoyang City Ruins: The Yingtian Gate light show and Mingtang Paradise recreate the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty. Wearing Hanfu for a night tour allows you to capture photos reminiscent of the TV series "Wind from Luoyang." --- Transportation Guide: Seamless Connection Between Ancient and Modern 1. External Transportation - ✈ Airplane: Luoyang Beijiao Airport → 30-minute taxi ride to Luoyi Ancient City; or Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport → 1.5-hour high-speed train to Luoyang Longmen Station. - 🚄 High-Speed Rail: Luoyang Longmen Station → Subway Line 2 to Jiefang Road Station, transfer to Line 1 to Qingniangong Station (Exit A1), and walk 728 meters to the ancient city. 2. City Transportation - 🚇 Subway: Line 1 covers the core attractions (Yingtian Gate, Lijing Gate, etc.). Convenient scan-to-ride service is available. - 🚌 Bus: Routes 3, 9, and D3 go directly to "Xinjie Jiududong Road Intersection Station," a 5-minute walk from the scenic area. - 🚲 Shared Bikes: The streets around the ancient city are narrow, making cycling a more flexible way to explore. Food Map: Culinary Delights of Heluo - Must-Try Snacks: - Luoyang Water Banquet (Zhen Butong Restaurant), Beef Soup (Ma Jieshan Soup Restaurant), Bu Fan Tang (Gao Ji Qingxiang Yuan). - Popular Restaurants: - Nanguan Small Bowl Beef Soup (open 24 hours, perfect with Youxuan Pancake). - Xiaojie Tianfu (Dan Dan Noodles, Sweet and Sour Spicy Potatoes, around RMB 25 per person). --- Luoyi Ancient City is a microcosm of thirteen dynasties, a dreamland where palace lanterns and Hanfu intertwine. Here, you can touch the warmth of thousand-year-old bricks and tiles during the day and immerse yourself in the splendor of "Curse of the Golden Flower" at night. Whether you're a culture enthusiast, a photography lover, or a foodie, this city, with its ancient charm and modern trends, will create a unique and unforgettable journey through time for you.

White Horse Temple is located 12 kilometers east of Luoyang City, Henan Province. It is backed by Mang Mountain in the north and overlooks Luo River in the south. It is known as "the first ancient temple in China", "the source of Buddhism" and "the ancestral temple". It was founded in the 11th year of Yongping in the Eastern Han Dynasty (68 AD) and was the first official temple after Buddhism was introduced into the Central Plains. The White Horse Temple is a rectangular courtyard facing north and south. On the central axis are the Mountain Gate, Hall of Heavenly Kings, Hall of the Great Buddha, Hall of the Great Hero, Hall of Reception and Vairocana Pavilion. In its southwest corner, there is an international Buddhist temple area, which has Buddhist temples in Indian, Burmese and Thai styles. It is the only international temple in the world with Buddhist temples with cultural styles from China, India, Myanmar and Thailand. Stepping into the White Horse Temple is like embarking on a wonderful journey through time, space and culture. Here, there are not only the flying eaves, brackets, carved beams and painted rafters of traditional Chinese Buddhist architecture, which make people feel the exquisite ancient architectural skills and the solemnity of Buddhist culture, but also the solemn and majestic Buddha statues in the temple, each of which seems to be telling the wisdom of Buddhism. The International Buddhist Temple Area is even more stunning. The Thai-style Buddhist temple is magnificent and full of Southeast Asian style; the Burmese-style Buddhist temple has a unique shape, showing a different Buddhist charm; the Indian-style Buddhist temple makes people feel as if they are in the South Asian continent, full of exotic characteristics. In just one day, you can appreciate the Buddhist architectural styles of Shikoku and feel the collision and integration of diverse cultures here. It is a rare experience. The overall environment of the temple is quiet and peaceful, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Strolling through it, listening to the bells and the chanting, your soul seems to be baptized. The following is a summary of the game strategy: 1. Preliminary preparation • Ticket reservation: White Horse Temple has now cancelled offline ticket purchases. Online reservations can be made through the WeChat public account "White Horse Temple". The full ticket is 35 yuan per person. Students, teachers, etc. can enjoy a half-price discount with valid ID. Seniors aged 60 and above are free of charge. • Understand the opening hours: From April 1 to November 30, the opening hours are 07:40-18:40; from December 1 to March 31, the opening hours are 8:00-17:30. 2. Transportation Guide • Public transportation: You can take bus No. 56, 58, 801, 87, etc. and get off at Baima Temple Station. • Subway + shuttle bus: Take Metro Line 1 to Yangwan Station and there is a shuttle bus to White Horse Temple, but after getting off the bus, it is still about one kilometer away from the ticket gate. • Self-driving: Navigate directly to No. 6 Luobai Road, Luolong District, Luoyang City. There is a parking lot near the entrance of the scenic area, charging 10 yuan per time with no time limit. 3. Tour route • Traditional Chinese Temple Area: Enter from the mountain gate, check in and take photos, and visit the bell tower, drum tower, Heavenly King Hall, Great Buddha Hall, Main Hall, Reception Hall, Qingliang Terrace, and Vairocana Pavilion in turn to experience the style and cultural connotation of ancient Chinese Buddhist architecture. • Featured Area: Visit the Zhiyu Tea House and experience tea tasting and resting in a quiet atmosphere. • International Buddhist Temple Area: Visit the Thai Temple, Burmese Temple, and Indian Temple to admire Buddhist architecture in different national styles. • Other attractions: You can visit Di Renjie's Tomb and Qiyun Pagoda. Qiyun Pagoda is the only pagoda for nuns in Henan Province, and has beautiful scenery. 4. Tips for playing • Interpretation options: You can find explanations of the White Horse Temple on platforms such as Himalaya, or you can hire a tour guide at the entrance of the scenic area, the fee is about 40 yuan per hour. • Photography tips: When taking photos inside a temple, avoid using flash, do not take photos directly at Buddha statues, and respect the rules of religious sites. • Dress code: It is recommended to dress appropriately and avoid overly revealing or strange clothes. Please take off your hat and sunglasses before entering the hall.

The Qiyun Tower is about 25 meters high and has 13 floors. The base of the tower is a square waisted Sumeru pedestal with each side about 7.8 meters long and the length and width of the waist are 6.76 meters respectively. The main building material of Qiyun Tower is bricks. The tower is well preserved, with a rigorous structure and a seamless whole. Under the eaves of the first floor, there are imitation wooden structure Pube beams and one-bucket-three-liter arches. Each layer above the first layer is built with multiple layers of small bricks to form the eaves of the tower. The first layer of small bricks on each eaves of the tower are decorated with diamond-shaped teeth. The largest circumference of the tower is at the middle of the tower, that is, at the eaves of the fourth and fifth floors. Starting from the sixth floor, the eaves of the tower are gradually retracted, and the top of the tower is covered with a vase-shaped pagoda. The outer contour of Qiyun Tower is slightly parabolic from bottom to top, with a unique shape and soft and smooth lines. There are steps inside the tower, which can be used to climb up. On the tenth floor, there is a door facing south, commonly known as the "Nantianmen". Go out of this door to the outside of the tower, climb up three more floors, and you will reach the top of the tower. Qiyun Pagoda, located about 200 meters southeast of the mountain gate of White Horse Temple in Luoyang City, was originally called Sakyamuni Relic Pagoda, Jinfang Pagoda, and White Horse Temple Pagoda. It was first built during the Yongping period of the Eastern Han Dynasty and rebuilt in the Jin Dynasty. Qiyun Tower is the earliest existing ancient building on the ground in Luoyang and one of the few remaining Jin Dynasty buildings in the Central Plains. The shape of the tower has the characteristics of dense-eaves pavilion-style towers in the Tang and Song dynasties, and adopts an imitation wood structure approach, providing a rare physical example for studying the architectural characteristics of the Jin Dynasty, especially the structural characteristics of Jin Dynasty brick towers in the Central Plains. Judging from the tower's shape and internal structure, the tower has high historical, scientific and artistic value. In 1961, the State Council announced White Horse Temple and Qiyun Pagoda as national key cultural relics protection sites. The construction of Qiyun Pagoda began in the 12th year of Yongping in the Eastern Han Dynasty (69 AD), which was the second year after the completion of White Horse Temple. Emperor Ming of Han, Liu Zhuang, ordered the construction of Qiyun Pagoda. After the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Qiyun Tower was rebuilt and destroyed several times due to wars. After the Five Dynasties, King Zhuangwu Li (Li Jixun) built a nine-story wooden pagoda. At the end of the Northern Song Dynasty, the wooden pagoda was burned down by a "fire".

#traveldiaries The Qiyun Pagoda, a tiered brick structure, sits approximately 200 meters from the Main Temple of White Horse Temple. Initially constructed in AD 69 during the Eastern Han Dynasty and later rebuilt in AD 1175 during the Jin Dynasty, it holds the distinction of being the first Bhikshuni Ashram in Henan Province, where many nuns continue to study Buddhism today. The pagoda's architectural composition ingeniously combines bricks, wood, and stone, resulting in a distinctive ancient tower. Legend has it that standing 20 meters back from the pagoda and clapping your hands produces an echo resembling the croak of a frog. With fewer visitors compared to the Main Temple, the surroundings of the Qiyun Pagoda offer a tranquil and serene environment for exploration. Adjacent to the pagoda, one can find a pond, bridges, pavilions, and other picturesque features, enhancing the overall ambiance of the area. The grave of famous Duke Di Renjie is also here. #luoyang #chinatrip

The existing temple buildings of the White Horse Temple were all built during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, but the only one that truly embodies a sense of historical weight is the Qiyun Pagoda. It is the sole tangible evidence that can interpret the long history of the White Horse Temple, and it is also the most worthwhile ancient relic to see in the White Horse Temple scenic area. The Qiyun Pagoda is located 200 meters southeast outside the mountain gate of the White Horse Temple, not within the temple itself, but in a courtyard surrounded by walls. Passing through the solemn gatehouse hanging with the plaque 'The First Bhikkhuni Dojo in the Central Plains', one finds the courtyard of the Qiyun Pagoda tranquil, with ancient trees reaching to the sky, green shade covering the sun. In contrast to the bustling White Horse Temple, this place is relatively quiet, with no tour groups and few visitors, yet it is one of the important sights of the White Horse Temple and the most classic that should not be overlooked. The Qiyun Pagoda, the oldest pagoda in China, was originally built in the 12th year of the Yongping era (69 AD) during the Eastern Han Dynasty, originally named 'Sakyamuni Relic Pagoda', as a nine-story wooden pagoda. It was destroyed in wars several times and was rebuilt in the 15th year of the Dading era (1175 AD) of the Jin Dynasty as a 35-meter-high thirteen-level brick pagoda, which stands to this day. It is the earliest existing ancient building on the ground in the ancient capital Luoyang and one of the few remaining Jin Dynasty architectural relics in the Central Plains. The Qiyun Pagoda towers into the clouds with a graceful outline and a strong sense of history. It is said that if you clap your hands forcefully about twenty meters south of the pagoda, a frog-like echo will come from the body of the pagoda, which is quite interesting and definitely worth a try (when there are few people around). Oh, and not far from the Qiyun Pagoda courtyard is the tomb of Di Renjie, a famous prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, who was buried at the White Horse Temple after his death in 870 AD.

❤Reason for recommendation: Walk more than 200 meters east through the stone archway of the White Horse Temple, and you will see the Qi Yun Tower Temple with the plaque 'The First Bhikkhuni Temple in Central Plains'. Qi Yun Tower is an ancient building independent of the White Horse Temple, known as the East White Horse Temple in Luoyang, and it is the only Bhikkhuni temple in Henan. 👍Most recommended: The Qi Yun Tower was built in the 12th year of Yongping in the Eastern Han Dynasty (69 AD). After the Five Dynasties, a nine-level wooden tower was built, which was over 500 feet high and named Qi Yun Tower. In the first year of Jingkang in the Northern Song Dynasty (1126 AD), the wooden tower was burned. 🌟Highlights: In the 15th year of Dading in the Jin Dynasty (1175 AD), a brick tower was rebuilt, named 'Shakyamuni Relic Tower', also known as 'Golden Square Tower' and 'White Horse Temple Tower'. The rebuilt Shakyamuni Relic Tower is a square, stacked and dense eave-style brick tower, with 13 floors and a height of about 25 meters. During the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, the abbot of the White Horse Temple in Luoyang, Ru Xiu, renamed it 'Qi Yun Tower' based on the record of the creation of Qi Yun Tower by Emperor Ming of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Qi Yun Tower is the only early building remaining in the White Horse Temple, and it is one of the earliest famous ancient buildings in Luoyang and one of the few remaining buildings from the Jin Dynasty in the Central Plains region. In order to protect the Qi Yun Tower, the Qi Yun Tower Temple was built in 1990. The Qi Yun Tower Temple faces north and south, and the plan is rectangular. The main buildings in the temple are the Qi Yun Tower, which was rebuilt in the Jin Dynasty, and the newly built dining hall, guest hall, meditation room, etc., all of which are hard mountain style.

Many people tell me that there is nothing interesting about towers, saying that towers are the most boring category among all ancient buildings, even saying that under the tower is either a buried person or a hidden underground palace, and "suppressing" the demons and ghosts in myths and legends... In fact, I am quite persistent about seeing towers, there are many historical ancient towers, and there are not a few famous towers, although like the Yongning Temple Tower of the Northern Wei Dynasty in Luoyang and the Baoen Temple Tower of Zhu Di in Nanjing are all destroyed by fire, but there are still more than 20,000 ancient towers in China... In the past 2023, I was fortunate to see no less than a hundred ancient towers all over the country, as the saying goes, where there is a tower, there is a temple, but in reality, the temple is often gone, but the tower often still stands. 🗼Types of towers 1️⃣By layers: It is said that there are seven levels of pagodas, but in fact, there are 3.5.7.9.13.15.17 and even 37 towers, mainly odd numbers 2️⃣By shape: square, round, hexagonal, octagonal, multi-treasure, five-wheel, attic, secret eaves, tomb tower, Vajra throne tower... various shapes and secularized 3️⃣By texture: wood, brick, stone, jade, gold, silver, copper, iron, glaze, glass, crystal... brick towers and stone towers are more common 4️⃣By style: Lama tower, bowl-shaped tower, niche tower, wild goose tower, house tower, pillar tower... the style of the tower reflects religious beliefs to a certain extent 💁🏻Personal recommendation: ✅Xi'an Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Shaanxi: Combines internet celebrity check-in and ancient buildings ✅Ying County Wooden Tower in Shanxi: The less you see, the less you see ✅Xiuding Temple Tower in Anyang, Henan: The relief tower brick can be exchanged for a set of houses ✅Zhuozhou Twin Towers in Hebei: The product of the military competition between Song and Liao ✅Chongxing Temple Twin Towers in Beizhen, Liaoning: The boutique among Liao towers ✅Four Towers in Zhengding, Hebei: Mr. Liang Sicheng's favorite ✅Qiyun Tower in Luoyang, Henan: The first tower in China ✅Kaiyuan Temple Twin Towers in Quanzhou, Fujian: The ceiling of the height of Chinese stone towers ✅Zhaoguan Stone Tower in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu: The Lama-style street-crossing tower in the south of the Yangtze River ✅Duobao Tower in Putuo Mountain, Zhejiang: Ignored by 99% of people ✅Tal Temple Tathagata Eight Towers in Xining, Qinghai: Eight towers each have deep meaning How many ancient towers do you know Which exquisite ancient towers have you been to⁉️