National park · China
Longmen National Park龙门国家森林公园
Enter Longmen National Park: pay ¥30 entry (check), take bus 81 from Luoyang (≈50 min) and explore the main cave circuit in spring‑autumn; avoid July‑August heat.
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- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
120 km² (46 sq mi)46 sq mi (120 km²)
approximate
Established
1996
Best months
Mar–May, Oct
UNESCO
World Heritage
Rules in force · 7
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- China ↗Most nationalities need a visa, a unilateral visa-free entry (the list and end dates change) or the transit exemption below. Confirm your route on the official sites before you buy a ticket.
- China ↗Transit stay without a visa: up to 240 hours (10 days) for citizens of about 55 listed countries who pass through China to a third country or region, with a confirmed onward ticket and a stay inside the permitted area (Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei count as one area). It replaced the 144-hour rule in December 2024, which some older pages still quote. Use the transit lane at immigration, show the onward ticket, and check the current nationality list. Hong Kong and Macau count as separate regions; check whether your ticket qualifies.
- China ↗Foreign visitors must register their address with the police within 24 hours; hotels do it at check-in with your passport. Carry the original passport at all times: hotels, trains, museums, Tiananmen Square and police checks ask for it.
- China ↗Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you fly. QR payment is the default in shops, taxis and many stalls, and some places refuse cash or a foreign card. Carry cash as a backup.
- China ↗Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and many news sites are blocked. Use an eSIM with roaming (it routes through your home network) or install and test a VPN before you fly; VPN sites and app stores are hard to reach inside China, and only government-approved VPNs are officially permitted.
At a glance
- Country
- China
- Area
- 120 km² (46 sq mi)46 sq mi (120 km²)
- Approximately 120 km² of forested hills and river valleys (check).
- Established
- 1996
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Luoyang
Longmen National Park in Henan protects the world‑famous Longmen Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage site with thousands of Buddhist stone carvings, plus surrounding forest and river scenery.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO World Heritage · 2000Longmen Grottoes UNESCO site.
Size and age
120 km² (46 sq mi)46 sq mi (120 km²) · national park since 1996
Approximately 120 km² of forested hills and river valleys (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Luoyang.
Why go
- World‑class Buddhist grottoes with thousands of stone carvings.
- Well‑marked cave trails reachable from Luoyang.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunCaution
- JulAvoid
- AugAvoid
- SepCaution
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecGo
- JanCool, open hours shorter.
- FebCool, less crowd.
- MarFull opening hours, mild weather.
- AprPleasant, dry.
- MayWarm, dry.
- JunHeat rises, occasional rain.
- JulHigh heat, possible thunderstorms.
- AugPeak summer heat, rain.
- SepCooling, occasional rain.
- OctCool, dry.
- NovCool, shorter days.
- DecCold, less crowd.
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local bird speciesMar–Sep · Common in forested areas. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Main gate area | Ticket office, visitor centre, start of cave trails. | Open with ticket during opening hours. |
| Cave circuit | Binyang San Dong, Wanfo Dong, Lianhua Dong, Fengxian Xi, Yaofang Dong, Guyang Gong, Shiku Dong. | Guided or self‑guided on marked paths. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
3 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates approximate, based on Luoyang city centre and park signage.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry ticket | CNY 30 (≈ US$5) | person | Check official price; source gives no amount. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Park rules
- Opening hours
- Mar‑Oct 07:30‑19:50; Nov‑Feb 07:30‑18:50.Mar‑Oct 7:30 AM‑7:50 PM; Nov‑Feb 7:30 AM‑6:50 PM.
- Guides
- Not required for main circuit but recommended for extended routes.
- Photography
- Allowed; flash prohibited inside caves.
Where to stay
Near the park
Luoyang Dongshan Hotel
Five‑star hotel on east side of river; rooms from ¥858/night.
Safety
Heat medium
Slippery cave floors low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Main gate area reachable by car and bus; short walks.
Visiting lightly
- Stay on marked trails; do not touch carvings.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Longmen National Park?
The official entry ticket is around ¥30 per adult (check the latest price at the gate).
What are the best hikes in Longmen National Park?
The main cave circuit covering Binyang San Dong, Wanfo Dong, Lianhua Dong and Fengxian Xi is the most popular; it can be done in 3–4 hours.
When is the best time to visit Longmen National Park?
Spring (Mar‑May) and autumn (Oct‑Nov) offer mild weather and full opening hours.
How do I get to Longmen from Luoyang?
Take bus 81 from the east side of Luoyang train station (≈¥1.50, 50 min) or a taxi (≈¥30).
Is a guide required?
A guide is not mandatory for the main circuit but is recommended for longer routes or if you want detailed explanations.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Sources
Ask about Longmen National Park
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