Louyang, capital of 6 of the most ancient imperial dynasties ((Zhou, Han, Wei, Jin, Sui, Tang), is now an important centre for the production of agricultural machinery. Under the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, it was the provincial capital and its library was one of the richest in the entire empire.

In the city of Luoyang, there are numerous historical monuments and archaeological sites including: the Monastery of the White Horse, the Buddhist Caves of Longmen and the Temple of Guan Lin. It is also possible to admire the ceramics of the Tang dynasty and the wonderful peonies.

The Baimasi or Temple of the White Horse

This was the first Buddhist temple constructed in China, its name derives from the white horse used by the Buddhist Monk to bring the Indian Sutra to China.

On the inside the “Rooms of the ancestors and celestial custody” have been conserved, as well as a diverse collection of typical Buddhist statues. Throughout history this monastery has been repeatedly destroyed during civil wars, however, many of the monuments have survived. In recent years, following repeated restorations, the Monastery of the White Horse has regained its original appearance.

The Buddhist Caves of Longmen (Dragon’s Gate)

Situated 15 km from the city are a complex of temples dedicated to the cult of the ancestors witn 1352 caves, 750 recesses, 40 pagodas and 97305 statues of Buddha, the smallest only 2 cm and 3508 inscriptions.

The Temple of Guan Lin

It is claimed that General Guan Yu is buried here, Guan Yu lived in the period of the Three Kingdoms and following his death he was venerated as a God of War. The temple, which is preceded by a long avenue adorned with statues of small Lions, is composed of 3 halls. The structure dates back to the Ming and Qing periods.To the side of the temple, there is a collection of sarcophagi and stone statues from many different periods.

The Tang Dynasty Trichromatic Ceramics

The Trichromatic Tang Ceramics, so called because of the three colours in which th

ey appear: red, green and yellow, were used above all in the manufacture of artistic objects. Successively, other colours: blue, black and purple were added. The city of Luoyang was the capital of the Tang Dynasty for over 300 years. The majority of ceramic masterpieces here are extremely well-known internationally for the beauty of their lines and their multi-coloured effects that are notably elegant and sober.

The Peonies of Louyang

The Peonie is a large flower, with a diameter of 20 cm, and there are many different and beautiful varieties. The peonie has been described as the champion flower or the king of flowers and since time imemorial, the peonies of Luoyang have been considered the most beautiful. Du

ring the season when they are in bloom, walking through the streets of Luoyang, it is possible to see vases of flowers everywhere: in front of or behind houses, on windows and balconies, in water or even on the roofs of houses, while the public gardens are transformed into seas of peonies. In 1983 the city council of Luoyang designated the Peonie as the symbol of the city and every year from the 15 to 25 of April, the city celebrates the festival of the peonie.