China (Luoyang, Henan) Sept 2009 D16, D-17 & D-18

Map of Luoyang, Henan, China

I departed Yichang by train (CNY76) at 11.35 and arrived in Luoyang around 20.00. I stayed for 2 nights in Mingyuan Youth Hostel (CNY50) . For the next 2 days, I was the only hostel guest staying in a big room (partitioned into two) with 6 single beds, 2 TVs and a shared private bathroom. I took the opportunity to do some laundry as there was ample space for me to hang my wet clothing inside the big room to dry. Paying CNY50 for a dorm bed but ended up occupying a big room with full facilities of a hotel room ! Not a bad deal at all. The hostel is within walking (10mins) distance from Luoyang railway station. I came to Luoyang to see the Longmen Grottoes & Shaolin Temple.

On my return from the Shaolin Temple, I went to the Bank of China and exchanged some local currency (US$200=CNY1,351.94).

1) Longmen Grottoes, Luoyang, Henan (entrance fee CNY120) - A UNESCO heritage site. Located 13km from Luoyang, you can take a bus from the railway station to Longmen. On arrival, I joined a group of local tourists and entered the Longmen Grottoes via the back door and paid CNY80 to a middleman who showed us an alternative route bypassing the front entrance.

The carvings in Longmen Grottos were made during the Northern Wei dynasty in AD493. Today, there are over 2,300 caves and niches with more than 2,800 inscriptions and over 100,000 Buddhist statutes on both the East and West Hill.

2) The birthplace of Xuan Zhang - This was a side trip on our way to Shaolin Temple. The birthplace of a well respected senior monk, Xuan Chang who travelled from China to India (called the Silk Road trail) during the Tang dynasty. I was attracted by an old tree named by Emperor Wudi as General Cypress. A short description from an erected signboard revealed that the tree is 4,500 year old, 20m high and it's trunk 13m wide. Incredible ! Seeing is believing !

3) Shaolin Temple, Henan (entrance fee CNY110) - I booked a day tour to Shaolin Temple (CNY190 inclusive of a lunch and entrance fee) via my hostel. Shaolin Temple is in Song Shan and it's the most favorite tourist attraction in Dengfeng, Henan Province. Famous for its Shaolin martial art (kungfu), the place was very crowded at the time of our visit. I enjoyed the 30 mins Shaolin martial art performance so book your seat earlier and be on time.

4) White Horse Temple, Henan - Another side trip. The First Buddhist temple in Chinese soil, founded in 1st century AD. Our group did not enter the temple.

" Shaolin martial art; Xuan Chang, the travelling monk; Longmen Grottoes and a 4,500 year old General Cypress tree - Luoyang was the capital of 13 dynasties and today, it's the home to more than 1,300 Buddhist temples !

The Secrets of Life - How happy a man is, is not how much he has but how little he needs "