Henan: Grottoes, Temples and Mountain Landscapes

The Longmen Grottoes lie on both banks of the Yi River, south of Luoyang. They stretch along a section of steep limestone cliffs more than a kilometre long. The site is marked by nearly 110,000 Buddhist stone statues, more than 60 stupas and 2,800 inscriptions carved into steles. For travellers interested in Buddhist art, the river setting, rocky landscape and cultural heritage come together in an impressive way. The figures give an idea of the variety of surviving works, while the location on both banks of the Yi River defines the geographical setting.

Yin Xu lies on both banks of the Huanhe, northwest of Anyang. It is considered the first capital site in Chinese history to be confirmed by historical documents, oracle bone inscriptions and archaeological excavations. Written records and archaeological finds are both central here. The palace and ancestral shrine area of Yin Xu contains a garden museum and a museum exhibition hall. Check their current availability before your visit.

Temples and Historic Sites

Henan’s temple history also spans very different eras. Ciyun Temple in Gongyi was founded in 64 CE during the Eastern Han dynasty. It became one of China’s earliest Zen temples and received the title “Patriarchal Court of the Source of Buddhism.” Shaolin Temple, meanwhile, was founded in 495 CE on the western foothills of Mount Song, northwest of Dengfeng. It is considered the birthplace of Chan Buddhism and the cradle of kung fu. To the west of the temple lies the Pagoda Forest: covering more than 14,000 square metres, it is China’s largest group of pagodas in terms of both size and number of structures.

In Gongyi, the Song Mausoleums and the Kang Baiwan Mansion add further historical highlights. The mausoleums include the tombs of seven emperors of the Northern Song dynasty, as well as 1,027 surviving above-ground stone sculptures. They are among China’s two best-preserved imperial mausoleum complexes and are known as an “open-air museum of stone sculpture.” The Kang Baiwan Mansion spans the Ming, Qing and Republican periods. Its more than 3,000 historical objects include steles, plaques, antiques, furniture and calligraphy. The two sites are therefore quite distinct: one features imperial tombs and stone sculptures, while the other showcases objects from several historical periods.

The Millennium City Park in Kaifeng is a large park dedicated to the history and culture of the Song dynasty (960–1279). Its design is based on the famous painting “Along the River During the Qingming Festival.” Luoyang Museum has a different focus and is known for its extensive collection of sancai-glazed ceramics. Visitors interested in historical art can explore contrasting themes: a park designed around a famous painting and a museum collection of distinctive ceramics.

Mountain Landscapes and Infrastructure History

Yuntai Mountain features gorges of various shapes and several waterfalls of different sizes. Its main peak, Zhuyu Peak, reaches an elevation of 1,297.6 metres. This brings different aspects of the landscape together: the shapes of the gorges and waterfalls, and the height of a clearly named peak. Jigong Mountain offers another natural highlight. Its forest cover is 98 percent; it is known for views of seas of clouds, rime, glazed ice, dawn and dusk skies, as well as plants, rocks and waterfalls.

In the far north of Henan, northwest of Anyang, lies the Red Flag Canal, an irrigation canal. It winds along a cliff, passes through 42 tunnels and runs along the Taihang Mountains. In the 1960s, it was considered a major achievement of Chinese workers. Unlike the temples and mausoleums, this site tells a story of infrastructure and labour in relation to the landscape.

Travel Highlights in Henan

The local cuisine also offers a regional connection: Luoyang Water Banquet is a local speciality of Luoyang with a history of more than 1,000 years. Longmen, Yin Xu, temples and historic complexes offer different highlights from the mountain landscapes of Yuntai and Jigong Mountain. First consider which destinations you want to focus on during your trip, then choose where to go accordingly.

Discover more destinations: Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, Xuchang, Pingdingshan, Xinxiang, Xinyang, Nanyang, Zhoukou, Zhumadian, Luohe, Luoyang, Puyang, Shangqiu, Anyang, Jiaozuo, Hebi, Sanmenxia.

To the main travel overview: China.