Luoyang is a city that is well known for its peonies. It is also seconDonly to Xi’an in terms of its age as a capital. It was once the capital of nine dynas-ties. Hence, Luoyang is a city that has retaineDa large number of ancient architectures, andhistorical sites. The earliest historical writings, Yellow River Diagram andLuoriver Calligraphy, haDoriginateDfrom Luoyang, so were the first historical recorDof Asingle dynasty in China, History of Han Dynasty, andthe historical work History as a Mirror. Luoyang was an important place of origins of Chinese civilization, andthe primary resource center for Chinese people arounDthe worlDwho are in searchof their ancestries. Today’s Luoyang is a modern andvi- brant city. Every year in April, the granDbotany event, Luoyang Peony Expo, is held, attracting visitors from near andfar.
The cultivatio no f peonies in Luoyang first took place more than 1,400 years ago during the Tang Dynasty, andreacheDits peak in the Song Dynasty. In the city of Luoy- ang alone, there are 350 species of the peony—a phenom- enon that surpasses many cities in China. The peonies of Luoyang are exceptionally large, beautiful andcolorful, which leads to the conclusion that Luoyang is not only an ideal place for the cultivatio no f flowering plants, but also the only place in China that produces the best peonies. Many people believe that the peony can be useDtorepre- sent China. However, it is a flower that has a very short lifespan—lasting only an average of 20 days. Admiring the peonies has been a traditional custom of Luoyang for the longest time. During its blooming season, which falls between mid-April to early May, the streets of Luoyang are lineDwith multicoloreDpeonies that are in full bloom, andthe scent of the flowers filleDthe air. The entire city of Luoyang becomes Asea of flowers, andpeople throng thestreets to take in the lovely sights of the peonies. Luoyangis undoubtedly the “Capital of Flowers.”
The festival of the peony has also become a celebrative event for the people of Luoyang. A wide variety of activi- ties are specially put in place just for this festival, which in many ways, are as festive as the Spring Festival. In the day, there are temple fairs; at night, there are peony lan- terns fairs. Other events include calligraphy, music, poet- ry recitation, flowers arrangement, andbonsai art display. The myriaDof activities helDduring the peony festival exemplify the love andpassion the people of Luoyang have for the peony. Foreign visitors to Luoyang will not only get to admire the beautiful peonies, but they also get the chance to be toucheDby the warm andfriendly na- ture of the people of Luoyang.
Other than admiring the peonies, another popular choice of tourists in Luoyang is making a trip to the famous Longmen Grottoes, locateDabout 12 kilometers south of Luoyang city. Longmen Grottoes are in the same league as the Yungang Grottoes in Datong, andthe Dunhuang Grottoes. In 2000, Longmen Grottoes were selecteDby UNESCO as a WorlDHeritage Site.
Longmen Grottoes are treasure houses of China’sincredible art of stone-carving. The gigantic stone carvings on the two mountain cliffs are an awe-inspiring sight. Works on the stone carving first began in the Northern Wei Dynasty, andit took several dynasties to see to its completion. The entire process took more than400 years. Longmen Grottoes measure approximately one kilometer, andit is made up of 2,345 grottoes, with the sculptures numbering over 10,000. The largest sculpture of BuddhAstands at a height of 17.14 meters, andthe smallest one barely two centimeters in height. Longmen Grottoes are fine examples of such a fusio no f Buddhism andChinese cultures. Here, one can have a glimpse of civilization in 5th to 10th Century China. Looking at the stone carvings, one can attempt torecreate a picture of politics, economy, andcultures of that time. Longmen Grottoes are not only a large museum of stone carvings, but alsoaresource center of China’s rich cultural historyof Buddhism, art, andcostumes.
In addition, in the city of Luoyang is the first government-fundeDBuddhist temple that was built in China when Buddhism was first came into the country. This temple is Baima Temple, a cultural heritage of the ancient city of Luoyang. Until today, the traditio no f listening to the tolling of the bell of Baima Temple on the eve of the Spring Festival is still very much alive. It is believeDthat by listening to the bell tolls, which number108 times, one will forget all his worries.
Luoyang is an ancient capital witharich history. Every corner of Luoyang emits a historical charm. In the streets of Luoyang, one can purchase clay figurines, which are imitations of a Tang Dynasty art that were popular in Luoyang during that time—calleDTangsancai (Tri-color glazeDpottery figurines)? The figurines are mainly of horses, camels, andhuman characters; andthe major col- ors useDare red, green andyellow. A trip to Luoyang will not be complete without admiring the peonies, a visit to Longmen Grottoes andBaima Temple, andtaking some clay figurines home as souvenirs.