The hostel itself had multiple floors surrounding a central area where you can look down and see the lounge area on the first floor. The staff was friendly and approachable. The rooms were basic but clean and comfortable. The front desk guided us to a restaurant a few blocks away that served authentic Luoyang dishes. With only a few dishes that shined, it was a so-so meal. However the service was very efficient.
After dinner we walked around the Ding Ding Ancient Gate, which was the original entrance gate for the ancient Luoyang city. The city was a major trading city and the capital city to 10 Chinese dynasties. So it is not surprising that the front of the gate showed the busy remains of many foot prints, hoof prints, and wagon tracks. The buildings are beautifully lit and beckon you from the street to come for a visit. We walked around the small portion of the wall and onto the wall itself to get a nice view of the surrounding area.
The next day, after a quick Chinese breakfast at a local shop near the hostel, we ventured towards the incredible Longmen Grottoes. There was a chill in the morning air, but the morning quickly warmed up. The weather was quite nice. The Buddhist sculptures were carved into the side of the mountain along the west side of the Yi River and ranged in size from several inches to 55 feet. Regardless of size, however the sculptures did not disappoint. Many of the carvings were sponsored by Empress Wu Zetian, the only female emperor. Across the river, we visited more caves, the enchanting Xiangshan Temple, and the beautiful grounds of Bai Juyi's tomb.
Back at the hostel, we enjoyed a late high tea and a nice dinner. After dinner we made our way to the Luoyang South Lake for the renown fountain show that never happened. Although there were many people waiting for the show and many food vendors to feed the many people, we learned later that the fountain shows will not start until the Peony Festival begins in April. Undaunted, we walked around the lake, enjoying sweet candied strawberries on a stick and later some delicious BBQ fish tofu.
The next day we said good-bye to the hostel and visited Luoyang Old Town (Ancient Street). It was a wonderful place to wander around from one wall gate to another with many foods and shops to get your attention. On the way back to the railway station, we stopped for some Luoyang fried dumplings. We were not sure where the restaurant exactly was, but once we saw the queue of people, we knew we were in the right place. The dumplings were delicious without any sauce and it is no wonder why they are so famous.
Luoyang is also famous for its displays of peony flowers. Since it was too early in the blooming season, we did not visit any gardens…save it for next time. We did not have high-speed rail tickets for the return trip back, so the slower K train took us on a slow but steady 2-hour ride back to Zhengzhou.