Longmen Grottoes: A Journey Through China’s Ancient Art and History
by Xiao Yong Wha
Dec 22, 2024
Per capita budget: 1.5k+ RMB, personally tested and guaranteed fun with no pitfalls!
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📍Luoyang: Travel Back to the Tang Dynasty for 90 RMB
🎈Day 1:
💕Longmen Grottoes (Enter at 4 PM! Avoid crowds + witness the golden sunset glow on the Buddha statues. The smile of the Vairocana Buddha is even more mysterious than the Mona Lisa! A guided tour is a must, or you’ll just be staring at "stone figures.")
💕Luoyi Ancient City (Stunning after the lights turn on at 19:30! Rent Hanfu for 49 RMB, including makeup and styling, and recreate scenes from *The Longest Day in Chang’an*.)
🎈Day 2:
💕White Horse Temple (Go early! China’s first ancient temple + Buddhist halls from China, India, Myanmar, and Thailand. Get a Bodhi bracelet as a souvenir.)
💕Cross Street Night Market (5 RMB for "Bu Fan" soup, 15 RMB for boiled beef tripe, and 40 RMB per person for a royal-style "Water Banquet" once enjoyed by Empress Wu Zetian!)
✨Money-Saving Tip: Museums are free but require reservations 3 days in advance. Yingtianmen offers a free light show on Tuesday nights!
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📍Shiyan: The Ultimate Mountain Summer Escape
🎈What to Do:
✔️Maota Village Donggou (Free! Catch fish by the stream, hike through bamboo forests, stay at the "Frog Chorus" B&B for a soothing night of insect sounds, and try parent-child pottery.)
✔️Taiji Gorge (69 RMB for a travel pass covering the glass slide + 5D glass bridge. The Danxia landforms feel like stepping into a martial arts film.)
✔️Wudang Mountain Happy Valley (40 RMB for bungee jumping + cliff swings—adrenaline rush guaranteed!)
🍟What to Eat: Sip Tang Dynasty imperial-style yellow wine in Fang County’s West Gate Old Street, paired with sticky rice buns—absolutely delicious!
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📍Tongren: A 25°C Fairyland for Family Fun
🚀Must-Visit:
📌Fanjing Mountain (A UNESCO World Heritage Site! Take the cable car to the "City in the Sky" and marvel at the sea of clouds and Mushroom Stone.)
📌Colorful Yangshan River (Limited-time high-wire performances during National Day! Explore the Nuo Fairy Cave and see the "Fried Egg" rock formation—even CCTV has filmed here.)
🏠Where to Stay: "Fanyu Nanshe Homestay" in Jiangkou, with mountain views for just 100+ RMB per person.
🍜Food Code: Tongren’s "She Rice" + Jiangkou rice tofu—sour and spicy flavors to whet your appetite!
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📍Weihai: Free Beachcombing at Its Best!
🎈Budget Travel Route:
✅1. Huoju 8th Street (Visit at 6 AM for crowd-free photos! Stop by Xiaoshi Island Wetland to dig for razor clams for free—just sprinkle salt to lure them out.)
✅2. **Huanhai Road Hike** (From Haiyuan Park to Cat Mountain Viewpoint No. 3, the wooden walkway + glass-clear sea views are breathtaking—all free!)
✅3. **Beishan Road** (A hidden gem resembling Huoju 8th Street but less crowded. Take Bus 20 for Instagram-worthy shots.)
🦐Food Radar:
🔴- "Little Wooden House Rice Wine Shop" in Hanlefang for cheese ribs (50 RMB per person).
🔴- Dongcheng Road Night Market’s 6 RMB wontons + shrimp broth—divinely fresh!
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💡Universal Budget Travel Tips for All Four Cities
🍒1. **Transportation:** Luoyang/Weihai buses cost just 1 RMB. Shiyan’s scenic area shuttle buses are super convenient.
🍒2. **Accommodation:** In Luoyang, choose old-town homestays (150 RMB for 4-star quality). In Weihai, stay near Weihao Square for easy early-morning bus access.
🍒3. **Savings Hacks:** Longmen Grottoes tickets include free luggage storage. Shiyan’s 100 RMB travel pass covers 30+ attractions.
❗️❗️Real experience + ultra-detailed guide—tested by a family of four with total expenses under 6k RMB!
💕PS: Avoid Cat Mountain in Weihai on rainy days (foggy). For Hanfu rentals in Luoyang, choose "Qingshan Shop" on Minzhu Street (keep your deposit receipt safe)!
Post by Thunderbird@Dreams~123 | Jul 16, 2025























