Auspicious Luoyang

At the mention of Luoyang, everybody praises its centuries-old history of great splendor. Depending on its outward or inward aesthetics, the city always features magnificence as well as implicit temperament in the vast expanse of mist-covered waters, and illuminates with grandeur.

Indeed, everyone is aware that Luoyang is a good place with habitability, and glory has been lent to the city by numerous celebrities. Today, what I’d like to tell you is, that all the splendor of the city is attributed to the fact – that Luoyang is an auspicious place. This is the reason why the national flower, peony, was rooted and carried forward here. This is the reason why the mysterious Silk Road started here and connected the Chinese civilization and the Western civilization. This is the reason why the old Grand Canal centered around the city and connected the country in the north-south direction. This is the reason why the city wrote a history longer than 1,500 years and was made the capital by more than 100 emperors, witnessed the rise of 13 dynasties. I think, all the events occurred on account of Luoyang’s auspiciousness.

[Longmen]

It is said that a dragon once flied from Longmen with flash of Buddha's light, which was an indication of auspiciousness. Internationally Longyang is well-known for the Longmen Grottoes which has attracted tourists all over the world with solid and eternal stone carvings, more than 2,000 magnificent shrines, the grand Vairocana Buddha as well as its popular appearance. Longmen’s mystery and auspiciousness lie on the Yi River silently flowing in the front, the verdant Xiang Mountain standing opposite as well as the well-endowed sceneries. Furthermore,Longmen is auspicious in that it records and inherits the Chinese culture.

The “Emperor’s Chariot Drawn by Six Horses” at the Zhouwangcheng Plaza was a treasure of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. Given birth in 700 BC, it depicts the glorious history longer than 500 years created by emperors of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. The amazing out-of-the-world inheritance silently and orderly shows the little-known secrets of the emperors’ tombs.

Wu Zetian said, “a flower shall bloom as soon as possible without waiting for a breeze”, meaning that a beautiful flower shall bloom without missing the best time. Guided by such an idea, Wu, the first empress in the Chinese history, ordered to build the grand Tian Hall and Ming Hall. At present, songs and dances are performed everyday in the Tian Hall to continue the grace and flower-like auspiciousness.

Welcome to Longmen. Here you can pay respects to emperors’ legacies and enjoy the sight of Ming Hall. Welcome to the auspicious Luoyang.

[Silk Road]

People have heard of the old river of sand, the lonely smoke in the desert, as well as the camel bells and flutes of the Qiang ethnicity, all of which were characteristics of the Silk Road. Luoyang was the easternmost point of the Silk Road that circulated abundant products and was full of exotic styles. The land corridor towards Rome was opened more than 2,000 years ago, which initiated the great exchange between the Chinese civilization and the Western civilization. With dazzling light of auspiciousness, it brought numerous welfares to human beings.

Someone says, a “人” (meaning “human”) was written to represent the Great Wall like a left-falling stroke (“丿”) and the Grand Canal like a right-falling stroke (“乀”). The “乀” is the Grand Canal built around Luoyang. Upon more than 1,000 years of efforts, it connected the country in the north-south direction, and used to accommodate guests and merchants from different regions.

The Silk Road stretched long and the Great Canal waved in the centuries-old history. Someone says, the Silk Road is a bow,the Great Canal is an arrow, and they jointly cradle the splendid civilization. Luoyang, the city included in the World Cultural Heritage List for both the Silk Road and the Great Canal, keeps its prosperity up to now through its vigorousness. Without doubt, the joining of the two heritages in Luoyang is a favor to the civilization on Luoyang, and the favor is a symbol of auspiciousness.

[Birthplace of Chinese Buddhism]

During the Yongping period, the first Buddhist temple of China, the White Horse Temple, was built outside Xiyong Door of Luoyang. Located near the emperor’s ruling center, this was the first Buddhist base for spreading Buddhism in the country. Every year, innumerable believers come to the “birthplace of Chinese Buddhism” to respectfully listen to the “108 annoy-relieving bells” and pray for peacefulness and happiness for all beings, and themselves. In the White Horse Temple, there are lofty palaces with peculiar arches and eaves, serene pigeons and beadsmen behind wreaths of smoke. The White Horse Temple offers a place for people exhausted under increasing pressures to learn the sense of survival in the bizarre world of Buddhism.

What continues the eternal burning incense in addition is the Guan’s Mausoleum. Depending on his loyalty, finesse and courage worshiped by emperors and civilians of all the subsequent dynasties, Guan Yu is the only personage held in esteem by all of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. The temple of the sage of wushu is honored as “Guan’s Mausoleum”,and very popular among civilians. Without doubt, the deity universally worshiped in all the fields of war, wealth, culture and agriculture, who is described as riding the horse “Red Hare” with his “Azure Dragon Crescent Blade” in his hands, concentrates ethics of the Chinese culture and incarnates the awe-inspiring soul of the country.

Luoyang, the city supported by eternal belief, is bound to have places for cultivating the mind. The White House Temple, is decorated with green trees, smoke and light. The Guan’s Mausoleum offers undiminished burning incense. Finally, the XuanZang’s Hometown, which lies against the Jing Mountain to the north and the Song Mountain to the south features crisscrossed river valleys, which are auspicious places for reclusion and stress relief.

The Chinese civilization originated in Luoyang. The essence of the Chinese culture was inherited in Luoyang. Welcome to the White House Temple for prayer, the Guan’s Mausoleum for worshipping Guan Yu and XuanZang’s Hometown for enlightenment. Welcome to Luoyang – and recieve auspiciousness.

[Water Banquet]

Someone says: “The foundation of any taste is water. Without water, there wouldn’t be ever-changing approaches for seasoning in Chinese cuisine.”People in Luoyang are keen about water. Such intent is attributed to the adjacent rivers around as well as the Water Banquet and soups in daily diets. As the “starring actor” among Luoyang’s foods and a state banquet originating in the Wu Zetian’s period, the Water Banquet features a dish layout like floating clouds and flowing water, and has always observed a strict serving order. Among the 24 dishes, there are delicacies of every kind, nourishing soup-stocks as well as simple dishes and spicy condiments. For example, the dish “Bird’s Nest” is cooked by means of braising, and decorated with a faint yellow peony to show elegance and wealth; the dish “Scorched Meatball” is cooked by means of frying with vegetable oil, in sweet and sour cherry, and gives in to a tender bite. The Water Banquet implies “the highest ethic like water”. A tourist will absorb auspiciousness into his or her heart when sampling the Water Banquet, thus realize the good implication.

Collecting nutrients of animalbones (cattle, goat, donkey, etc.) in soup is an incarnation of the ancestor’s wisdom, while extracting deliciousness from animal’s livers, tofu and meatballs is realized upon posterity’s permanent exploration of the delicious food. For an authentic person of Luoyang, “having a soup in the morning is better than being an immortal.” People here are accustomed to the morning with fresh soups, chopped green onions and dry-and-appetizing peppers, which are auspicious gifts from the God and can make them healthier.

So, you see, our sentimental attachment to the land is indeed partly attributed to the foods emerging at the right moment. Your welcome to taste all foods of Luoyang. By tasting, you’ll get in contact with the most profound, sincere and auspicious flavors in the treasured place.

[Beauty of Peony]

With a long history, the Central Plains is the birthplace of many outstanding people. Clear water in rivers and lakes flows continuously, and the fragrance of peonies earns a high recognition for Luoyang. Every April, the whole city of Luoyang is overwhelmed by peonies, which emerged in the Sui Dynasty, flourished in the Tang Dynasty, and became the most beautiful flowers in the Song Dynasty. With flowers as the media, beautiful peonies, which have lots of varieties, expresses their unique magnificence, luxury, luck and peace, attracting thousands of tourists. When the blooming season comes, all varieties of peonies, such as “Yaohuang” representing the king, “Weizi” representing the queen, “HuolianJindan” representing ministers, coquettish“Erqiao”, and graceful “Lvdou”, bloom everywhere. These beautiful flowers carpet the whole city of Luoyang, reflecting the human nature of aesthetic appreciation and fulfilling people’s pursuit of beauty.

You are welcome to have a spring outing here to appreciate and experience the national beauty and fragrance of peonies, and maintain auspiciousness and health in your life.

[Landscapes]

When you come to the mountains, you will have a vast view. It will remove the tiredness from you and make you feel relaxed. According to legend, Laozi, who was worshipped as TaishangLaojun in Taoism in ancient China, once cultivated himself in seclusion in the main peak of the 800-li-long Funiu Mountains. Laojun Mountain, which has lots of ancient trees and vines, gets its name from this story. Maybe thanks to the sage, you can have a view of stars in a peaceful night, and appreciate the sunset glow in a desolate dusk. With exotic flowers and rare herbs, Laojun Mountains combines magnificence, craggedness and beauty. Jiguan Cave, which is in the offset of FuniuMountai and reputed as “the No. 1 Cave in North China”, is a karst cave which came into being about 230 million years ago. The magnificent changes and transformations in the nature have created this deep, unpredictable and splendid underground palace.

Coincidentally, Baiyun Mountain, which is known as “a fairyland on earth” and “the most beautiful place in China”, is located in the primeval forest in the interior of Funiu Mountain to the south of Songxian County of Luoyang. You can enjoy the breeze when sitting in the mountain, appreciate the clouds. After climbing the mountain you can and have a view of sheer cliff drops. People can have a view of the light movement and the beautiful scenery of clouds in the mountain all year round.

With deep and precipitous gorges, beautiful forests, class-A scenery giving an extraordinary mental and physical experience, this is the most beautiful roll painting that Luoyang can paint for visitors. Created by the changes and transformation of the nature in the past millions of years, the vigorous forceful scenery and flourishing forests are concentrated but also scattered: Zhongdugou, Tianchi Mountain, Muzaling, Daimeishan, Xiaolangdi of the Yellow River… are all scenic spots that display the beautiful sceneries and inner peace of Luoyang.

You are welcome to visit the auspicious Luoyang, and fall in love with the beautiful landscapes.

[Hot Spring]

Luoyang is closely related to water. Longmen Mountain is always enveloped in mist. The hot spring in the cave is nourished by the aura of the mountain, and contains rich microelements and mineral substances, which helps to improve people’s appearances and remove fatigue. You can see hot spring slabstones of antique beauty everywhere in Fengxiang Manor. Yingxing Manor has various health pools with green forests in the background. Surrounded by green mountains,clear water and beautiful landscapes, East Longmen Mountain Hotel Hot Spring and Mengtaoyuan Hot Spring have both indoor and outdoor pools of various types, providing the pleasure and relaxation to people.

Admire the beautiful sceneries of Luoyang, taste delicious food of Luoyang and take a bath in hot springs of Luoyang. All these can satisfy your demand for longevity and health.

[Skiing]

Admire the fragrance of flowers in the spring, enjoy the coolness of the mountains and waters in the summer, pick maple leaves in the mountains in the autumn, and go skiing in the winter. In recent years, besides enjoying the warmth and comforts of taking a bath in the hot spring, experiencing speed and passion in the snow has become another extreme feat. Ski down with speed, perfect maneuverability, happiness and laughter are all brought by the snow. Funiu Mountain Skiing Resort is a beautiful ski field granted by the winter. Various types of ski runs and widely scattered areas inject brand-new vitalities to the graceful, tense and thrilling sport of skiing. In addition, Muzaling Skiing Paradise in Songxian County and Yilong Ski Resort in the urban area provide more options to people who are enthusiastic about sport and outdoor activities.

You are welcome to Luoyang, which is suitable for both peace and movement, and experience the happiness and luckiness of speed in the forests of snow.

[Rare Curiosities]

Honorable guests gather in glorious Luoyang. As Luoyang was a prosperous capital and had lots of palaces in the past, literati of the country often gathered in Luoyang to create poems, providing many relics and incidents for people of today to meditate on the past. However, visiting and exploring in person is much better than just listening and looking. Looking at Longmen, going into the mountains and searching for rare curiosities have become the pleasure of an exploring Luoyang. The stories deposited in the curiosities, the time recorded in the stories, people of those times, and the meanings represented by the people are all memories of Luoyang. Those vivid and deep memories become the sign of luck of Luoyang, and accompanied Luoyang when it was the capital and cultivated emperors.

Luoyang is an auspicious place because you can search for rare curiosities in stores of all sizes in the ancient city: Sancai of Tang Dynasty, paintings of peonies, porcelains of peonies, bronze ware,Chengni ink stone, embroideries of sparrows… From eyes to lips and teeth, from the innermost being to the soul, Luoyang is always presenting its charm. As an ancient capital, it is always close to history; as a new city, it is also always looking forward to the present

[Conclusion]

The passage of time presents stories in the past. History asks visitors from all over the world. Luoyang is as deep as a song, which allows people to think about the past and the future.

You are welcome to visit Luoyang, the center of China and the birthplace of the name of China.

You are welcome to visit Luoyang, which is to the north of Luoshui River and the hometown of beauty.

You are welcome to visit Luoyang, which is a natural, prosperous and a magnificent city.

You are welcome to visit Luoyang, which wishes to attract visitors from all over the world.

We all welcome you visit the auspicious Luoyang and start your auspicious journey.