Discover the Perfect Weekend Retreat at the Longmen Caves in Gongyi, Zhengzhou, Away from the Crowds
Last Sunday, I wanted to find a place in Zhengzhou where I wouldn’t have to wait in line to breathe some fresh air, and I stumbled upon the Longmen Grottoes in Gongyi—just an hour and a half from the city center, and it’s not crowded at all. So, at 8 AM, I grabbed my bestie and we hit the road.
All the way there, even the navigation kept saying, "No speed cameras ahead," and soon the cars around us dwindled. We turned onto a country road, with ginkgo trees swaying on both sides. By the time we arrived, there were only six cars in the parking lot. The tickets were just over ten yuan, and the ticket seller calmly stamped them, almost like welcoming me into his backyard.
As soon as we walked in, we bumped into that standing Buddha
Light poured in from the cave entrance, and I could even see the eyelashes on the Buddha statue. My mouth dropped into an “O” shape—never felt so watched even in crowds at Longmen. Then we walked into the Emperor and Empress worship picture, and I could see the intricate folds of the empress's gown, almost reaching out to touch it, but my friend pulled me back.
At that moment, it was just us two; the sound of my phone’s shutter echoed in the cave, like we were doing a private photoshoot (of course, I didn’t dare to turn on the flash).
Going deeper into the grotto, it got even quieter, with the sound of cicadas really loud. I sat against the wall, looking up to count the folds on the clothes of the flying figures, sitting there for a good ten minutes without anyone rushing me, nor having to share the spot with others.
The drawback hit us fast: no public transport. We drove smoothly the whole way, and the navigation said we could leave before peak traffic on the way back. The other group with us tried to take a Didi, but ended up waiting for over half an hour before they managed to share a ride back.
On the way out, we made a quick stop at the North Song Emperor's Tomb, just three kilometers away. The mounds in the wheat field were the ancient burial sites, and the wind blowing through the wheat felt like it was whispering secrets to the emperor.
What to See at the Longmen Grottoes
- Cave 1 “Emperor and Empress Worship Picture”: The entire wall is filled with reliefs of hundreds of people, with the emperor in front and the empress behind, a never-ending line. If you look closely, everyone is holding different objects, like a silent royal documentary.
- Cave 3 Standing Buddha: Small face, long neck, North Wei aesthetics have their own filter. Standing in front of the statue, my shadow stretched long—I could snap a pic in an instant.
- Cave 5 Flying Figures: Not as bustling as Dunhuang but comes out small and exquisite, their wings are thin as paper cuttings.
How to Eat, Stay, and Travel Over the Weekend
| Item | My Tips | One-Sentence Suggestion |
|---|---|---|
| Departure Time | Checked out at 8 AM from Zhengzhou | Leave half an hour earlier, the parking lot will be less busy |
| Transportation | About 80 minutes by car, head south on Zhengshao Liao Expressway→Gongyi East Exit→Longmen Grottoes sign, the last 8 kilometers are on a smooth country road | Take a taxi or high-speed train to Gongyi and then ride-share, around 70 yuan one way |
| Tickets | 16 yuan/person, cash or mobile payments accepted | The ticket window closes at 4 PM, don’t forget to get there early |
| Visit Duration | Just for photos 1 hour, I spent 2 hours examining details | Bring a bottle of water, you can only buy some ice drink at the small shop outside |
| Lunch | Turn right 500 meters from the exit to find two noodle shops, small bowl for 10 yuan, add some lamb oil chili | You can get filled up as long as you’re not picky about the environment |
| Surroundings | The North Song Emperor's Tomb stone carving group is 3 kilometers from the grottoes, 15-minute walk to see the mounds in the wheat field | If you have extra time, check it out, it only takes about half an hour to browse |
Things I Want to Do Next Time
- I want to bring a telephoto lens; right now, I can only magnify the details of the flying figures with my eyes.
- The restroom at the end of the parking lot is very clean, but don’t expect any paper towels. I packed two packs of tissues beforehand.
- No flash allowed inside the grotto, but adjusting the ISO to 1600 will get good shots; just remember to keep the shutter silent—only echoes remain.
I parked under a tree’s shade and opened the air conditioning remotely before heading back to Zhengzhou. An hour and a half later, I was back at my office replying to emails, without even carrying any dust back—the biggest achievement of that day was posting nine photos on social media, all featuring just me in the scene.
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