Luoyang
Luoyang lies in the west of Hennan province. Situated in the central plain, it is known as "the Gravity Center of China" and "the Hinterland of Nine Divisions (a poetic name for China)".Named due to the location on the north side of the Luohe River, Luoyang is one of the most important places of origin of the Huaxia(archaic name for China) civilization.
Starting from the Xia Dynasty, the first imperial dynasty in China, Luoyang severed as the capital for thirteen dynasties. It was the earliest capital city with the longest time of being capital in China's history. During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, with a population of more than one million, Luoyang was at that time the most prosperous city in the world.
There are number of cultural relics and historical sites in Luoyang. Arrayed along the Luohe River, the capital relics of the Xia, the Shang, the Zhou, the Han and Wei，the Sui and Tang Dynasties present a rare scene in the world, known as "the Five Capitals Assembling in Luoyang City". Moreover, there are the Museum of Ancient Tombs, the Park of peonies of the Royal city, etc.
What to see in Luoyang?
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The Longmen Grottoes
The Longmen Grottoes, together with the Dunhuang Grottoes in Gangsu Province and the Yungang Grottoes at Datong in Shanxi Province, are known as the three major treasure-houses of Buddhist grotto are in ancient China. In 494 AD, Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty moved his capital to Luoyan and started the construction of the Longmen Grottoes. It boasts a huge collection of more than 100000 Buddhist status and 2300 niches.
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the Baima(White Horse)Temple
the Baima(White Horse)Temple was the first officially built Buddhist shrine since Buddhism was introduced into China. It is reputed as the "the Origin of Buddhism" in China.
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What to eat in Luoyang?
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Liu Xiu Porridge
Liu Xiu was the founder of the Eastern Han. Before he became emperor, he was once badly defeated by Wang Mang, emperor of the Xin dynasty, and had to flee for his life. During his night he became so hungry that he begged a peasant for a bowl of porridge and it tasted real good at the time. Years later, when he had become emperor and had satiated himself with every kind of del1cacy,he suddenly remembered that tasty bowl of porridge he had eaten at the road side and ordered the imperial chef to prepare the porridge for him. The chef made inquiries and found out that the porridge was made from the kernels of a special kind of wheat grown in Luoyang. He obtained a supply of those kernels and prepared a porridge seasoned with such delicacies as swallow's nest and lotus seeds and with green plums and about a dozen other kinds of preserved fruit. This porridge is both tasty and nourishing-it is a popular treat that has been given the name Liu Xiu's porridge
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The water banquet
The dishes of a Water Banquet are served in an interesting way.There are 24dishes in all. First served are eight cold dishes: four meats and four vegetables.It is said that Empress Wu Zetian liked this dish so much that after tasting it she cared for no other meat dish for three months.
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