Longmen Grottoes at a glance
The Longmen Grottoes are carved into cliffs above the Yi River near Luoyang. They are a separate place from the Shaolin Temple and from Mount Song, in a different city, and nothing about them belongs to the Shaolin visit. Both lie in Henan province.
Plan for the distance. Two tour companies give about 55 km and 1.5 hours by car, or about 60 km and 90 minutes, between Shaolin and Longmen. Those are estimates, not timetables. Add the time inside the grottoes, and the two sites make either a very long day or two separate days.
Shaolin and Longmen: how to combine them
Three ways to plan it, from simplest to most demanding.
A separate day from Luoyang
If you stay in Luoyang, Longmen is a short trip. The operator lists the Luoyang Longmen railway station about 4 km (2.5 mi) away, so you can spend the day at the grottoes without a long transfer.
A guided combination from Dengfeng or Zhengzhou
Tour companies offer Shaolin and Longmen in one trip. Compare the start time, the return time and how long you get at each site. A long drive each way leaves less time than the ticket suggests.
Both sites on your own
You can drive between them along the G207 or the Zheng-Shao-Luo expressway. A fixed public bus link between Shaolin and Longmen is not something to count on. Check the current options and have a taxi as a backup.
Our picks: Longmen Grottoes
A private day with Shaolin, or a Longmen ticket on its own.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Private day: Longmen Grottoes, Shaolin and kung fu show
Private car with driver and guide, entries, a golf cart at both sites, the kung fu show and lunch. The entry-tickets-and-transfer option leaves out the guide, lunch, golf cart and train.
Check availability →Longmen Grottoes ticket or private tour
Longmen entry; a guide and transfer come only with the options that include them, so the ticket-only option has neither. This offer does not include Shaolin entry.
Check availability →Longmen, Shaolin and Luoyang tours
Day trips that include the Longmen Grottoes or the Shaolin Temple, with live prices and availability.
The ticket and the route
The day ticket covers four areas: the West Hill Grottoes, the East Hill Grottoes, Xiangshan Temple and Baiyuan Garden. The operator describes a daily route that runs from the West Hill to the East Hill, then Xiangshan, then Baiyuan, with four checks along the way.
Buy a ticket for your date and a time slot under your real name, and keep your documents and proof of entry until you leave. The operator lists an electric cart from the service area to the checkpoint for CNY 10 (about $1) one way. That is extra and not part of the ticket.
The photos on this page show the cliffs above the Yi River, niches in the rock face and a carved Buddha face.
Opening hours and the night visit
Times as published by the operator. The details differ slightly between its pages, so arrive well before the last entry.
| Period | Open | Ticket sales and entry | Clearing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 March to 31 October | 08:00–18:00 | Sales until 17:30, entry until 18:00 | 19:00 |
| 1 November to end of February | 08:00–17:00 | Sales until 16:30, entry until 17:00 | 18:00 |
| Night visit from 30 March 2026 | Evening | Sales 17:30–19:30, entry 18:00–20:00 | 21:00 |
The night visit covers the West Hill Grottoes and Xiangshan Temple only. The East Hill Grottoes and Baiyuan Garden are open by day only. The night visit is not the same as the day ticket, so check its price and scope before you buy. Another page of the operator lists different cut-offs, with entry stopping at 17:00, so plan to arrive by mid-afternoon and check the current schedule.
Getting to Longmen from Luoyang
The grottoes are connected to the city, not to Dengfeng.
From Luoyang Longmen Station
The operator lists about 10 minutes by taxi, or bus 71 directly. The station is about 4 km (2.5 mi) away.
From Shaolin or Dengfeng
The route runs by road via the G207 or the Zheng-Shao-Luo expressway. The two distance estimates are 55 km and 60 km, which may use different start and end points. Treat both as rough.
From Zhengzhou
You first need to get to Luoyang or to a tour pickup point. See getting there for the Zhengzhou side.
Rules and discounts
What the operator states.
Pets and drones
Pets and drones are not allowed.
Free and half-price tickets
The operator lists free entry from age 60, free entry for children up to 12 years or 1.4 m, and half price for ages 13 to 17. Most of these categories are limited to Chinese citizens, and one exception applies to minors under 1.4 m. Do not assume that a foreign passport qualifies by age. Ask at the ticket office before you queue.
Baima Temple is a different place
The White Horse Temple (Baima) is another sight in Luoyang. It has its own ticket and its own rules, and it is not covered by the Longmen day ticket.
A temple notice from spring 2026, written for the peony festival, lists no pets, no feeding or touching animals, no smoking, no photos taken directly of Buddha figures, no drones and appropriate clothing. It says third-party platforms are not authorized to sell tickets. Do not carry these rules over to Shaolin or to Longmen.
Plan the rest of your trip
Related guides.
Zhengzhou to Shaolin
Direct bus, airport bus, taxi and the Luoyang route.
Dengfeng
The UNESCO monuments near Shaolin and their ticket prices.
Shaolin tickets
The CNY 80 (about $11) ticket and what it covers.
Best time to visit
Monthly temperatures and rain for planning your trip.
Longmen Grottoes: frequently asked questions
Can I visit the Longmen Grottoes and Shaolin in one day?
It is possible on a long guided day, but the distance is about 55 to 60 km and 90 minutes by car each way, per two tour companies. Most travelers do better with two separate days.
How much is the Longmen ticket?
CNY 90 (about $12) full price and CNY 45 (about $6) half price, as listed in 2026. It covers West Hill, East Hill, Xiangshan Temple and Baiyuan Garden.
When do the grottoes close?
From 1 March to 31 October the main page gives 08:00–18:00. From 1 November to the end of February it gives 08:00–17:00. Entry stops earlier than closing, so arrive in good time and check the current schedule.
Is there a night visit?
Yes, from 30 March 2026, for the West Hill Grottoes and Xiangshan Temple only. The East Hill Grottoes and Baiyuan Garden are open by day only.
Is Baima Temple part of the Longmen visit?
No. The White Horse Temple is a separate site in Luoyang with its own ticket.