Which city in Henan is the biggest hit among foreign visitors? Zhengzhou? Jiaozuo? Xinxiang? Or Kaifeng? Surprisingly, none of the above—it’s Luoyang. Official figures from Henan Provincial Bureau of Statistics confirm Luoyang tops the province for inbound tourist appeal, outperforming Zhengzhou and Jiaozuo, with its annual tourism revenue exceeding 100 billion yuan.
Let’s break down the stats. Back in 2017, Zhengzhou welcomed 100.92 million total tourists, including 500,000 overseas arrivals; Jiaozuo drew 47 million visitors in total, with 373,000 from abroad. By contrast, Luoyang received 124 million tourists overall, among whom 1.33 million were foreign travelers, and its total tourism revenue hit 104.3 billion yuan. It not only leads Henan in total tourist volume but also leaves other cities far behind when it comes to inbound visitor numbers. For context, Henan hosted a combined 3.07 million overseas tourists that year, and nearly 43% of them flocked to Luoyang—an unmistakable testament to the city’s timeless allure.
Luoyang’s massive popularity with international travelers stems from solid reasons. Nationwide statistics show foreign tourists visiting China tend to gravitate toward time-honored ancient cities famed for cultural relics, with Xi’an being a prime example of China’s most internationally sought-after historic destination. As one of China’s Four Great Ancient Capitals, Luoyang still bears the lingering glamour of the Tang Dynasty down through the centuries along its streets. Its peonies stand out as the city’s iconic calling card, so breathtakingly gorgeous they inspired the renowned ancient poem: When peonies bloom, the entire capital is captivated with admiration.
Luoyang’s thriving tourism industry owes much of its success to one landmark site: the Longmen Grottoes. The imposing Grand Vairocana Buddha gazes benignly over all living souls before it, and the grottoes rank among Henan’s most globally renowned scenic spots. During one recent Qingming Festival break, the site drew 150,000 visitors across three days, averaging 50,000 guests per day.
More than an ancient heritage site, Longmen Grottoes has embraced cutting-edge digital innovation as China’s first smart scenic spot built around the “Internet Plus” model. Cashless payments are available throughout the entire attraction, alongside free audio commentary in both Chinese and English. QR codes posted beside every Buddha statue let visitors scan for instant spot-specific introductions—convenient enough to put traditional tour guides out of business, some joke. Thanks to its pioneering smart-tourism upgrades, the site secured the 14th UN World Tourism Organization Award for Innovation in Public Policy and Management in January 2021, the sole Chinese recipient of the honor.
Beyond its wealth of scenic and cultural attractions, Luoyang boasts robust economic strength, ranking second province-wide in GDP, and is set to become Henan’s second city with an operational metro system. Elegant and steeped in millennia-old charm, Luoyang is unquestionably a must-visit destination. Have you ever been to this gracefully ancient city? What do you think of it?