Luoyang, China Day 4 (Part 1 - Longmen Grottoes)

Assalamualaikum w.b.t!

Alhamdulillah for yet another day.

Previously we went to see the Shaolin Temple and Forest of Pagoda as in my last post Dengfeng, China Day 3 Part 1 and Part 2. 

Today I am continuing with our visit to Longmen Grottoes, one of the three famous treasure houses of stone sculpture in China. It ranks first in number among all other grottoes in China, built over a period of 400 years, storing more than 2000 sculptures.

Longmen Grottoes is (other than Shaolin monastery) most suitable place to visit for those who interested to know more on Buddhism. Here, you will be able to witness the Buddhist sculptures craved by monks who devoted their lives for this religion hundreds of years ago. Therefore, I didn't take much photos of the Buddha's sculptures and focus more on the scenery there.

24th Oct 2014 (Day 4)

As always at 8.30 am after we had our breakfast, we begin the tour to the grottoes and it took us 30 - 40 minutes to get there from our hotel. From parking lot to main entrance is about 5 - 10 minutes walked while the whole tour was estimated around 2 hours. Did I mentioned Chinese here love walking? Yup I did. Well anyway, along the path to main entrance you can snap pictures of colorful flowers by the river and the bridge across Yi River.

Begin from here and further ahead to the entrance.  

Loving the view!

The main entrance to the Longmen Grottoes, about time the maple leaves changing colors.
Loving the autumn!

The grottoes were along the Yi River where grottoes on the right and river on the left. This was really nice especially in the morning with such a nice weather to walk. 

The first caves of sculptures seen on right and as further we went, the caves increased and the largest sculptures were at the center. Walk til you seen it all!

These sculptures used to be in colors but over the time colors on these lime stone sculptures diminished due to weather factor. Other than that, most of the sculptures are head-less because the head were destroyed by those who opposed Buddhism.

Most of it were at higher level so stairs were built later for convenient of visitors.
Imagine how did the monks went so up high and craved all that! 

Lots of caves to see and stairs to climb!

We gave up from the start, no climbing except for the largest sculptures and the stairs were like those in Batu Caves, Malaysia. (I'll put up the photos of these stairs later)

Not sure what it says but at this store is where we redeemed a postcard jut by showing our entrance ticket.
Only one postcard per ticket and need to claimed it ourselves. 

If you decided not to climb, just stay by the river and chill out.

After almost an hour and a half about 11.20 am, we moved to the other side by crossing the Yi River. Not using the earlier bridge but the second one and some of us did it by cycling, bicycle rental provided there, while others and that was me, just walked and enjoyed it. 

The bicycles were either 2 or 3 people.
And oh ya! This is Steven, agency's tour guide, and me. I kept on talking about Mr Leo that I forgot about Steven lol. He was very nice and helpful! Most of the time he became our translator and did most of the bargains!
And I needed the bicycle for posing purpose only haha  

Can you see a bridge there? Hardly isn't it.
That was where main entrance situated, and yup, we did walk thaaaat far!

From across the river, you'll be able to see the entire view of the grottoes.

Some guide on Yi River.

To get back to the main entrance was either turned back to the same path we took earlier (same view, what a waste! Don't do that) or crossed the second bridge and make a big u-turn back (with wonderful view awaited!) but not to worry as there was buggy ride waited for us there.

The buggy ride we took was not part of the package but it cost only 10 Yuan.

The ride brought us to the Pedestrians Street - Street for shopping, yeay!

Most of the things here were the crafts like key-chain, embroidery clothes, scarfs. 

And as always, there were fruits and nuts.

As well as pearls!  

In 1970, china started producing freshwater pearls in mussels, and today 99% of freshwater pearls come from China. Cultured pearl is grown by inserting a small piece of oyster tissue into the mollusk. The shell returned to the water, turned regularly and harvested. Oyster produce one pearl, while mussel can produce as many as 60 pearls of different shapes and colours.

Most of the shop dealers here were very nice and we did bargained for the goods but if you want to do so and really get a good bargain, buy more and keep insisting!

So that is it for now.
I'll continue on next post!
Till then, Assalamualaikum!