Luoyi, the former name of Luoyang, known as the capital of thirteen dynasties, holds a significant place in Chinese history and culture. Luoyi Ancient City (洛邑古城), centered around the Wenfeng Pagoda in the old city area, stands as a testament to the city’s rich heritage and cultural legacy. Through extensive construction of ancient buildings, including the Henan Provincial Confucian Temple, Tuoling Palace, Siyan Well, and remnants of the Jin and Yuan dynasties’ ancient city walls, the old city has been meticulously restored, offering a glimpse into its millennia-old charm. Additionally, the ancient city boasts a wealth of intangible cultural heritage, such as traditional music, fine arts, medicine, and folk customs, providing visitors with an immersive experience into the cultural essence of Luoyang.
Wenfeng Pagoda, a prominent feature of Luoyi Ancient City, stands as a magnificent brick-and-stone tower, approximately 30 meters high. Its square shape and dense eave style give it a majestic appearance, with each layer inwardly recessed, resembling bamboo nodes. The base of the pagoda, constructed of square-shaped bluestones, is reinforced with cast iron between the base and the tower body to ensure stability. The nine-layer tower body, built with large blue bricks, tapers inward from the base layer, with each layer featuring short eaves. Arched doorways adorn the north side of the first eight layers, while the ninth layer boasts doorways on all four sides, each adorned with inscriptions such as “高瞻远瞩.”
Wenfeng Pagoda is dedicated to the emperors Wenchang and Kuixing, revered as deities governing success in imperial examinations and official positions. Wenchang, also known as Wenquxing, is enshrined on the first floor of the pagoda, believed to bestow blessings upon scholars seeking success. The history of the pagoda dates back to the Song Dynasty, although it was destroyed during the late Ming Dynasty and subsequently rebuilt during the early Qing Dynasty. Whether the destroyed tower was the original Song Dynasty structure and whether the Qing Dynasty reconstruction was based on the Ming Dynasty tower remain mysteries for visitors. Currently, the pagoda is closed to visitors, who can only admire its exterior. The park surrounding the pagoda, steeped in the historical legend of “Kuixing Dianzhuang (魁星点状),” recreates the solemn ancient ritual of paying homage to the pagoda and presents performances of the “Guofeng Hua Song,” a prayer for blessings at Wenfeng Pagoda.
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 – 2 hours |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| Opening Hours | 9.00 – 22.30 |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0379-60696969 |
Location and Transportation
Luoyi Ancient City is located at the intersection of Jiudu Road and Liulin Street in the Old City District of Luoyang City, Henan Province. To get there, you can choose one of the following ways:
Bus: Take bus 7, 16, 17, 23, 57, 106, 206, Holiday Line 1, Tourist Line 1, or Tourist Line 2 and get off at Luoyi Gucheng Stop (洛邑古城站).
Metro: The closest metro statiton to the attraction is Luoyi Gucheng (洛邑古城) on line 1. After getting out of the station from Exit A1, walk about 400 meters to the south to reach the area.
