Step outside of the norm and experience beautiful Luoyang, China with your children. Ditch the touristy and dive into the authentic experience of Asia’s oldest continuously inhabited city. This ancient community is a bastion of Chinese imperial history, as well as stunning Buddhist temples and art. Enjoy some of the world’s most impressive and storied culture with your kids.

This impressive cave location contains an unbelievable 2,345 niches for Buddha, 100,000 statues, and 2,800 calligraphic inscriptions. It is a massive collection of Chinese and Buddhist art carved right into the mountainside. Longmen Grottoes was started by Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty back in the year 493, when Luoyang became the capital of China. This site marries the best of history, art and culture into a unique experience your family will never forget. Stone staircases are carved into the mountain leading to some of the buddhas, and a wooden staircase wraps around the outside of the facility. Expect a fair amount of walking and climbing to see the most impressive works. Wear comfortable shoes and start your day here, lest you find yourselves too tired to experience this amazing site and all it has to offer. As you will have to traverse the pedestrian street on your way back, consider grabbing a bite to eat from a street vendor before the trek to your next stop.

Visit White Horse Temple In China

The smaller White Horse Temple was the first Buddhist Temple in China. As opposed to some newer and more developed sites, it is less commercial and makes for a better cultural experience when visiting its buildings and large cadre of monks. The temple dates back to the year 68 AD and the earliest importation of Buddhism from India. The main buildings have been rebuilt during the Ming and Qing dynasties, though maintain their original splendor. There are also newer buildings, largely considered to be less impressive, but unlike other modern temples you will experience less commercialization and the monks won’t push you to purchase things. There is a guided tour with limited English, so it is worth doing some of your own research (we recommend this guidebook) prior to your visit to provide context.

Interested in booking or planning a vacation to Luoyang, China right now? Check out some of the offers currently available for airfare and hotels at Kayak, Orbitz and Priceline. See more lodging options at Hotels.com and Hilton. Get started on your next trip today!