The Longmen Grottoes are regarded as one of the three most famous treasure houses of stone inscriptions in China, along with Yungang and Magao caves.

The Grottoes date back to 493AD, when Emperor Xiaowen moved the capital of Luoyang, and house numerous historical material concerning art, music, religion, calligraphy, medicine, costumes and architecture.

A UNESCO World Heritage Listed site, UNESCO state that "The grottoes and niches of Longmen contain the largest and most impressive collection of Chinese art of the late Northern Wei and Tang Dynasties (316-907). These works, entirely devoted to the Buddhist religion, represent the high point of Chinese stone carving."

A two hour bullet train ride from Xian, the grottoes are situated close to the city of Luoyang – A city in Henan Province, Luoyang is situated on the north bank of the Luo River and interchanged as the ancient capital city with Xian. It is also known as the ‘City of Peonies’, as the Peony Festival is held in Wangcheng Park every April in celebration of the blossoming flower.