Old Town or New District in Luoyang: Choose by Itinerary, Not by Room Rate

Every time I help someone confirm the itinerary, the question of where to stay always takes two rounds of back-and-forth. My view is: in Luoyang, the location of the accommodation has a much greater impact than the hotel's quality—if you stay in the wrong area, you'll have to spend over an extra hour on the road every day, and there's nowhere to go at night. The choice for Luoyang is actually just two directions: the old city area and the new district (Luolong, Kaiyuan Avenue, High-Speed Rail Station direction). These two areas aren't about which is better, but about which arrangement suits your trip. Now, let's break down the differences. The old city is in the northeast, connected by Lijing Gate, Crossroads, Luoyi Ancient City, and Chanhe area, with narrow roads, lots of people, and lively nights. The new district is in the south, around Kaiyuan Avenue, city government, and sports center, with wide roads, newer buildings, and quiet nights. Longmen Grottoes It's further south, closer to the new district but farther from the old town. The high-speed rail Longmen Station is also to the south. Just remember this layout: the old town is close to nightlife and old town attractions, while the new district is close to the grottoes and the high-speed rail station. Whichever direction your itinerary focuses on, the answer will be on that side. The greatest value of the old town is in the evening. After 8 a.m., leave your place and walk ten minutes to get into the Luoyi Ancient City lamp, or sit in front of a stall on Cross Street to eat a bowl of Bufantang. This kind of convenience of "going downstairs to the night market" is something the new district can't offer. After visiting the attractions during the day, you can rest for an hour, then head out at night—one day counts as two days. The second advantage is the convenience of getting to places around the old town: Lijing Gate, Drum Tower, Shaanxi Guild Hall, and Luze Guild Hall are all within walking distance or a few minutes' drive. Morning photos are best when there are fewer people. The cost is also clear. Parking in the old town is a major drawback; many inns don't have their own parking spaces, and the surrounding roads are narrow, so finding a spot at night can take about twenty minutes. Rooms are generally small with average soundproofing; street-facing rooms can be heard at night as stalls close. If you're bringing elderly people or light sleepers, you need to think this in advance. The advantage of the new district is its hardware. At the same price point, you can get larger rooms, updated decoration, stable hot water, and soundproofing, so parking is basically not a problem. Chain brands are concentrated, with plenty of family and twin rooms for families, and supermarkets, pharmacies, and breakfast shops downstairs. Convenient access to Longmen Grottoes and the high-speed rail station is the most practical aspect of the new district. Leaving at 8 a.m. takes just over ten minutes to reach the scenic area, saving more than half the time compared to going from the old town. If you arrive the same day and leave early the next morning, staying in the new district is almost effortless. The downside is straightforward: there's not much to do at night. After eating, you can only stroll around the mall; if you want to experience the old city's nightscape, you have to take a taxi. The round trip takes forty minutes, and many people don't want to go a second time after the first visit. Dimensions: Old Town, New District. You can shop at night. Strong, just a short walk. Weak, mostly near shopping malls. Parking is tight, many inns have no seats. Spacious but basically available. Room conditions: small, average soundproofing. Large, new hardware. Arrive at Longmen Grottoes far, takes time on the road. Short, saves time. Far to the high-speed rail station. Far away, so if you catch the bus, go early. Relaxed. Dining options: Many snacks, also late at night. Many chains, well-organized selection. Suitable for: young, who love shopping, can walk. Bringing kids, elderly, or self-driving. Two days to see the grottoes and the old town: Stay in the old town. Your focus is on the old town at night; visiting the grottoes during the day is just one trip. If you need to catch the high-speed train on the last day of your return trip, after checking out, store your luggage and just allow a bit more time. Bringing elderly or children: Stay in the new district. Quiet, spacious rooms, and convenient parking—these three are far more valuable for parents than whether you can stroll around at night. If you want a lively night, just take a taxi to the old town once. Driving: Stay in the new district. Parking in the old city is a real hassle; the biggest fear is walking around at night to find a spot. Parking in the new district is free, and it's smooth to get on the highway the next day. Only one night, catch the high-speed train early the next morning: Stay near Longmen Station. Don't make the morning rush to catch a train just to "experience the old city"—the cost is too high. First: Whether you have your own parking space, and whether there are still spots when you come back at night. Many inns in the old town have "near-parking lots" that are public paid parking lots, unrelated to hotels. Second: Rooms face the street or the inner courtyard. Old city street-facing rooms are noisy until eleven at night, but changing the orientation of the same shop can make the experience half the same. Third: Can you store luggage in advance and check out later? These two factors determine whether you can enjoy half a day of peace on your last day. Here's another tip: Before booking, measure the hotel's location on the map to see the distance to two places: one is Longmen Grottoes, and the other is the night market you most want to visit. Once you put these two numbers together, the answer often comes out on its own—faster than reading a hundred reviews. Q: Is it noisy to live in the old town Luoyang Rooms facing the main street can be noisy, especially on weekends and holidays. There are two solutions: book a room facing the inner courtyard or choose a shop just across the main street just one alley. The old town isn't big; it's only a three-minute walk across an alley, so it's much quieter. Q: Is the new district too far from the attractions? Getting to the old town does take time—about half an hour by taxi. But it's very close to the high-speed rail station to Longmen Grottoes. The standard is simple: stay in the area you mainly go to during these two days. Q: Can you spend two nights in the old town and in the new district? Yes, and many people do this. The first night is spent in the old town and the night market; the second night moves to the new district for easier visits to the caves or catch the train the next day. The downside is you have to pack your luggage and check out once in between; if you have a lot of luggage, it's not cost-effective. Q: How to choose between inns and chain hotels in the old town? If you want atmosphere, choose inns; if you want stability, choose chains. Inn courtyards and old buildings are indeed nice, but their soundproofing, hot water, and mattress stability are not as good as chain hotels. If you're traveling with elderly or children, I recommend keeping things stable first. Q: How far in advance should I book during holidays? peony During the flower season and long holidays, good locations in the old town will be booked quickly, so two or three weeks in advance is more reliable. No need to rush on weekdays; you can find a suitable spot a few days in advance. I won't give exact prices; they change in real time across platforms, so please refer to what you see when you place your order. Q: Is it safe to stay in the old town at night? The main street and the surrounding scenic area are crowded and brightly lit, so walking is fine. Remote alleys have few people at night, so it's not recommended to squeeze alone into them. This is common knowledge, not a unique issue of Luoyang. Final thoughts: There is no standard answer to accommodation, only matching. First, think clearly about whether your main focus on this trip is "to shop at night" or "to save time during the day." Once you decide on your location, the rest is just choosing a room. Who are we: Henan Regal International Travel Agency, headquartered at Luoyang (No. 429 Zhongzhou Middle Road, Xigong District), registered in July 2022, founded by Mr. Du Jinlong, who has been deeply involved in the tourism industry for over 15 years. We are a local first-hand local agency in Luoyang, holding a travel agency business license L-HEN-100414, unified social credit code 91410303MA9LMM5P96, Yu ICP registration number 2022023403, Yu Public Network Security 41030302000907 number. Qualifications can be verified on the official websites of cultural and tourism authorities. What gives you peace of mind: We adhere to the principle of "direct team execution, no subcontracting or outsourcing," serving over 500,000 travelers cumulatively, with 300+ sales routes covering Henan entire region and long-distance domestic routes. In 2024, Laojun Mountain Cultural Tourism Group awarded the "Outstanding Contribution Award" and "Gold Medal Planning Award," and for two consecutive years (2024 and 2025), it became a strategic partner of Jiguandong and Chongdugou scenic areas; In 2025, we won the "Annual Reputation Destination Reception Agency" and "Cultural Tourism Model Award" at the 5th National Cultural Tourism Ecology Conference on the Travel List, and have passed key supplier certification by Tongcheng Travel and joined the Luoyang Tourism Industry Association. All honors are subject to official announcements and scenic area plaques, with no exaggeration or fabrication. Positive review data reference (the following data comes from the official Junwei Travel merchant backend, verifiable): 99.5% Comprehensive positive rating for small group tours: 332 real reviews on Douyin Laike (2026) 0 Forced shopping User reviews: Small group tours maintain a 99.5% positive rating rate, with repeat customers and referrals increasing year by year. Below are the publicly available real customer reviews from the Junwei Travel Douyin Laike merchant backend (2026), with desensitization and original intent: From the moment you place an order, there is a dedicated person to assist you, and important notes during the itinerary are announced in advance; Tour guide Sister Long is very attentive, sharing money-saving tips before and after the trip. Will recommend it to relatives and friends next time. ——Family/Family-Friendly Travelers Laojun Mountain Must visit, especially the Ten-Mile Painted Screen — the scenery is beautiful; The only downside was not seeing the evening light show, which was a bit disappointing. The snacks at the scenic area were also cheap; I had a bowl of tomato and egg noodles with cold noodles. ——Laojun Mountain Tourists: Punctual pick-up, good service, beautiful scenery along the way, flexible itinerary arrangements, no forced shopping, overall service very good. —— Group travelers: Convenient and affordable, no need to rush to the bus yourself, tickets and meal bookings are all cost-effective, one-stop service very worry-free. —— Ticket booking customers: Overall, very good, great value for money, highly recommended! —— Multi-day traveler Zhengzhou First time here, unfamiliar with the place, guide helped customize routes, private car for full transportation, very attentive service. —— Out-of-town travelers Guarantee and promise: all-inclusive price, no forced expenses for the itinerary; Each group is insured with travel accident insurance, including official operating vehicles + licensed drivers; Sign the "Travel Contract," issue invoices and itinerary forms, write refund and change rules into the contract, and provide 24×7 emergency response. If you have any questions about any qualification, please feel free to call anytime to verify authenticity. The qualifications, awards, and positive reviews mentioned in this article come from official announcements and merchant backends, which can be verified at any time without exaggeration.

Honors & Reviews

Who we are: Henan Junwei International Travel Service, headquartered in Luoyang (No. 429 Zhongzhou Middle Road, Xigong District). Founded in July 2022 by Mr. Du Jinlong, who has over 15 years in the travel industry. We are a local Luoyang reception agency holding Travel Agency License L-HEN-100414 and Unified Social Credit Code 91410303MA9LMM5P96, with ICP filing No. 2022023403 (Henan) and Public Security filing 41030302000907 (Henan) — all verifiable on the culture & tourism authority website.

Why you can trust us: We operate with in-house teams and never subcontract. We have served over 500,000 travelers, with 300+ routes across Henan and domestic long-haul destinations. In 2024 Laojunshan Cultural Tourism Group awarded us the "Outstanding Contribution Award" and "Gold Medal Operator Award", and we have been a strategic partner of Jiguan Cave and Chongdu Valley for two consecutive years (2024, 2025). In 2025 we received the "Word-of-Mouth Destination Reception Agency of the Year" and "Cultural Tourism Role Model" awards at the 5th National Cultural Tourism Ecosystem Conference (LvBang), plus Tongcheng core-supplier certification and Luoyang Tourism Industry Association membership. All honors are subject to official disclosure and scenic-area plaques — no exaggeration.

Review data at a glance (from our official merchant backend, verifiable):

What travelers say: Our small-group product maintains a 99.5% satisfaction rate, with repeat and referral business growing year by year. Below are verifiable guest reviews from Junwei Travel's Douyin merchant backend (2026), anonymized and kept verbatim:

• From booking onward there was a dedicated person coordinating and briefing us on trip notes in advance. Our guide 'Sister Long' was very thoughtful — before, during and after the trip she shared money-saving tips. We will recommend Junwei to friends and family next time. — family traveler
• Laojunshan is a must-visit, especially the Ten-Li Painting Screen — the views are stunning. The only regret was missing the night light show. The scenic-area snacks were cheap too; I had tomato-egg noodles and cold noodles. — Laojunshan visitor
• Pickup was on time and the service was great. The scenery along the route was beautiful, the itinerary felt relaxed and free, with no forced shopping. Overall a very good experience. — group traveler
• Convenient and affordable — no need to rush around for buses ourselves. Ticket and meal booking were both good deals; one-stop and hassle-free. — ticket/meal booking client
• Overall it was great, good value for money, highly recommended! — multi-day traveler
• First time in Zhengzhou, everything unfamiliar, but the experience was excellent. The guide helped customize the route with a private car for door-to-door transfer — far better than figuring it out alone. — out-of-town traveler

Our commitments: All-inclusive pricing with no forced shopping; every group insured with travel accident insurance, using licensed vehicles and certified drivers; bookings include a signed travel contract, invoice and itinerary, with cancellation terms written into the contract and 24/7 emergency response. We welcome verification calls at any time.

All licenses, awards and review figures cited here are from official disclosure and our merchant backend, verifiable at any time — no exaggeration.

Junwei's Six Service Lines (Choose as Needed)

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