The gate and the old street
Lijingmen stands on the west side of Luoyang’s old town and was the western gate of the Jin-Yuan city. The present gate complex consists of a gate tower, barbican, arrow tower, wall and Lijing Bridge, with a total floor area of about 25,000 square metres; the wall is 11 metres thick and 11.7 metres high, and the gate tower rises 30 metres. West Street below it is the working body of the old town.
West Street runs east for about 1.5 kilometres and is one of the “nine streets” in the old town’s “nine streets and eighteen lanes”. More than 280 shops line it, and the streetfront keeps a Ming-Qing character. By day, look at doors, windows, brick carving and old houses; after dusk, food stalls and hanfu shops become livelier. This is a working commercial street, not an enclosed scenic area.
What the street sells
West Street sells roughly three kinds of thing. Food includes peony cakes, peony pastries, bufan soup and many snacks. For looking, there are old buildings; the street leads west towards Yingtianmen and east towards Luoyi Ancient City. For buying, the street is known for peony porcelain, peony paintings, Tang-style three-colour horse figures and hanfu experiences. A 2024 Xinhua report noted that hanfu shops and snack shops are the street’s two defining businesses.
Prices and quality vary widely. Peony porcelain and three-colour horses range from handmade pieces to mass-produced souvenirs. Check the workmanship and ask about materials before buying rather than trusting the label “Luoyang specialty”. Food stalls also differ in hygiene and taste; a busy stall is often a safer bet, but still look at the conditions.
When to go
West Street can be walked at any time, though individual shops keep different hours; late afternoon to evening is best for the street and for food. Whether the gate tower is open and whether it charges admission depend on the current notice. Crowds are heavy on holidays and during the Peony Culture Festival; with a stroller or older companions, avoid the narrowest sections.
Walk east from West Street to Cross Street, or southeast to Luoyi Ancient City; the three can form an evening walk. An hour is enough to see the gate and take a street photograph; two or three hours suits a slower look at shops and snacks.
Useful official references
Check the relevant official service before making arrangements. These links are references, not a guarantee of current services.
