May 22, 2013 Xian – Luoyang by High Speed Train and tour of Luoyang.

May 22, 2013

Xian – Luoyang by High Speed Train and tour of Luoyang.

Britney met us at our hotel at 6.15 AM as we had to catch the 8:00 AM train to Luoyang. Our driver Jia got us to the new station that was built for the new high speed trains. The station is very large and all the major city stations in Canada would not fill this station. The station was beautifully finished and has easy access from the large waiting area down to the trains by escalator. Our guide spoke to one of the people waiting for our train and he kindly helped us with our baggage onto the car that we had reserved seats on. The people here have been very kind to us on our trip so far.

The high speed train that we traveled on was painted white with a blue strip on similar to the train we came down on from Beijing. However this train reached up to 305 km per hour that was a little faster than the previous one that we were on.

We left on tine at 8:00 AM and arrived on time at 9:40 AM. This is the way to run a railroad. At the station we were met by our guide, Izirin and our driver Sun. Our guide took us to the famous Longman Grottoes that have been carved in the limestone cliffs that follow the river course of the Luo River. This is such a pretty site for the Buddha’s that have been carved into the side of cliff. Various carved Buddha’s stretch for about a kilometer up and down the cliff walls. The most impressive Buddha was carved in the image of the Dragon Queen. After the grottoes we visited a paper cutting place where we were shown how to simply cut a complex pattern. At this place we bought a rather pretty painting done on slik.

After lunch we went to the White Horse Temple that was started in 68 AD and is the first Buddhist temple in China. It got its name from the white horse that brought the first Buddhist writings from India.

Our Guide, Britney and Dorothy outside the very large and new Xian  Railway Station

Our Guide, Britney in Xian making sure we caught  the right train to Luoyang.

Our Guide, Britney and Dorothy in the very large and new Xian Railway Station.

Leaving the Xian Railway Station. Ballasted track with concrete ties were used  at the  Xian  Railway  Station.

High Rise apartment building just outside Xian Railway Station. It was foggy (or smogy) when we left and this shows up on these and other pictures taken during today.

The speed the traveled that morning is shown on the monitor at the end of each car. Also the next station stop is displayed in Chinese and English. The maximum speed that was observed that morning was 305 KM per hour.

Well-cared fields are seen next to the railway tracks.

A chemical plant at a small town.

A large steam generating station with 4 cooling towers.

A navigable river with a barge on it in the distance.

Another large steam generating station.

2-3 seating in the coach car.

2-2 seating in the first class car. The seats were wide and very comfortable.

Luoyang Railway Station where we got off after about a one hour and 40 minute trip from Xian. Note the very wide high level station platform. 

The CRH high speed train that we traveled on from Xian at the  Luoyang  Railway Station

Dorothy and Con at the Luo River near the Longman  Grottoes. It continued to be foggy in Luoyang as the pictures show.

A Buddha carved from the stone in the grotto. This  large Buddha was paid for by a wealthy person. Smaller ones are carved all over the cliffs by less wealthy people.

Another of the many Buddhas carved out of the  rock.

A large Buddha with other figures on each side of the Buddha there to protect the Buddha.

Dorothy and Con next to a large stone with small petrified flowers on it.

A Buddha with figures on each side of it to protect the Buddha.

Above the Buddha in the previous picture was a beautifully colored circular drawing.

Another large Buddha carved out of the rock.

Smaller Buddhas carved into the rock.

Smaller Buddhas at the side of the larger Buddha.

The largest Buddha carved at the Longman Grottoes. It was commissioned by the Dragon Lady of the Qing Dynasty and the face is said to resemble her. Dorothy and Con are standing before the impressive Buddha.

The beautiful view of the Luo River from the level of the Buddha that has the face of the Dragon Lady of the Qing Dynasty. It continued to be foggy.

The recently built bridge over the Luo River that is near the Longman Grottoes.

Dorothy and Con at the paper cutting factory being shown how to make a  paper cutting.

The artist who painted the painting on silk that we purchased.

Dorothy enjoying lunch in a private dining room at the restaurant  where we had lunch .

Shopping area near the White Horse Buddhist Temple.

Dorothy at the entrance gate to the White Horse Temple.

Statue of the White Horse that brought the Buddhist writings to the White Horse Temple  from India.

Dorothty with our Guide, Izirin in front of the entrance gate to the White Horse Temple.

Dorothy and Con in front of the temple at the White Horse Temple.

The Laughing Buddha at the White Horse Temple.

The protector at the side of the Laughing Buddha.

Another protector of the Laughing Buddha.

Another Protector of the Laughing Buddha.

A large incense burner out side of the Temple.

A golden Buddha with 2 protectors on each side.

The beautiful garden in the Temple grounds.

A smaller Buddha at the White Horse Temple.

A beautiful shelter for people praying in the garden at the White  Horse Temple.

View of a beautiful park form our room at the Luoyang Huayang  International Hotel.

The very spacious marble lobby at the Luoyang Huayang  International Hotel that we stayed in.

Another view from the 2nd floor of the lobby at the Luoyang Huayang  International Hotel.