洛阳 Luoyang

洛阳，地处中原，居中国经济战略承东启西的枢纽地带，是进入中国中西部地区的门户。它北临黄河，南依洛水，有近5000年历史，既是一座中国首批公布的历史文化名城，也是资源丰富、文化发达、交通便利、科技实力雄厚的新兴工业城市，现辖1市8县6区，总面积15208平方公里，市区面积544平方公里；总人口615万，市区人口140万。

洛阳是中国著名的历史文化名城和重点旅游城市。城市的兴起距今有4千多年的历史，从公元前21世纪中国第一个王朝——夏朝的建立起，先后有13个朝代在此建都。因这里曾墨客骚人云集，故有“诗都”之称，牡丹香气四溢，又有“花都”的美誉。
洛阳有非常丰富的人文景观，其中龙门石窟是中国三大石窟之一，白马寺是中国第一座官办佛教寺院，洛阳古墓博物馆是世界上最大的古墓群，此外还有二程墓、白园、关林等一大批历史遗迹。洛阳的自然风光同样引人入胜，“天津晓月”、“龙门山色”、“洛浦秋风”、“马寺钟声”等洛阳八景风格不同，景色秀丽，使人流连忘返。

Located in the central plain of China, Luoyang City is the pivot of the Chinese economic strategy that connects the East and the West. As the gateway for entering China's Mid-West, it faces the Yellow River in the north and backs against onto Luoshui River in the south. With a history of nearly 5,000 years, Luoyang is one of the first batch of historical cultural cities in China, as well as an emerging industrialized city with rich resources, advanced culture, convenient transportation and competitive technological strength. It now governs one city, eight counties and six districts, with a total area of 15,208 square kilometers, including an urban area of 544 square kilometers. It has a population of 6,150,000, of which 140,000 live in the city.

Luoyang is a famous historical and cultural city and key tourist destination. The rise of the city can trace back to over 4,000 years ago, beginning from the establishment of the Xia Dynasty (21st- 17thcentury BC). After that, altogether 13 dynasties built their capitals here. Luoyang got the fame of "capital of poems", for it has been the gathering place for poets and literators; it is also known as "capital of flowers", for peonies prosper here.

Luoyang abounds in human culture sites. The Longmen Grottoes is one of China's big-three grottoes; the Baima Temple is China's first Buddhist temple set up by government; and the Luoyang Museum of Ancient Tombs is the largest group of ancient tombs in the world. In addition, there are a number of historical relics such as the Ercheng Tomb, the Baiyuan Garden and the Guanlin Forest. Natural scenery of Luoyang is equally attractive: the eight spots of Luoyang including the Tianjin Morning's Moon, the scenery of Longmen Mountain and the bell ring of the Masi Temple, differentiating in styles and geting visitors on the scoop.