Luoyang, situated in the East China Plain, is in the strategic economic east to west corridor connecting the costal cities to the deeper inland cities, and serves and the gate to the western areas of China. The city is bordered by the Yellow River in the north, the Luo River in the south, and has a nearly 5,000 year history. It was among the first batch of cities recognized as famous historic and cultural cities, and has rich resources, developed culture, convenient transportation, and scientifically and technologically adept industries. At present it administers 6 districts, eight counties, and 1 city, and has a total area of 15,208 square kilometers, with 544 square kilometers of the city proper; its total population is 6.15 million, with the city itself having a population of 1.4 million. 

        Luoyang is a famous historical and cultural city of China, and a key city for tourism. The establishment of the city was over 4,000 years in the past, and since the Xia Dynasty beginning in the 21 century bc, China's oldest dynasty, Luoyang has all together been the capital of 13 dynasties. Because of the numerous men of letters the city has attracted, it has enjoyed the name of "the capital of poetry" for many years, and also because of the overpowering peony fragrance it also enjoys the name of "capital of flowers".

        Luoyang has extremely rich historic sites, among them are the Longmen Caves, one of China's three big Caves and Baima temple, China's first officially sponsored Buddhist temple.