A group of historic buildings within the historical and cultural district of the ancient capital city of Luoyang, central China's Henan Province, has been transformed into unique homestays, allowing tourists to experience the city's splendid history and culture in a deeply immersive way.
The historical and cultural blocks, located in the east, west, and south corners of Luoyang, are primarily based on the old Luoyang City, which served as the capital for 13 dynasties over 1,500 years. It boasts a wealth of relics, including the ancient city walls of the Jin (1115-1234) and Yuan (1271-1368) Dynasties, the Wenfeng Tower from the Song Dynasty (960-1279), and the residential complex of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
By revitalizing and utilizing historical buildings and traditional dwellings, the area has become a thriving hub for Luoyang's cultural tourism development and urban revitalization. Following the principle of "restoring the old as it was," several historic blocks have been transformed into homestays. The transition from "viewable" to "livable" allows tourists to experience urban life in a historical city.
"Our hotel is actually a century-old house. We retain 70 percent of its original appearance. For example, this pillar is what it was a hundred years ago, and we just redesigned and rearranged it," said Wu Jing, a hotel manager.
The homestays aren't operated in isolation; instead, they're integrated with other cultural elements such as the traditional Hanfu and intangible cultural heritage cuisine, creating a seamless experience of "accommodation, dining, and travel".
Hanfu is the traditional clothing system of the Han people, China's dominant ethnic group. It has eight distinct characteristics, and its history dates back 4,000 years.
The historical and cultural blocks of Luoyang are creating new scenarios for Hanfu experience and related consumption. Themed activities, such as light shows and immersive garden tours, wearing Hanfu, are making it a top IP of the ancient city.
"Luoyang is an ancient capital, and I'm interested in its history. Plus, it's also famous for its Hanfu. It's quite quaint, and I really like it," said Wang Yixiao, a tourist.
According to statistics, over 11 million visitors have experienced Hanfu in the old blocks of Luoyang since 2023.
China's ancient capital city Luoyang makes historical, cultural blocks livable, profitable
