Luoyang (洛阳), in Henan Province, is one of China's oldest and most historically significant cities, having served as the capital of 13 dynasties over more than 1,500 years. Situated along the Luo River in the heart of the Central Plains, it was a major political, cultural, and economic center of ancient China. Luoyang is renowned for the magnificent Longmen Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring over 100,000 Buddhist statues carved into limestone cliffs, and the White Horse Temple, traditionally regarded as the first Buddhist temple established in China.