As night falls, the lights are on. Luoyang has become a world of light and an ocean of lights. On the streets, the colorful neon lights illuminate the city, and the overpasses, like a rainbow reflecting each other, are vivid, harmonious and warm. On this peaceful evening, I drove to Longmen to appreciate its beauty at night.
The great poet of the Tang Dynasty, Bai Juyi, settled in Longmen Xiangshan in his later years, and was fascinated by the scenery here, and he sighed: "The four suburbs of Luodu, the victory of mountains and rivers, the head of Longmen." "The landscape of Longmen is full of spirituality, and the Longmen Grottoes are the eyes of the landscape. It amazes the world with more than 100,000 statues, and a treasure trove of stone carvings and world cultural heritage sites are embedded on the West and East Mountains on both sides of the Yi River. The Yi River between the two mountains of Longmen has witnessed the vicissitudes and splendor of Longmen Grottoes for thousands of years.
According to Martin, the gold medal tour guide of Longmen Grottoes, in order to improve the effect of the night scene, the management committee of Longmen Park carefully arranged innuendo lights on the mountain, which dispersed the dark night of Longmen and weaved a gorgeous scene, making people feel like they were in a dream.
The dragon gate at night is quiet, all kinds of disturbing thoughts quietly go away, and an indescribable calm quietly breeds from the heart. "The landscape is self-sufficient, and tourists have forgotten it. Biquan is even more secluded, and the appreciation has not been able to go. This scene reminded me of the verse of Wei Yingwu's "You Longmen Fragrant Mountain Spring".
On the banks of the Yi River, emerald green willow branches sway in the wind, and strips of lights render the Manshui Bridge, Longmen Bridge, the two mountains and pavilions on the bank poetically. The lights are reflected on the sparkling water, giving the river a neon costume.
One cave, one world. We followed our guide Martin up the stairs to Guyang Cave, a long-awaited dream that has finally come true. I cherish this rare opportunity to observe, appreciate, feel and appreciate the beauty of stone calligraphy from different angles. In Guyang Cave, it is famous all over the world because of nineteen of the twenty products of the dragon gate. During the day, you can only see it from outside the cave, while at night you can see the superb stone carving art of the ancients up close inside the cave.
In Binyang Middle Cave and Lotus Cave, I also opened my eyes wide and cherished such a close encounter. Looking at those faces that have been eroded by the years and the wind and rain, I really wanted to reach out and touch and wipe them, but in the end I dismissed the idea. Standing beside them, I didn't say anything, but my heart was connected to them. The soft light illuminated the Ten Thousand Buddha Cave, and I held my breath and savored it, experiencing the thickness and depth of the cave culture. This dragon gate of light and shadow, the grotto of heart and dreams, makes people think of thousands of years and imagine. We are like traveling through a time and space tunnel, opening the doors of history and culture.
The Three Caves of Northern Wei are the essence of the Longmen Grottoes and have been closed to tourists for many years. After long-term consultation and careful consideration, it was decided to open to visitors at night. It is perfectly displayed in front of visitors, allowing the Buddhist culture of the caves to shine at night.
I don't know the true Zen of the grottoes, but I haven't visited the Night Dragon Gate. In Fengxian Temple, the most famous Buddha and the most spectacular row of Buddhas come to life in the light and are full of movement. Looking up, the graceful and peaceful Buddha sits on the auspicious clouds, smiling, gazing at the earthly world, and his eyes are full of love. She is dressed in a cassock, stepping on the lotus throne, auspicious clouds and shining brightly. This cliff-like Buddha shrine carved according to the Huayan Sutra vividly expresses the ideal mood of the Buddhist world full of peaceful colors. Coupled with the ingenious lighting design and dreamy lighting changes, people can once again appreciate the atmosphere of the Tang Dynasty, as if they are in a mythical world. Walking out of the magnificent art gallery and returning to the world, there is a feeling that it is not a dream. That kind of artistic enjoyment that pleases the mind can only be felt by being in it.
Can't see enough of the night dragon gate, can't appreciate the grotto charm enough. These grottoes of different sizes and statues of different appearances are even more attractive under the warm yellow light, and each stone statue has a glorious history, and each stone tells an unforgettable past. The Southern Song poet Lu traveled to Longmen and wrote the verse "Yonghuai River Luojian, Huanghuang Ancestral Industry". Longmen Grottoes have witnessed the changes of the times and the journey of the Chinese nation. Now, it has passed through thousands of years and is taking on a new face, interpreting the glory of Luoyang and the brilliance of this life in the eyes of people's eager anticipation.
Reviewer: Years Like Song, Liang Jun
Graphic Editor: Tranquility and Distance
Image source: Network Huayu Wenyuan
About the author
Zhao Kehong: Member of the National Committee of the China Writers Association, national first-class writer, senior political engineer, and excellent expert of Luoyang City; He is currently the vice chairman of Henan Provincial Writers Association, the vice chairman of China Railway Writers Association, the vice chairman of Luoyang City Literary Association, and the chairman of Luoyang City Writers Association. He is the author of 13 collections of poetry, novels, and essays. Among them, the essay collection "Heart Rhyme Like Song" won the 8th China Railway Literature Award, the poem "Playing the Sunshine" won the second prize of "Spring Sends You a Poem" by Poetry Magazine, the reportage "Love Artery" won the first prize of China Railway Essay Award, the prose "Looking Back to Hometown" won the 8th Bingxin Prose Award, and the long poem "Earth Flying Song" won the 4th China Long Poem Best Achievement Award.