Luoyang - Wangcheng Gongyuan Park

Wangcheng Gongyuan Park lies in the heart of Luoyang on the site of the former royal city (Wangcheng), built by the Zhou in the 11th C BC The park is renowned for its wealth of peonies. Most of the 180 types of peony are represented here and tradition has it that the flower has been grown here for more than a thousand years.

Of historical interest are two tombs from the Han period (206 BC-AD 220) which were discovered in the 1950s near the old city center and then transferred here. The older of the two dates from the 1st C BC and contains wall paintings which are among the earliest in China. The second tomb dates from the Eastern Han period (24-220) and contains two stone doors decorated with carvings.