Luòyáng

Luoyang stands north of the Luo River in the heart of the Central Plain. For many centuries it was among China's great capitals: the Eastern Zhou court moved to the region, and the Eastern Han, Wei and Jin dynasties later ruled from the city. The Sui and Tang built another capital to the west of the Han city, making Luoyang an eastern counterpart to Chang'an. South of the city, the Buddhist images of the Longmen Grottoes were carved into cliffs beside the Yi River.

By the Ming, the city was the seat of Henan Prefecture. In 1373 General Lu Ling rebuilt its earthen walls with a facing of grey brick and dug a moat; four gates gave access to the city. The fortunes of the imperial house and the city became entangled during the unrest at the end of the dynasty. Li Zicheng's forces captured Luoyang in 1641 and killed the Prince of Fu, a member of the Ming ruling family. The city walls, damaged in the fighting, were repaired in the early years of Qing rule.