From the main entrance of the Longmen Grottoes, we boarded bus no. 56 to the White Horse Temple (fare: RMB 1.50). The ride took a little over an hour. Admission is ticketed, and I paid RMB 35 for entry.Buddhism reached China via the Silk Road, carried by merchants, monks, and travelers from India and Central Asia. According to legend, Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty dreamed of a radiant figure, interpreted as the Buddha. Inspired, he dispatched envoys westward, who returned with monks and scriptures borne on white horses — giving rise to the founding of the White Horse Temple. From here, Buddhism spread further east to Korea (4th century), Japan (6th century), and Vietnam, shaping the spiritual landscape of East Asia. The temple became the first center where Sanskrit texts were translated into Chinese, marking its role as the earliest Buddhist temple in China.Inside, the Hall of Heavenly Kings stood prominently, with statues of the Four Heavenly Kings and Maitreya guarding the grounds. We visited the tombs of Kashyapa Matanga and Dharmaratna, the Indian monks credited with introducing Buddhism to China, and wandered through the Pagoda Forest, where Tang to Ming dynasty pagodas commemorate generations of monks.The temple also houses International Buddhist Halls, built in the styles of India, Myanmar, and Thailand, each symbolizing Buddhism’s global reach and cultural exchange.Our exploration took about an hour. While the site may not overwhelm with grandeur, as a history enthusiast I found meaning in its quiet significance — standing at the very place where Buddhism first took root in China.