Henan · 19 Places · Best April and October
Henan is a landlocked province in central China, on the middle Yellow River, that held the capitals of several dynasties. It is home to the Shaolin Temple, the Longmen Grottoes, the Shang dynasty Yin Ruins and Song dynasty Kaifeng, all linked by fast high-speed rail from Zhengzhou.
Henan lies in the Central Plains of China along the middle Yellow River, bordering Shanxi, Hebei, Shandong, Anhui, Hubei and Shaanxi. Zhengzhou is the transport hub, with high-speed rail reaching Luoyang, Kaifeng, Anyang and Dengfeng in under an hour. Highlights include the Shaolin Temple, the UNESCO Longmen Grottoes, the Shang capital at Yin, Song-era Kaifeng and the canyons of Yuntai Mountain, plus noodles, soup dumplings and lamb soup.
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The 19 destinations our editors recommend — from iconic landmarks to under-the-radar finds.
The birthplace of Chan (Zen) Buddhism and Shaolin kung fu, founded in 495 AD at the foot of Mount Song. The complex includes the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Thousand Buddha Hall with its worn kung fu training floor, and daily martial-arts performances by monk students.
A cemetery of more than 240 brick and stone funerary pagodas of Shaolin abbots, dating from the Tang to the Qing dynasty, set on a hillside among cypress trees.
UNESCO-listed cave temples carved over 400 years from 493 AD along the Yi River, holding more than 100,000 Buddhist statues. The 17 m Vairocana Buddha at Fengxian Temple is the centerpiece.
Founded in 68 AD, traditionally regarded as the first Buddhist temple in China. The grounds include Indian, Thai and Burmese style halls built by foreign Buddhist communities.
Henan's flagship museum, holding Shang bronzes, the 9,000-year-old Jiahu bone flutes, jade burial objects and Song dynasty ceramics, a strong overview of Central Plains civilization.
UNESCO-listed capital of the late Shang dynasty (c. 1300-1046 BC), where oracle bones bearing the earliest mature Chinese writing were found. Sites include the palace foundations, royal tombs and the tomb of Lady Fu Hao.
Pick a length, follow the route. Each itinerary balances headline sights with breathing room.
Three tiers, every traveller covered — from cost-conscious to flagship hotels.
Hostels, budget hotels, and guesthouses offer affordable stays without sacrificing experience.
Boutique hotels and well-located accommodations provide comfort and convenience at reasonable prices.
World-class resorts and premium hotels deliver unforgettable experiences.
A five-star tower in the Zhengdong New District, about two metro stops from Zhengzhou East Railway Station. Suited to travelers arriving by high-speed rail who want a central, full-service base.
Check rates on Booking.comA Hilton on Jinshui Road between the new CBD and the old downtown, roughly 30 minutes from Xinzheng International Airport. A reliable international-standard choice for a first night in Zhengzhou.
Check rates on Booking.comA luxury JW Marriott in the Zhengdong CBD ring with spa facilities and multiple restaurants, close to the Zhengdong business and shopping area.
Check rates on Booking.comAn IHG five-star on Jinshui Road in central Zhengzhou, convenient for the old commercial district and the Erqi area, with business facilities and a full breakfast.
Check rates on Booking.comCafés, neighbourhood gems, and tasting menus worth the table reservation.
A long-established Zhengzhou huimian house known for lamb-bone broth simmered for hours, wide hand-pulled noodles and generous lamb slices. The dish is Henan's signature comfort meal and this is one of the standard places to try it in the capital.
Restaurant famous for its Three Delicacies huimian (sanxian, 三鲜), a noodle bowl with lamb, bean-thread and greens in a milky broth. A typical bowl costs about ¥28.
Sit-down restaurant on Renmin Road serving classical Yu dishes such as sweet-and-sour Yellow River carp with fried noodles (糖醋软熘鲤鱼焙面) and braised dishes; an easy introduction to formal Henan cooking. Average about ¥50 per person.
Henan steamed-dumpling chain whose thin-skinned pork and beef jiaozi are steamed in small baskets and eaten with vinegar and garlic. A simple lunch or breakfast stop.
Zhengzhou beef specialist selling slow-braised yellow beef (huang niu rou) by weight, eaten cold with a vinegar dip or in flatbread. A local-style takeaway and dine-in favourite.
Breakfast chain serving hulatang, a peppery, thickened soup with beef or lamb, kelp and wheat gluten, eaten with fried dough sticks (youtiao) or pan-fried buns (shengjianbao). Open early.
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Henan sits at the centre of China's high-speed rail network, and Zhengzhou is the hub where the Beijing-Guangzhou and Lianyungang-Lanzhou lines cross. Most visitors fly into Zhengzhou Xinzheng (CGO) or arrive by train, then reach Kaifeng, Luoyang, Dengfeng (Shaolin) and Anyang by rail or coach. Cash is increasingly refused, so foreign visitors should link an international card to Alipay or WeChat Pay before arriving. All conversions in this guide use 1 USD = 6.70 CNY.
Daily spend by tier in CNY, broken out by category.
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $7.5 | $22 | $90 |
| Food (per day) | $7.5 | $18 | $37 |
| Transportation | $3.7 | $9 | $18 |
| Activities | $6.7 | $10 | $15 |
| Daily total | $25 | $60 | $160 |
Best time Shoulder Worth avoiding
Average daytime temperature in °C. Figures are for Henan.
April and October (with late September to early November also good)
Henan is a very safe province for visitors and violent crime against tourists is rare; the realistic risks are petty theft in crowded places such as Zhengzhou Railway Station, Luoyang Old Town, Kaifeng Night Market and the Shaolin Temple car parks, plus traffic (e-bikes and scooters often ride on pavements and run red lights)
Emergency numbers in China: 110 police, 120 ambulance, 119 fire, 122 traffic accidents, and 12301 (national tourist complaint and help hotline); operators may speak little English, so show a Chinese address from a hotel card or a translation app
Payment is almost entirely by WeChat Pay and Alipay; foreign cards can be linked to both apps before arrival, and carry some cash (yuan notes) because a few small stalls and rural sites refuse cards and foreign phones
Register at check-in: every hotel scans the passport and reports the stay to police, and hostels or guesthouses that refuse foreigners are not licensed to host them; keep the passport (or a clear copy plus the original nearby) as police may ask for ID, and it is required for train tickets and museum entry
Zhengzhou and much of the Henan plain experience severe rainstorms in July and August; on 20 July 2021 record rainfall flooded Zhengzhou, including the Metro Line 5 tunnel, and killed hundreds across Henan; in July and August check the weather app, avoid underpasses and metro stations during red or orange rainstorm warnings, and follow hotel and local instructions
Winter (December to February) brings heavy air pollution episodes across the northern plain and spring (March to May) can bring dust storms; check the AQI in the AirVisual or China Air Quality apps, wear an N95 or KN95 mask on bad days, and expect authorities to restrict outdoor activity during red alerts
At Shaolin Temple, Mount Song and Yuntai Mountain, steps, wet stone and cliff-side paths cause most tourist injuries; wear grip shoes, use handrails, do not climb outside marked routes, and note that the Shaolin kung fu shows and schools are commercial, with many students' 'masters' offering paid lessons
Do not use drones near airports, military sites or historic sites without permission, and do not photograph military or police installations; Chinese authorities enforce local laws strictly, including exit bans in disputes, so avoid public protest, political discussion in public spaces and disputes with staff
Tap water is not drinkable without boiling; use bottled water or boiled water from hotel kettles, and eat at busy restaurants with high turnover to reduce the risk of stomach upsets
Book high-speed rail tickets on the 12306 app or Trip.com and use official taxi ranks, the Didi app or the metro; Zhengzhou Xinzheng Airport (CGO) has a direct metro Line 2 and intercity rail link into the city
Henan is generally very safe for international travelers. The main issues are touts near Shaolin Temple and Longmen and the need for Alipay or WeChat Pay. Emergency services: police 110, medical 120.
April-May and September-October have mild weather; avoid the National Day Golden Week in early October.
Use high-speed trains from Zhengzhou East to Luoyang, Kaifeng, Dengfeng and Anyang, and Didi for the last leg to each site.
The cities below have their own guides — hotels, attractions and where to eat, in depth.
