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.
Cultural orientation
Essential context for travellers.
Learn 'nǐ hǎo' and 'xièxie'; English is limited outside Zhengzhou hotels, so keep a translation app and Amap or Baidu Maps on the phone
Dress modestly at Buddhist and Taoist temples such as Shaolin, White Horse Temple and Zhongyue Temple
Book major museums (Henan Museum) through official WeChat mini-programs; passports are needed for entry
Henan people are known for warmth and direct speech; 'Zhōng!' is the local word for OK
Expect noise, crowds and queues at holiday sites; avoid Golden Week (Oct 1-7) and Lunar New Year if possible
Henan opera is called Yu opera (Yuju); it is sung in Henan dialect, usually with Chinese-character subtitles
Wheat is the staple: noodles, steamed buns and hu la tang soup dominate meals
Paying is mostly via Alipay and WeChat Pay; foreign cards can be linked, but carry some cash
Do's and don'ts
Quick guide to local norms.
Do
- Greet older people and hosts with a slight nod and 'nǐ hǎo'
- Accept and offer things with both hands, especially business cards and tea
- Try local dishes: Luoyang water banquet, Kaifeng soup dumplings, hu la tang
- Keep your passport on you: needed for hotels, high-speed rail, and museum entry
- Carry small bills and use Alipay or WeChat for street vendors
- Ask before photographing monks or people at worship
- Turn phones to silent inside temples and museums
- Visit Chenjiagou or Shaolin in the morning for practice sessions
Don't
- Do not stick chopsticks upright in a rice bowl
- Do not point your feet at a Buddha statue or step on temple thresholds
- Do not criticise politics in public or discuss Taiwan, Tibet or Xinjiang
- Do not take photos at military areas or government buildings
- Do not give clocks as gifts or tip heavily; tipping is not expected
- Do not bargain aggressively in fixed-price shops or department stores
- Do not touch antiques or cultural relics in museums and excavation sites
- Do not cut queue lines; crowds at Henan sites are dense but orderly
Etiquette by setting
How to navigate everyday situations.
- Greetings
- Handshake or nod; use titles such as Lǎoshī (teacher) or Xiānsheng (Mr); first names are used only among friends
- Dining
- Eat family-style; the host orders; wait for elders to start; tea is refilled by tapping two fingers on the table as thanks
- Dress
- Casual is acceptable; cover shoulders and knees at temples; sturdy shoes for ancient sites
- Gifts
- Bring local specialities such as Xinyang Maojian tea or Junci porcelain when visiting a home; avoid white flowers and clocks
- Business
- Exchange business cards with both hands; formality and hierarchy matter; relationships (guanxi) build trust
- Tipping
- Not customary in Henan; a small ¥10-20 (approx USD 1.50-3) for private guides is welcome
Useful phrases
A few words go a long way.
你好 (Nǐ hǎo)
Hello
nee how
谢谢 (Xièxie)
Thank you
syeh-syeh
多少钱? (Duōshao qián?)
How much is it?
dwo-shao chyen
洗手间在哪里? (Xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ?)
Where is the toilet?
shee-show-jyen dzai nah-lee
我听不懂 (Wǒ tīng bu dǒng)
I don't understand
woh ting boo dohng
太贵了 (Tài guì le)
Too expensive
tie gway luh
不要辣 (Bú yào là)
No spicy, please
boo yow lah
买单 (Mǎidān)
Check, please
my-dan
很好吃 (Hěn hǎochī)
Delicious
hun how-chir
去车站怎么走? (Qù chēzhàn zěnme zǒu?)
How do I get to the station?
chü chuh-jan zun-muh dzoh
中! (Zhōng!)
OK / good (Henan dialect)
johng
救命! (Jiùmìng!)
Help!
jyoh-ming
Religion & spirituality
Understanding faith in Henan.
Main: Mostly non-religious with Buddhism, Taoism and folk religion; Islam among the Hui minority in Kaifeng and Zhengzhou; small Christian and Jewish heritage in Kaifeng
Sites: Shaolin Temple (Zen Buddhism), White Horse Temple (China's first Buddhist temple), Zhongyue Temple (Taoist) on Songshan, Kaifeng Great Mosque (Qingzhen Dong Da Si), Guanlin Temple in Luoyang (Guan Yu worship)
Holy Days: Lunar New Year, Qingming, Mid-Autumn; Buddha's Birthday (8th day of 4th lunar month) draws crowds to Shaolin and White Horse Temple
Conversations: Religion is a private matter; ask before taking photos of worshippers and avoid debate about religious policy