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.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Kaifeng Old City from Zhengzhou
The capital of the Northern Song dynasty preserves the Iron Pagoda (built 1049), the Kaifeng Fu government-office reconstruction, Longting Park and a lively Drum Tower night-food market. The old town is compact and easily covered on foot with an occasional bus hop between the north and south sights.
Shaolin Temple and Songshan from Zhengzhou
China's most famous Chan Buddhist monastery sits in the foothills of Songshan and has the Pagoda Forest, Bodhidharma's cave trail and daily martial arts shows. Combine with Songyang Academy and Zhongyue Temple for a full Songshan day.
Longmen Grottoes from Luoyang
A UNESCO World Heritage Site with over 100,000 Buddhist statues carved between the 5th and 8th centuries, the centrepiece being the 17 m Vairocana Buddha of Fengxian Temple. Allow three hours; the west bank is the main site and the east bank has Xiangshan Temple.
Yuntai Mountain Geopark from Zhengzhou
A UNESCO Global Geopark in the Taihang Mountains with red canyons, waterfalls and cliffs including the Yuntai Waterfall, among China's tallest. Expect several hours of steps and boardwalk.
Yin Ruins and Anyang from Zhengzhou
Capital of the late Shang dynasty (c. 1300-1046 BCE) and the site of the oracle-bone inscriptions, the earliest known Chinese writing. The ruins include royal tombs and the tomb of Fu Hao; the nearby Chinese Character Museum explains the writing system.
Guanlin Temple from Luoyang
A large temple complex housing the tomb of the Three Kingdoms general Guan Yu, whose head is said to be buried here. The site combines Taoist and Buddhist layouts with stone lions and old cypress trees.
White Horse Temple from Luoyang
Founded in 68 CE, this is regarded as China's first Buddhist temple. The site mixes Han-era layout with an Indian-style stupa and Thai and Burmese halls from later donations.
Hangu Pass from Luoyang or Sanmenxia
A strategic pass on the ancient road along the Yellow River, where tradition says Laozi wrote the Tao Te Ching. It has a reconstructed gate, a Laozi statue and a small museum along a loess gorge.
Red Flag Canal at Linzhou from Zhengzhou
The Red Flag Canal, hand-carved into Taihang cliffs by local villagers in the 1960s, is a symbol of Chinese perseverance. The Qingnian Hole section has a cliffside walkway.
Xinzheng Yellow Emperor Hometown from Zhengzhou
Xinzheng is claimed as the birthplace of the legendary Yellow Emperor. The Yellow Emperor Hometown Ancestral Temple hosts a large ceremony each spring and has ceremonial halls and cypress groves.
Xiaolangdi Dam and Yellow River Gorge from Luoyang
One of China's largest dam projects holds back the Yellow River in a long reservoir framed by red rock walls. Boat cruises and viewing decks reveal gorge scenery.
Songyang Academy and Zhongyue Temple from Dengfeng
Two of the Songshan heritage sites: Zhongyue Temple, a large temple to the Central Mountain god, and Songyang Academy, one of China's four ancient academies. Both are part of the 'Historic Monuments of Dengfeng' UNESCO site.
Trips by distance
How far you can go in a day.
Getting there
Transport options for day trips.
- Tours
- Group tours from Zhengzhou hotels to Shaolin, Kaifeng or Longmen start at ¥180-300 ($27-45) per person
- Private
- Chartered car with driver ¥600-1,000 per day ($90-150); useful for Shaolin plus Songshan combos
- Public
- High-speed rail and intercity rail cover Kaifeng, Luoyang and Anyang; coaches cover Dengfeng and Jiaozuo
- Rental
- Self-drive is impractical because foreign licences are not valid; book Didi Chartered Car
Multi-day tours from Henan
If you have longer than a day, these are organised multi-day trips that start here.
Browse multi-day tours from HenanWe may earn a commission from bookings made through this link.
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Book high-speed trains on 12306 or Trip.com and carry the passport used for booking; it is the ticket
Start early: most sites open at 8:00 and the best light is before 10:00
Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card because some ticket counters refuse cash
For Luoyang sights, stay one night in Luoyang Old Town to avoid a long round trip from Zhengzhou
Avoid China's national holidays (1-7 October, Spring Festival) when tickets sell out and sites are crowded