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.
Luxury hotels
Five-star and palace properties.
JW Marriott Hotel Zhengzhou
Luxury JW Marriott in the Zhengdong CBD at Millennium Royal Plaza, No. 2 Central Business District, with spa facilities, executive lounge, and several restaurants.
Sheraton Grand Zhengzhou Hotel
Five-star tower at No. 33 Jinshui East Road, two metro stops from Zhengzhou East Railway Station; phone +86 371 6063 6666.
InterContinental Zhengzhou Zhengdong
IHG luxury hotel at No. 178 Xinyi Road with club lounge and multiple restaurants.
The Reserve Hotel Luoyang, Curio Collection by Hilton
Boutique-style luxury at Longmen Avenue and Yiren Road, on the road to the Longmen Grottoes.
Luoyang Marriott Hotel
Full-service luxury at No. 219 Exhibition Road, Luolong District; phone +86 379 6226 6666.
Sheraton Kaifeng
Kaifeng's first Marriott-group hotel at No. 9 First Street, Longting District; phone +86 371 2258 6666.
Wanda Realm Anyang
The only five-star hotel in Anyang, close to the Anyang Museum and the Yin Ruins.
Fine dining
Michelin-starred and chef-driven restaurants.
Zhen Bu Tong Restaurant (Luoyang Water Banquet)
Long-established Luoyang restaurant known for the Luoyang Water Banquet, a sequence of soupy dishes served one after another, and for its imitation-egg-drop soup; search the name in Baidu Maps or Trip.com for the current address.
First Floor Steamed Bun Restaurant (Di Yi Lou), Kaifeng
Famous Kaifeng restaurant for soup-filled steamed buns (guantang bao) in the old city, a fixture for visitors sampling local Bianliang cuisine.
Shaolin Temple vegetarian dining
Chan-style vegetarian meals are served near Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng; ask hotel staff or a local guide to book a table at a temple-side vegetarian restaurant.
Exclusive experiences
Bespoke and once-in-a-lifetime activities.
Private guided visit to the Longmen Grottoes
Hire a licensed English-speaking guide at the Longmen Grottoes visitor centre or arrange a private car and guide through a hotel front desk, to see the Fengxian Temple Buddha and the Tang-era cave niches along the Yi River without a group schedule.
Zen Music Shaolin Grand Ceremony
An outdoor evening performance of Chan (Zen) music and martial arts staged in the mountains near Shaolin Temple; check current schedule and tickets on Trip.com before travelling.
Private Shaolin Temple visit with kung fu demonstration
Arrange a private driver from Zhengzhou or Luoyang for a day at Shaolin Temple, the Pagoda Forest and a martial arts show, timed to arrive at opening.
Evening river-scene show at Kaifeng Millennium City Park
Large-scale night performances re-create Song-dynasty life around the Millennium City Park, which also houses the Qingming Shanghe Tu river painting garden; verify current show times on Trip.com.
Spas & wellness
World-class spa retreats and treatments.
Spa facilities at JW Marriott Hotel Zhengzhou
Hotel spa and wellness facilities for massage and relaxation, typical of the JW Marriott brand; confirm treatment menu at the front desk.
Indoor pool and fitness at DoubleTree by Hilton Kaifeng
Heated indoor pool and fitness room at No. 39 Zhengkai Road, useful after a day walking Kaifeng's old town.
Pool and fitness at Sheraton Grand Zhengzhou Hotel
Pool and fitness center at No. 33 Jinshui East Road; hotel phone +86 371 6063 6666.
Luxury transport
Travel in style.
- Private Drivers
- Hotel front desks in Zhengzhou, Luoyang and Kaifeng can arrange a private car and English-speaking driver for day trips to Longmen Grottoes, Shaolin Temple or the Yin Ruins, typically billed per vehicle per day at roughly ¥700-1,500 (approx $104-224). Confirm the price in writing.
- Airport Transfer
- Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport (CGO) is about 30-40 km from central Zhengzhou; the Chengjiao line and intercity rail run to Zhengzhou East, and taxis or Didi cost roughly ¥100-150 (approx $15-22).
- High Speed Rail
- Zhengzhou East, Luoyang Longmen and Kaifeng stations are linked by fast trains; first-class and business-class seats can be booked on the Trip.com or 12306 apps, and Zhengzhou East to Luoyang Longmen is roughly 40-60 minutes on the fastest trains.
- Private Charter
- For multi-day itineraries linking Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, Luoyang and Dengfeng, a chartered van with driver avoids repeated station transfers; agree the route and price per day before departure.