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 is a low-risk province for tourists, with low violent crime and a strong police presence at railway stations, airports and major sights. Main concerns are opportunistic theft and scams around tourist sites, dangerous summer rainstorms and flooding (as in Zhengzhou in July 2021), winter smog and spring dust, plus China-wide legal risks that affect all foreign visitors. Sensible precautions make for a trouble-free trip.
Current safety advisory
Low
The US State Department rates mainland China at Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) as of 2026, citing arbitrary enforcement of local laws, exit bans without fair legal process, and the risk of detention; it also warns that electronic communications may be monitored. Henan is not a restricted region and tourist activity in Zhengzhou, Luoyang, Kaifeng, Dengfeng and Anyang carries low crime risk. UK FCDO guidance for mainland China should be checked at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/china before departure, as advisories change.
Last updated: 2026-09
Official advisories
Guidance from national travel-advisory services.
Level 2 - Exercise Increased Caution
Exercise increased caution in mainland China due to arbitrary enforcement of local laws, exit bans and the risk of detention; no province-specific Henan restrictions apply to standard tourist itineraries. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) before travelling.
Check current advice before travel
The UK advises visitors to China to understand local laws, carry ID, and be aware of the risk of detention and exit bans; check the current page for any regional warnings, as none are specific to Henan tourist areas.
Seasonal hazard
Heavy rain warnings (blue, yellow, orange and red) are issued in July and August; red warnings mean staying indoors and avoiding underpasses and metro travel. The 20 July 2021 Zhengzhou floods are the province's benchmark event.
Essential safety tips
Practical advice that applies everywhere.
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
Common scams to avoid
Recognise and sidestep tourist-targeted scams.
Tea house and art student scam
Friendly 'students' or strangers in Kaifeng, Luoyang Old Town or Zhengzhou invite tourists to a tea ceremony or art exhibition, then present a bill of hundreds or thousands of yuan
How to avoid: Decline invitations from strangers to go to tea houses or galleries; if attending, ask for the price list in writing first and never pay by handing over a phone
Shaolin Temple fake monks and paid blessings
People in monk robes near Shaolin Temple and Dengfeng offer incense, blessing beads or 'donation' rituals and then demand money, and some touts sell tickets or tours at inflated prices
How to avoid: Buy admission only at official Shaolin Temple ticket offices or on the official app (Shaolin Temple Scenic Area), pay by QR only at posted prices, and decline unsolicited blessings
Unlicensed taxi and rip-off ride
At Zhengzhou Railway Station, Zhengzhou East Station and Luoyang Longmen Station, unlicensed drivers offer fixed high fares that can be several times the metered price
How to avoid: Use the official taxi queue or the Didi app with the destination in Chinese, insist on the meter (da biao), and use metro or high-speed rail transfers where possible
Fake antiques and jade
Sellers around Luoyang Old Town, Longmen Grottoes and Kaifeng's Bell and Drum area sell replicas as genuine antiques or dyed stone as jade at high prices
How to avoid: Treat any 'antique' or 'jade' as a souvenir, do not pay more than the low price of a replica, and buy Tang tri-colour ceramics only from reputable shops with fixed prices
Photo and costume charges
Vendors in Kaifeng and Luoyang put costumes, horses or props on visitors for photos, then demand a high fee after the photo is taken
How to avoid: Agree on the price beforehand, use QR payment only after agreeing, and walk away if the price changes
Health considerations
Staying healthy on your trip.
- Vaccinations
- No vaccinations are legally required for entry from most countries; routine vaccines (MMR, tetanus, polio, COVID-19, influenza) should be current, and Hepatitis A and typhoid are commonly recommended; check the CDC or NHS Fit for Travel pages for current advice
- Water
- Tap water is not safe to drink; use bottled or boiled water (hotel kettles and public hot-water dispensers on trains) and avoid ice in unlicensed stalls
- Food
- Food safety is generally good in busy restaurants; Henan specialties such as hu la tang (spicy soup), Kaifeng soup dumplings (guantang baozi) and Luoyang water banquet (shuixi) are widely eaten, but street food should be freshly cooked and hot, and travellers with allergies should carry a Chinese-language allergy card
- Facilities
- Zhengzhou has the province's best care: Henan Provincial People's Hospital, No. 7 Weiwu Road, Zhengzhou (International Medical Center tel. 0371-6712 9600; emergency 0371-6558 0120), and the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No. 1 Jianshe East Road, Erqi District (switchboard 0371-6691 3114, general enquiries 96299); Luoyang and Kaifeng have large public hospitals, but English is limited there; pharmacies (yaodian) display a green cross and prescription drugs may need a prescription; carry travel insurance with evacuation cover, as public hospitals expect payment upfront by WeChat, Alipay or card
Safety for specific travellers
Tailored advice for different groups.
Solo travellers
Henan is safe for solo travellers, including at night in central Zhengzhou, Luoyang and Kaifeng. Solo travellers should share their itinerary with accommodation, keep a phone with a working data plan or eSIM, install WeChat, Alipay, Didi and a translation app, save hotel addresses in Chinese, and use official transport. Rural areas around Mount Song, Yuntai Mountain and the Taihang range have limited English signage, so guided tours or apps help there.
Female travellers
Female solo travellers generally report Henan as safe with little harassment. Standard urban precautions apply: use Didi rather than unmarked cars, avoid isolated lanes and riverbank paths late at night, do not leave drinks unattended in bars, and keep a hotel card with the Chinese address. Female-only dormitories are offered at some hostels in Zhengzhou and Luoyang.
Families
Henan is a good destination for families. Main risks are traffic, crowds at Shaolin and Longmen in holiday weeks (Golden Week 1-7 October, May Day, Spring Festival) and slippery steps on mountain sights. Keep children close in crowds, bring a child ID card or passport copy, use child seats booked through ride-hailing where available, and avoid the exposed cliff paths on Yuntai and Mount Song with toddlers. Baby formula, nappies and wipes are sold at Zhengzhou malls and pharmacies.
LGBTQ+ travellers
Same-sex relationships are not criminalised in China, but same-sex marriage is not recognised and LGBTQ+ public expression is restricted. Henan is socially conservative outside Zhengzhou; couples typically face no problems at hotels but should show discretion in public and online. Zhengzhou has a small private LGBTQ+ social scene.
Emergency contacts
Numbers to know before you go.
- Police
- 110
- Medical
- 120 (ambulance)
- Fire
- 119
- Traffic Accident
- 122
- Tourist Hotline
- 12301 (national tourist complaint and help line; Chinese-language, English support limited)
- Tourist Complaint Zhengzhou
- 12345 (municipal government hotline) or 12301 for tourism complaints
- Main Hospital
- Henan Provincial People's Hospital, No. 7 Weiwu Road, Zhengzhou; International Medical Center 0371-6712 9600, emergency 0371-6558 0120
- Second Hospital
- First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No. 1 Jianshe East Road, Erqi District, Zhengzhou; 0371-6691 3114
- Embassy Us
- US Consulate General Wuhan (covers Henan), 396 Xinhua Road, Jiang'an District, Wuhan: +86 27 8563 2800 (office hours); 24-hour emergency line via US Embassy Beijing +86 10 8531 4000
- Embassy Uk
- British Embassy Beijing, 11 Guanghua Road, Chaoyang District: +86 10 5192 4000 (24-hour consular line)