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.
- Public
- Zhengzhou is one of China's biggest rail junctions, with two main hubs (Zhengzhou East for high-speed trains and Zhengzhou station) and a metro of more than ten lines. Kaifeng, Luoyang, Anyang and Jiaozuo are 30 minutes to 1.5 hours away by high-speed or intercity train.
- Taxi
- Use Didi (English interface, foreign cards accepted) or Amap. Metered taxis start at roughly ¥8-11 (about $1.20-1.65); a ride across central Zhengzhou is typically ¥20-40 (about $3-6).
- Rental
- Self-drive rental is not practical for tourists because China does not accept foreign licences without a local permit. A chartered car with driver costs roughly ¥600-1,000 per day (about $90-150).
- Walking
- Kaifeng's Drum Tower and Iron Pagoda area and Luoyang's Old Town are compact and pleasant on foot. Zhengzhou's sights are far apart, so walk only between nearby metro stops.
Transport at a glance
- Public
- 4/5 (Zhengzhou metro and high-speed rail are excellent; rural Henan relies on slower buses)
- Taxi
- 4/5 (Didi and Amap ride-hailing are cheap and reliable; street taxi drivers rarely speak English)
- Rental
- 1/5 (foreign driving licences are not valid; use a chartered car with driver instead)
- Walking
- 3/5 (old quarters of Kaifeng and Luoyang are walkable; Zhengzhou is spread out and best covered by metro)
Airport transfers
Getting from the airport to your accommodation.
- Taxi
- About ¥110-150 ($16-22) from CGO to central Zhengzhou; 40-50 minutes
- Taxi Info
- Use the official taxi rank outside Terminal 2 arrivals or book on Didi; insist on the meter and avoid touts
- Shuttle
- ¥20-25 ($3-3.70) airport bus to Zhengzhou station and Zhengzhou East
- Shuttle Info
- Buses leave from outside arrivals roughly every 20-30 minutes; last departures follow the final flights
- Bus
- ¥7-15 ($1-2.20) by airport rail or metro, about 30-50 minutes to the city
- Bus Info
- The Chengjiao line and intercity link connect with the metro system; check the route on Amap before travelling
- Private
- ¥150-250 ($22-37) pre-booked car via Trip.com or Didi Chartered Car
- Private Info
- Confirm the driver's contact in the booking app before departure and enter the exact flight number
Local transport
Getting around the city.
Bus
City buses cost ¥1-2 ($0.15-0.30) with QR payment via Alipay or WeChat Pay
Alternatives
Zhengzhou Metro, Didi and Amap ride-hailing, and shared bikes (Meituan, Hello) unlocked with Alipay for about ¥1.5 per 30 minutes
Taxis & rideshare
What to expect from taxis and apps.
- Regular
- Zhengzhou taxis start at about ¥8-11 ($1.20-1.65) for the first few kilometres plus roughly ¥2 per km
- Apps
- Didi Chuxing, Amap (Gaode Map)
- App Names
- Didi Chuxing - dominant ride-hailing app, English interface, accepts foreign cards, Amap (Gaode) - map app with ride-hailing built in
- Typical Fare
- ¥15-40 ($2.20-6) across the city; ¥110-150 ($16-22) airport to centre
Intercity travel
Getting between cities and regions.
Bus
Coaches from Zhengzhou to Dengfeng ¥25-35 ($4-5), Jiaozuo ¥30-40 ($4.50-6), Linzhou ¥60-80 ($9-12)
Shared
Informal ride-share vans run between smaller towns; use Didi intercity rides instead
Flights
Domestic flights from CGO to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu; ¥300-900 ($45-134)
Private
Chartered car with driver ¥600-1,000 per day ($90-150)
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
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.
Airports
Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport
Luoyang Beijiao Airport
Nanyang Jiangying Airport
Useful apps
Download before you arrive.
Didi Chuxing
Main ride-hailing app with English interface; accepts foreign Visa and Mastercard
Amap (Gaode)
Best transit, walking and driving maps in China, with an English mode
12306
Official China Railway app; register with a passport to book high-speed trains
Trip.com
English booking of trains, coaches, flights and hotels
Alipay
Tourist-friendly payment with a foreign card; scans metro, bus and bike QR codes
WeChat Pay
Alternative wallet accepted almost everywhere; bind a foreign card in the app
Baidu Maps
Alternative map app with detailed Chinese-language listings
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Link a Visa or Mastercard to Alipay or WeChat Pay before landing; many small vendors and metro gates no longer accept cash
Carry a passport at all times; it is needed for train tickets, hotels and some attractions
Book high-speed tickets on the 12306 app or Trip.com and use the passport gate rather than ticket lines
Under China's 240-hour visa-free transit policy, travellers from eligible countries with a confirmed onward ticket to a third country may stay up to 10 days; Zhengzhou airport is an eligible port; confirm current rules on the National Immigration Administration website before booking
Many nationalities also enjoy a 30-day unilateral visa-free entry that is renewed periodically; check nia.gov.cn for the latest list
Google Maps is unreliable in China; use Amap or Baidu Maps instead
Emergency numbers: police 110, ambulance 120, fire 119; the national tourist hotline is 12301