# Kaifeng travel guide (开封) Henan Province · Central China, China · 8 places Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/destinations/henan/kaifeng ## Quick itinerary - **Day 1:** Shanxi-Shaanxi-Gansu Guild Hall → Songdu Imperial Street → Hanyuan Stele Forest → Qingming Riverside Park → Longting Park → Tianbo Yang Mansion → Iron Pagoda → Gulou Night Market - **Day 2:** Zhuxian Town → Lord Bao Memorial Temple → Kaifeng Prefecture Government Office (Kaifeng Fu) → Daxiangguo Temple → Gulou Night Market - **Day 3:** Kaifeng → Shangqiu ## The feel of the place When people think of Kaifeng, the first image that comes to mind is "Dongjing Bianliang," the Eastern Capital of the Northern Song. Whether it's the "Five Rats Wreak Havoc in the Eastern Capital" episode from *Seven Heroes and Five Gallants* or the incorruptible official Judge Bao of the Kaifeng Prefecture, both show that Kaifeng was once a stage for legendary tales, gathering heroes and celebrated figures from across the country. It was an era of golden glow, with bustling streets like brocade by day and by night, dignitaries and elegant ladies in abundance… Today, that splendour has largely faded. Apart from reliving the good old days at Qingming Shanghe Garden, modelled on the famous painting *Along the River During the Qingming Festival*, the rest is left to your imagination. ### Best Time to Visit The best time to explore Kaifeng is September and October, when the weather is mild, rainfall is moderate, and you can also enjoy the chrysanthemums in bloom. ### Taxis Flag-fall fare is ¥5 for the first 2 km, then ¥1.3 per km thereafter; beyond 10 km, ¥2 per km. Taxi fares between downtown sights generally do not exceed ¥10. ### Preparation and Information ### Language The local dialect belongs to the Northern Mandarin family and is fairly easy to understand, so communication is not a problem. ### Climate and Travel Season Kaifeng has distinct seasons, abundant sunshine, a mild climate and moderate rainfall, with an average annual temperature of around 14°C. ## Getting there & around ### Getting There and Away Kaifeng sits in the heart of the Central Plains and is well connected. ### By Air Kaifeng has no airport of its own. Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport is 70 km away. ### By Rail Besides the Longhai Railway that runs across the province, Kaifeng also has 150 km of local railway lines. Round-trip trains between Shanghai and Chengdu, Qingdao and Chengdu, Qingdao and Xining, Shanghai and Xining, and Datong and Hangzhou all stop in Kaifeng. By high-speed rail, the trip from Zhengzhou to Kaifeng takes just 20 minutes; second-class seats cost ¥24. Train numbers include G1964, G1896 and G286. ### By Road National Highway 106 (Beijing → Guangzhou) runs north to south through the area, and National Highway 310 (Tianshui → Lianyungang) connects with Highway 220 (Lankao → Binzhou). The Kailuo Expressway forms the "Kaifeng → Zhengzhou → Luoyang" golden corridor of the Central Plains, and the Kaifeng Yellow River Highway Bridge spans north and south. All 93 rural asphalt roads across the five counties and one suburban district are now open. Intercity buses run between Kaifeng and Zhengzhou. ### Long-Distance Bus Stations ### Long-Distance Bus East Station ### Getting Around Town ### Pedicab Most of Kaifeng's sights are concentrated in the city centre and close to one another, so pedicabs are very convenient and also add a bit of charm. - **Railway Station Information Desk** — (353 Zhongshan South Road (South Section), 0371-5951139) - **Zhongshan South Road** — - **Long-Distance Bus West Station** — (8 Yingbin Road, 0371-23931487) - **Kaifeng city buses are generally ¥1** — Buses are self-service with no conductor, so bring small change when sightseeing. Also watch out for pickpockets. ## Eat & drink The ancient capital of Kaifeng is the birthplace of Yu cuisine (Henan cuisine), one of China's Top Ten Cuisines. Kaifeng's local snacks are found in every lane and alley, and fall into four main categories: cooked foods, deep-fried foods, boiled foods and soups. ### Bianjing Hotel Located in the bustling downtown area, next to Songdu Imperial Street, the Iron Pagoda, Longting Park and Xiangguo Temple, this was Kaifeng's first hotel where every guest room uses geothermal mineral water. The nearby night market has plenty of food stalls, and Bianliang snacks and local specialities are available in abundance. ### Pangu Drum Dance Beating the Pangu drums during the Spring Festival and other celebrations is a traditional folk activity in Kaifeng. The Kaifeng Pangu drum style is rhythmic, has many variations and is grand in scale. Kaifeng now has more than 30 Pangu drum troupes, which perform and compete on New Year's Day, the Spring Festival, National Day, cultural festivals, the chrysanthemum fair and temple fairs. Kaifeng's drum troupes have performed in Japan and Hong Kong, earning wide acclaim. - **Youyixin Restaurant** — Sweet and sour braised fish, carp with crispy noodles, "Ten Scenic Stews," "Three-Ingredient Braise," lotus-seed chicken with seaweed and more. (23 Sihou Street, 0371-22282222/22282999) - **Ma Yuxing (Songdu Imperial Street branch)** — Founded in 1886, its signature product is barrel chicken, which was already famous across Central China in the late Qing dynasty for its carefully selected ingredients and superb flavour. (Intersection of Songdu Imperial Street and Ximen Street, 13693780358) ## Nightlife The main activity is strolling the night markets, a custom that dates back to the Northern Song, when Dongjing had night markets everywhere. Today, as dusk falls, night markets across the city's lanes and alleys come to life, with vendors calling out their wares and crowds bustling about, making Kaifeng's night scene a sight to see. ### Commercial Hubs Dafu Xiangguo Temple Market sits at the core of the city-centre commercial district, on the western section of Ziyou Road. It has been a prosperous area and trading hub since the Northern Song. After years of renovation and development, it is now the largest commodity distribution centre in eastern Henan. ### Bird Market Keeping birds is a custom unique to Kaifeng, a seven-dynasty ancient capital, and sets it apart from other former capitals. The history of the Bianjing bird market is recorded in *Dream of the Eastern Capital*. Antiques left by Kaifeng bird-keeping families show that bird keeping and trading developed further in the Ming dynasty. In the Qing dynasty, Kaifeng's bird keeping reached its peak, with the bird market located at Xiangguo Temple. In recent years, the Bianjing Bird Market, which formed spontaneously on the west side of Bianjing Park, has become a distinctive sight in Kaifeng. ### Recommended Night Visits - **Gulou Street Night Market** — One of Kaifeng's largest and most varied night market districts. Located on a major traffic artery in the city centre, it radiates from Gulou Square across four surrounding streets. The Gulou night market runs until dawn, with countless local snacks, the most famous being "stir-fried cold noodles," "almond tea," "rock sugar red pears" and "peanut cake." - **Qingming Shanghe Garden** — In the evening, a large-scale show, *Soul of the Dongjing Dream*, and lantern displays take place, letting you fully experience the enchanting charm of Bianjing's nights. This is a unique highlight of Kaifeng's after-dark programme. ## Shopping Besides classic traditional products, local specialities include Bao Qianyuan brushes, watermelon fermented black beans and Kaifeng peanuts. ### Recommended Shopping ### Shopping Streets Kaifeng's main shopping streets are Bookstore Street, Sihou Street and Gulou Street in the city centre. Major stores include Model Department Store, Dafu Xiangguo Temple Market and the People's Department Store. - **Bianxiu (Bian Embroidery)** — Formerly known as Song embroidery, it is one of China's famous embroidery styles. Originating in the Song dynasty, it has a history of more than 800 years. Its representative works include *Along the River During the Qingming Festival* and *One Hundred Steeds*. Kaifeng Bianxiu Embroidery Factory (88 Mujiaqiao Street, 0371-5951780) - **Wenxiu Institute** — (10 Beitu Street) - **Zhuxian Town Woodblock New Year Prints** — One of China's oldest folk printmaking arts still in existence, with a history of more than 800 years. It still preserves its traditional techniques and distinctive style: hand-carved woodblocks printed by hand, with subjects mostly drawn from historical myths, legends and folk tales. Zhuxian Town Print Studio (24 Songdu Imperial Street) - **Guan Ware (Official Porcelain)** — Northern Song imperial kiln porcelain, one of China's Five Famous Wares, was made exclusively for the royal court. Its production demanded exceptional skill, and the technique was once lost, so surviving originals are very rare. The Kaifeng Northern Song Official Porcelain Research Institute spent three years reproducing official ware that is almost indistinguishable from the originals. Its relatively affordable prices and identical craftsmanship make it the best souvenir of a trip to this ancient capital. Antiques Store (No. 108, North Section of Zhongshan Road) ## Where to stay Kaifeng offers good accommodation options to suit every budget. - **Kaifeng Puhua Tianzhu Hotel (Qingming Shanghe Garden Branch)** — Separated from Qingming Shanghe Garden only by a wall, this hotel is conveniently located without being too noisy. The rooms are well equipped, with a bathroom that separates wet and dry areas and high-speed internet. (Building 1, Jianye Banmu Garden East, Fayuan Street, 0371-22557269) ## Things to see - **Kaifeng Prefecture Government Office (Kaifeng Fu)** (★★★): Admission ¥65; Opening hours 7:30–19:00 (spring, summer and autumn); 7:30–17:30 (winter); Time needed 1–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/kaifeng-prefecture-government-office-kaifeng-fu - **Qingming Riverside Park** (★★★★): Admission ¥120; Opening hours 8：30—17：30; Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/qingming-riverside-park - **Daxiangguo Temple** (★★★★): Admission ¥40; Opening hours 8：00—18：30; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/daxiangguo-temple - **Longting Park** (★★★): Admission ¥35; Opening hours 8：00—18：00; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/longting-park - **Lord Bao Memorial Temple** (★★★★): Admission ¥30; Opening hours Summer hours 07:00-18:30 (last entry 18:00); winter hours 07:30-17:30 (last entry 17:30); Time needed 30–60 minutes — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/lord-bao-memorial-temple - **Tianbo Yang Mansion** (★★★★): Admission ¥40; Opening hours 08:00-22:00 (from August 31, 2026); Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/tianbo-yang-mansion - **Zhuxian Town** (★★★★): Admission Yue Fei Temple ¥30; Qifeng Old Garden ¥50; ¥25; ¥40; ¥60; Opening hours 8:00–18:00 (summer); 8:30–17:30 (winter); 8:00–22:00; Time needed 3–5 hours; 1 hour — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/zhuxian-town ## Day trips & beyond - **Shangqiu** (★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours Open all day; Time needed 1-2 days — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/shangqiu --- Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 2118–2133. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.