Things to do in Bozhou

The Cao Cao Underground Military Tunnel in Bozhou is hailed as the "Underground Great Wall." Stepping into the deep, blue-brick tunnels feels like traveling back to the Three Kingdoms period. The winding passages retain ancient military designs such as cat-ear tunnels and obstacle courses, allowing visitors to truly appreciate the military wisdom of the ancients. Guided tours are available via QR code, creating a rich historical atmosphere. Some passages are low, requiring visitors to bend over and walk slowly; older visitors should be especially careful. It's definitely worth a visit for those interested in the history of the Three Kingdoms. However, it feels overly commercialized, with too many souvenir shops.

It has a rich historical background and is relatively small; you can see everything in about two hours. Go check it out! Everyone has different tastes, so you're sure to find something you like. Preserving the historical site and leaving a trace of history is the most important thing.

Bozhou is worth visiting again. It borders Henan Shangqiu, Anhui Fuyang, Huainan and Bengbu. It has a long history and is also the world's largest distribution center for Chinese medicinal materials. The beef noodles and mutton soup are delicious.

Huazu Nunnery, also known as Huazu Temple, was first built in 904 AD during the Tang Dynasty to commemorate Hua Tuo, a renowned physician of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Because the temple was consistently headed by female monks, it was called a nunnery. Online ticket purchase is very convenient, and free parking is available.

The Nanjing Lane Money Exchange in Bozhou is well worth a visit, as it's a well-preserved Qing Dynasty building. The three-courtyard complex features blue bricks and gray tiles, a well-organized layout, and the charm of Hui-style architecture. Visitors can see ancient counters, accounting rooms, and secret poems; the ingeniously designed underground vault showcases the financial wisdom of the past. It offers an immersive experience of the bustling commercial port of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and provides insights into the history of ancient coins and money exchanges – a truly excellent experience. However, the ticket price is slightly expensive, making it only moderately cost-effective.

Perhaps due to its somewhat remote location and the wrong season, it was quite deserted, but it was actually very well-built, spacious, and the restrooms were clean. Even with almost no one around, there were still performances, the actors were very dedicated, and there were plenty of trendy new elements throughout. A full-price ticket of 30 RMB is definitely worth it.

An old steed in its stall may still aspire to gallop a thousand miles; a hero in his twilight years may still cherish his lofty ambitions. Perhaps because this year is the Year of the Horse, the central piece in the Cao family cemetery inscription brick exhibition hall at the Bozhou Museum is a portrait brick with a horse design. (It doesn't have the inscription "Even if I die, I will fight" [Facepalm][Facepalm][Facepalm] Not even a replica...) However, there are other exquisite inscription bricks! It was quite moving to see. Some of the brick carvings have a calligraphic feel, while others are more casual (sloppy...). Perhaps they were carved by craftsmen, perhaps by officials. The sentiments of 1800 years ago are carved on bricks, used to build tombs, and buried deep underground. There's "当奈何" (It really gave me a jolt! From "虞兮虞兮奈若何" to "为之奈何," I wonder what the person who carved it felt like.) There's "顷不相见" (Having not seen each other for a long time, or perhaps never to see each other again...?) There's "为曹侯作壁" (Building a wall for Lord Cao). There's "异异" (Is it "Too strange," or someone's nickname? But it certainly is...) (Rarely do personal names appear) When the word "literature" appears (referring to the Three Caos and Seven Scholars, the Jian'an literature, and Cao Pi's writing: "Literature is a great undertaking for governing the country, an immortal achievement. Life has its end, and glory and pleasure cease with one's own life; these are inevitable, but literature is boundless."), why would the craftsmen who built the tomb inscribe "literature" on the bricks? When the word "sorrow" appears (referring to Cao Cao's poem: "Sorrow arises from within, and cannot be stopped," and Cao Pi's writing: "High mountains have cliffs, forests have branches. Sorrow comes without direction, and no one knows it. Life is like a sojourn; why have so many sorrows? If I am not happy now, the years will fly by."), who inscribed his sorrow on the tomb bricks? Han dynasty clerical script truly becomes more beautiful the more you look at it!

Bozhou Old Street is near Huaxiluo Square. The whole old street is not very long and it takes about an hour to walk around it slowly. There are mainly antique buildings on both sides. Most of the shops along the street sell various delicacies, snacks, cultural relics and antiques, etc. It is a good place to stroll around if you like. The ancient street is open to the public for free.

My first time visiting Bozhou, and I was so lucky to see the newly released large-scale historical drama "Cao Cao" on July 10th in Cao Cao's hometown! The entire performance brilliantly portrayed important historical moments in Cao Cao's life and is definitely worth experiencing! It starts at 8 pm and consists of four chapters, with a total performance time of 70 minutes. The script was written by Yi Zhongtian.

Taiqing Palace is definitely worth it. It's antique and has a quiet atmosphere, perfect for calming the mind. The architecture is very charming and makes for great photos. The staff are also very friendly and provide detailed explanations. Walking around alone was incredibly relaxing. I'd definitely come back again.