Daxiangguo Temple

Drum Tower On the first night of arrival, I went to the Drum Tower first, where there is a night market at night, with a lot of people. The food is basically the same as the night markets everywhere, I am not particularly interested in it, so I didn't eat anything. The main reason to go to the Drum Tower is to take pictures of the ancient tower at night. The lights will be turned on at about 7:40 in the evening, which is particularly atmospheric! It's like a dream back to Bianjing! Other guides recommend taking photos on the sightseeing elevator next to KFC, I personally do not particularly recommend it, I feel that the position is a bit too biased, if you want to take pictures of people, you can go, if you just want to take pictures of the scenery, you can stand below. Other places to visit are the nearby bookstore street, where there are some Kaifeng snacks and cultural and creative shops. Kaifeng Mansion Speaking of Kaifeng, we have to mention Bao Gong Temple and Kaifeng Mansion. I went to both attractions, each has its own good, I can't say which one I recommend. Both attractions are heavily marked by later constructions. Bao Gong Temple focuses on Bao Gong himself, and the narration of Bao Gong's deeds is very detailed; Kaifeng Mansion is more about the history of Kaifeng Mansion, and Bao Gong is just a part of it. If you have time, you can go and see both. I am not particularly interested in history, but I was still shocked in Bao Gong Temple, and I couldn't help but look at the 'Bao's Family Instructions' for a long time, admiring Bao Gong's integrity and honesty. As for Kaifeng Mansion, it's really photogenic! It's been a long time since I've encountered a city tower and pagoda that I can climb up to, this is really good in Kaifeng, basically every city tower and pagoda I encountered can be climbed for a view. Daxiangguo Temple One of the most recommended attractions, a very beautiful and solemn national temple, most of the buildings in the temple are ancient buildings, it is said to be the mansion of 'Four Sons of the Warring States' Xinlingjun. Because I was worried about taking pictures and not being good, and clashing with other people who are devoutly worshipping Buddha, I didn't take many pictures inside. But the temple is really beautiful, if you observe carefully, you will find that there are details everywhere, even the pavilions in the temple are very particular. If you are not in a hurry, you can light a free incense stick for good luck. In addition, the cultural and creative work in the temple is also very good, I bought two canvas bags and small sachets, recommended! Tianbo Yang Mansion On the day before leaving, I had some time, so I went to Tianbo Yang Mansion for a tour. It turned out to be worth the ticket price. If you are interested in the Yang family generals, I highly recommend it, and for those like me who don't know much about the three generations of the Yang family generals, you can also take this opportunity to study seriously. Because it was once the Yang Mansion, there are fish ponds and gardens inside, it's nice to rest and cool off when you're tired, and you can also feed the fish. Tianbo Tower is also very spectacular, you can also climb the tower, and you can see some of the history of Kaifeng on the way up. 🏠 I recommend a hidden treasure guesthouse in Bianjing City, Ying Guesthouse is located in Huangsong Daguan Court on Jin'an Road, an old factory building, steel bars, red bricks, and logs, where Bianjing meets Northern Europe in the Northern Song Dynasty. Perhaps because Bianjing has witnessed too many historical changes, it has an extraordinary demeanor, and it can keep people without speaking or laughing. In Liang Jun's guesthouse, the elegant charm of the Northern Song Dynasty is reproduced, with guqin, flower arrangement, noodles, incense burning, and tea fighting. Every detail reflects the elegant charm of the Northern Song Dynasty, the room is full of texture with the simple and original wooden furniture, and the simple design that returns to the original. The rooftop garden in summer is a good place for taking pictures.

Finally checked in at the legendary Elephant Country Temple and Bao Zheng's residence, which comes with a childhood bonus. As soon as I walked in, I was reminded of the scenes from TV dramas. As a child, I dreamed of becoming a figure like Lord Bao. 😘😘😘 🌟 Highlights: Although the TV dramas have some adaptations, the Bao Zheng I know is also an embodiment of impartial justice. The entire residence exudes an ancient charm. And I don't know if it's the influence of the TV dramas, but as soon as I entered, I felt a great sense of solemnity and seriousness. 🤭🤭🤭 It's super reassuring.

I'm really too lazy, it took me a long time to write this guide. This time I spent half a day in Zhengzhou and two days in Kaifeng, just for your reference. 🛵Transportation: In Zhengzhou, you can use Alipay's 'Travel' feature for the subway. Kaifeng doesn't have a subway, but it's very convenient to travel by shared electric scooters. 🏨Accommodation: I stayed in Zhengzhou for one night, near the Guomao Center on Huayuan Road, which has shopping malls and snack streets, very convenient; In Kaifeng, it is recommended to stay near Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden, be sure to check the distance to Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden on the map. The hotel we stayed at was marked as Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden, but it was actually a distance away from the garden, so we had to ride a shared electric scooter there. 🥙Food: Zhengzhou: Sanheyuan Huimian (mixed noodles) is super recommended, found while strolling through the night market, the pot stewed bread is amazing! It suits my northern taste very well, the more you eat the bread soaked in soup, the more addictive it becomes; Xiaoyao Town's quality beef hot and spicy soup is cheap and good, three water-fried buns for one yuan shocked me. In Kaifeng, I went to Taojia Laomo Village, entered a random shop, and it turned out to be quite delicious, recommend the big plate chicken. Day1⃣️ The first stop: Henan Museum, picture 3 In Zhengzhou, I only went to this place, I like to visit museums wherever I go. The second stop: Wansui Mountain Martial Arts City, picture 4 I went from Zhengzhou to Kaifeng at noon, went to the hotel to drop off my luggage, and then went to Wansui Mountain Martial Arts City, 🎫ticket price 70 yuan per person, also includes tickets to Han Yuan Stele Forest and the city wall, recommend 'Three Beats at Zhu Family Village', 'Snowy Mountain Temple', 'Iron Flower Performance', you must go to the Iron Flower Performance at least one hour in advance, highly recommended! The internet-famous Wang Po matchmaking is here, but she was off the day we went, so it was Li Po doing the matchmaking. Day2⃣️ The first stop: China Han Yuan Stele Forest, pictures 56 If you bought the ticket for Wansui Mountain Martial Arts City, you don't need to buy another ticket, you can enter with your ID card, the scenery is nice. The second stop: Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden, picture I did a Hanfu makeup in the afternoon and arranged a photographer to take pictures in Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden. I will write another note about the makeup. Qing Garden is still very suitable for taking ancient style photos. In the evening, I went to see 'Dream of East Tokyo', which I don't really recommend, there's not much plot, it's just a large outdoor dance drama that strings together several poems. Day3⃣️ The first stop: Da Xiangguo Temple, pictures 78 Didn't go inside, just took a photo outside, I have no religious beliefs, didn't want to spend money on the ticket. The second stop: Iron Pagoda Park, picture 10 Free entry, you can stroll around the park. The third stop: He University West Gate Night Market Nearby is Henan University, I love to explore the snack streets near schools, the prices are very affordable. I do not recommend Kaifeng Mansion, the place is very remote, there are no places to park shared electric scooters around, transportation is not very convenient, and the buildings are all newly built, I personally think it's not worth visiting. Our schedule was quite relaxed, didn't want to be too tired, if you're just visiting Kaifeng, two days including the round trip is completely enough. We only had Henan in Zhengzhou which is said to be very good, but we didn't have enough time to go, will visit next time if there's a chance.

🌟 Get ready for a time-traveling journey to Kaifeng, a city where ancient charm intertwines with modern vitality. Here is a carefully planned two-day itinerary for you in Kaifeng: 🚆 **Transportation Guide**: - Departing from Kaifeng North Station, you can choose to take a taxi to quickly reach the downtown area, which takes about half an hour. - The city's attractions are densely packed, so it's recommended to use shared bicycles, electric scooters, or taxis for convenience and speed. 🗓 **Itinerary Planning**: - **Day 1**: Kaifeng North Station → Da Song Martial Arts City → Bookstore Street → Drum Tower Night Market. - **Day 2**: Kaifeng Mansion → Da Xiangguo Temple → Han Yuan Stele Forest → Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden. 🏰 **Attraction Highlights**: 1. **Da Song Martial Arts City**: A paradise for martial arts enthusiasts, with exciting performances throughout the day and the iron flower performance at night is a must-see.🎭 - Ticket price: 60 yuan, including Han Yuan Stele Forest + City Wall Scenic Area - Time: 8:30-21:00 - Recommended plays: 'The Three Battles of Zhu Family Village', 'Legend of Shenzhou', etc. 2. **Bookstore Street & Drum Tower Night Market**: Two places adjacent to each other, with a strong local atmosphere at night and a rich variety of street food.🌙 - Free admission - Food recommendations: Zhu's Baked Buns, Century-Old Peanut Cake, Zhang's Twisted Dough Strips 3. **Kaifeng Mansion**: The site of the official residence from the Northern Song Dynasty, where you can experience ancient judicial culture.⚖️ - Ticket price: 65 yuan - Time: 7:30-17:30 - Special activities: Court opening ceremony, Judge Bao's case trials, etc. 4. **Da Xiangguo Temple**: A historic Buddhist holy site, also an important setting in 'Water Margin'.🕊️ - Ticket price: 40 yuan - Time: 8:00-18:30 5. **Han Yuan Stele Forest**: A must-visit for calligraphy enthusiasts, a perfect combination of garden and calligraphy.🖋️ - Combined ticket with Da Song Martial Arts City - Time: 8:00-18:00 6. **Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden**: Recreates the scenery of 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival', with especially wonderful performances at night.🌃 - Ticket price: 120 yuan, the performance 'Dream of East Capital' has a different price - Time: 8:30-22:00 🏨 **Accommodation Choices**: - Drum Tower District: Close to several attractions, convenient for sightseeing. - Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden Area: Close to Da Song Martial Arts City and Han Yuan Stele Forest, suitable for visitors who prefer tranquility. 🍳 **Culinary Experience**: - **Xing's Potstickers**: Located on the first floor, it is a traditional delicacy of Kaifeng, worth trying. Wishing you a journey in Kaifeng that not only lets you experience the charm of history but also enjoy the convenience of modernity, leaving you with unforgettable memories!🎈🚲

Da Xiangguo Temple features a traditional Chinese axial symmetrical layout, preserving a strong architectural style from the Ming and Qing dynasties. It consists of the mountain gate, bell and drum towers, Hall of Heavenly Kings, Mahavira Hall, octagonal glazed hall, scripture storage tower, and the master's hall. ☀ The bell and drum towers of Da Xiangguo Temple, with the bell tower to the east and the drum tower to the west, symbolize the peace and security of the nation with the morning bell and evening drum. The bronze bell hanging in the bell tower is a relic from the 33rd year of Emperor Qianlong's reign in the Qing Dynasty (1768), inscribed with the sixteen-character motto: 'The Dharma wheel turns eternally, the imperial diagrams are forever stable, the imperial way flourishes, the Buddha's light grows brighter.' The bell's sound is loud and beautiful, especially when struck on frosty autumn and winter days, its clear and far-reaching tone echoes throughout the city, earning it the reputation of 'Da Xiangguo's Frost Bell,' and it is one of the eight scenic spots of Bianjing. 🌈 Inside the Mahavira Hall, there is a gigantic bronze statue of Sakyamuni Buddha, weighing 400 kilograms and standing 4.3 meters tall. The hall is majestic and known as 'the number one hall in the Central Plains.' 🔥 The octagonal glazed hall houses a 'Thousand-Handed, Thousand-Eyed Buddha,' one of the thirty-two manifestations of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, and is the treasure of Da Xiangguo Temple. ☄ The scripture storage tower enshrines an exquisitely carved Buddha niche, with a magnificent and compassionate white jade statue of Sakyamuni Buddha. The white jade, originating from Myanmar, is translucent and lustrous, with a vivid design sculpted by Burmese artisans, giving it an exotic appearance. The Buddha statue was donated by a Singaporean monk. On both the east and west sides of the tower, there are wooden staircases with more than 40 steps leading up to the tower, where the Qianlong edition of the Tripitaka is stored. 📌TIPS: 📍 Location: Search for Da Xiangguo Temple in your navigation app. 💰 Ticket price: 40 RMB per person, 37 RMB per person when booked through Ctrip, with the discount lasting until February 27, 2024. 🅿️ Parking: There is a parking lot opposite the scenic area, 10 RMB per time. ⏰️ Visiting duration: 1-2 hours 🔥 You can adjust your itinerary as needed based on actual conditions.

Coming to Kaifeng Daxiangguo Temple again at the end of summer, immersed in the courtyard full of ancient style, there is an instant feeling of 'because of the bamboo courtyard meets the monk's talk, and get half a day of leisure in the floating life'. Nowadays, the old trees in the temple are full of branches and leaves, and the flowers are also blooming, which is very beautiful. There are not many tourists, so it's very free to take photos~ When the temple is used as a background, the most stylish is the contrast formed by the old red buildings and green plants, which wins in the original picture tone. This time I chose a light blue cheongsam, casually took a fan and an umbrella, and it felt like it. If you come to Kaifeng for a tour, Daxiangguo Temple is indeed a good check-in point~