First Time in Kaifeng? Just Copy This Travel Guide
"Qi trees and rosy clouds adorn the Five Phoenix Tower, Yimen has been an imperial city since ancient times." Kaifeng, an ancient capital with a thousand years of history, is like a thick history book with every page filled with stories. April, with its spring breeze through willows🌿 and blooming flowers🌸, is the perfect time to head to Kaifeng for an exciting 48-hour journey.
📍Day 1: Stroll Through Ancient Ruins, Savor Historical Changes
1️⃣ Millennium City Park
Stepping into Millennium City Park feels like traveling back to the prosperous Northern Song Dynasty. In April's warm sunshine, the park's pavilions, towers, and bridges are built according to the "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" painting, exuding ancient charm. Walking around, staff in period costumes bustle about, recreating the prosperity of ancient Bianjing: crowded taverns and teahouses, amazing street performers, and vendors calling out their wares😃. Take a boat ride on the Bian River, with sparkling waters and willows swaying on both banks, as if you're inside the painting.
📸Photo Tips: Stand on Rainbow Bridge with the Bian River, boats, and ancient buildings as backdrop. Wear elegant Song Dynasty costume, hold a folding fan, and pose like ancient people enjoying spring scenery. Capture these historical moments with a serene expression😃. Or sit on a riverside stone bench with flowing water and spring flowers in the background, smile at the camera for a shot full of life and ancient charm.
2️⃣ Kaifeng Prefecture
Next to Millennium City Park stands the solemn Kaifeng Prefecture. With red walls and green tiles, the government office displays the plaque "Justice as Clear as a Mirror." Inside, you can imagine Judge Bao delivering fair judgments. Live performances throughout the grounds recreate historical scenes, inspiring respect for incorruptible officials like Bao Zheng and ancient legal culture.
3️⃣ Drum Tower Night Market (Evening)
The Drum Tower Night Market comes alive in the evening. Here you'll find Kaifeng's special delicacies, with tantalizing aromas of soup dumplings and stir-fried bean jelly. Sit at a time-honored food stall, bite into a soup dumpling to release the savory broth, then try the hot stir-fried bean jelly - smooth and chewy, every bite filled with Kaifeng's flavors😋. Browse while eating, pick up some Song Dynasty-themed souvenirs, and experience the city's vibrant atmosphere.
📍Day 2: Explore Lakes and Mountains, Enjoy Spring's Energy
1️⃣ Dragon Pavilion Park
Head to Dragon Pavilion Park in the morning. In April, the lake waters are emerald green, surrounded by flowers. Walk along the lakeside under swaying willows, see the magnificent Dragon Pavilion reflected in the water like a fairyland. Climb the pavilion for a panoramic view of Kaifeng, with the Iron Pagoda and Fan Tower visible in the distance, experiencing the blend of history and nature.
📸Photo Tips: In the square before the Dragon Pavilion, with the majestic pavilion and blooming flowers as backdrop, wear casual sportswear and make a heart shape with your hands for a fun moment; or stand by the lake with clear waters and ancient buildings in the background, spread your arms to capture an embrace with nature, showing vitality and wonder at the beautiful scenery.
2️⃣ Iron Pagoda Park (Special Spring Beauty)
After Dragon Pavilion Park, visit Iron Pagoda Park. In April, the park is full of green trees, with the Iron Pagoda soaring into the clouds, standing firm despite centuries of weathering. Up close, you can see the exquisite craftsmanship, with intricate patterns on the glazed bricks. Under spring sunshine, the pagoda creates a unique scene against the fresh greenery.
3️⃣ Kaifeng City Center (Dinner)
Return to city center in the evening. With bright lights everywhere, head to Xisi Night Market or other food streets filled with more delicacies like almond tea and carp with flour. Find a popular stall, enjoy the food, and reminisce about your Kaifeng journey while savoring these flavors, perfectly concluding your 48 hours😃.
🏨【Accommodation Recommendations】
Stay in Longting or Gulou District, close to Millennium City Park and Drum Tower Night Market for convenient travel and constant immersion in the ancient city's charm. Various accommodation options available, from characteristic guesthouses to comfortable hotels, meeting different needs.
🚗【Transportation Tips】
Kaifeng is easily accessible by high-speed rail or bus from nearby cities. Within the city, buses and taxis make reaching attractions convenient; sightseeing vehicles and boats available within scenic areas.
💬【Final Thoughts】
April in Kaifeng offers profound historical culture, charming natural scenery, and mouthwatering cuisine. Step into this city humming a tune, and these 48 hours will surely enchant you. Come start your journey to explore the ancient charm of Bianjing!
The most worthwhile trip, Kaifeng I love you! ! ! ! The price of super close to the people, the mineral water outside is only 1.5, except for the hot weather, everything else is very good, remember to do a good job in sun protection when you go to Longsui Mountain! Very good attraction, will come to play again next year 🥳
The Luohe cruise is very good, the night view is very good at night, you can also go to Xisi Night Market. However, when returning to Qingming Shanghe Garden from Xisi Night Market, you must choose Baogong'an Wharf to take a boat, because it is the first, and the boat is faster!
Funny, grabbing tickets, a little excited. The young lady who checked the ticket was also very good. satisfaction! ! Funny, grabbing tickets, a little excited. The young lady who checked the ticket was also very good. satisfaction! ! Funny, grabbing tickets, a little excited. The young lady who checked the ticket was also very good. satisfaction! !
The online check is unreliable and incomplete. I walked by myself today and gave you a guide: 1. Now the cruise ship is opposite the "Xisi Wharf" and "Qishengjiao Wharf". 2. Xisi Wharf is 100 meters from Xisi Night Market. 3. It is not good to take a boat during the day, it is better at night, but don't have amazing expectations. Compared with Qinhuai River, Guilin, etc., it is still a lot worse. 4. If you have time during the day, you can walk along the river once. 1.8 kilometers, about 25 minutes. 5. I started from the "Qishengjiao Pier" at 5 pm, slowly walked along the river to the "Xisi Pier", and then took pictures outside the Baogong Temple near the Xisi Pier (did not go in) and swayed, the lights were turned on at night, and went to the Xisi Night Market to and from. At 8pm, take a boat from West Pier back to Seven Point Pier.
The night tour is super beautiful! Really have the feeling of Tokyo Menghua! The stern view is the best! You can choose a one-way or round-trip ticket, Xisi Wharf can eat the night market, Hanyuan Stele Forest/Qingming Shangheyuan Wharf can enjoy the night tour of the flower lights to watch the performance, and when the spring flowers bloom, wear Hanfu and walk along the Yuhe River is also a special flavor, take pictures beyond the film!
Stepping into the Qingming Shanghe Garden, it seems to have instantly passed back to the bustling capital of the Northern Song Dynasty. The antique buildings and staff in Song costumes in the garden make people seem to be in the picture scroll of the Qingming Shanghe Map. Walking along the lake, the clear lake water is interesting with weeping willows, and occasionally a few ducks play on the water, which rises layer by layer. Hongqiao is one of the landmark buildings in the park. It spans the Weihe River, connects the north and south sides, and stands on the bridge, as if you can feel the hustle and bustle of thousands of years ago. The performances in the park are wonderful. The welcome ceremony of Bao Gong starts at 9 am every morning. Historical figures such as Bao Zheng hold fists and give gifts. Welcome tourists to come. The ceremony is full of sense. There are also interactive programs such as chicken fighting performances and Wang Yuanwai Zhaoxuan, which makes people seem to be returning to the Liangcheng full of fireworks. In addition, the food in the garden is also a highlight. The aroma of Kaifeng specialty snacks such as soup dumplings, salmon noodles, almond tea is overflowing, making people mouth watering. As night fell, the lights in the garden were lit, and the ancient buildings were magnificent under the light, like a palace, strolling in it, as if entering a dream world. Qingming Shanghe Garden is not only a good place to visit, but also an excellent place to experience the culture of the Song Dynasty, which makes people linger.
The antique style water system that has been built in recent years is also an antique building around. The scenery is good. There are performances on both sides of the river at night. If you take a boat, it is free to walk by the river. It has now become a great place for citizens in the West District to take a cool walk at night. It is really good!
The Yuhe is 1900 meters long, connecting the two major scenic spots of Longting Lake and Baogong Lake in Kaifeng City. The surrounding scenery is beautiful and the cultural heritage is deep. There are one scenic spot in 5A, two scenic spots in 4A, and one scenic spot in 3A. The bottom of the lake sleeps for thousands of years. The ruins of the Six Dynasties Palace. There are two scenic spots next to Baogong Lake, one in the National Insurance, and the West Si Night Market on both sides of the Yuhe Wharf. Yuhe as a link will organically link almost all tourist attractions in Kaifeng City. Yuhe total investment of nearly billion yuan, through the water system in Longting Lake, Baogong Lake and Qingming Shanghe Garden, connecting the two major scenic spots in the ancient city, is important in the Songdu water system. The Municipal Committee and the Municipal Government attach great importance to the high starting point planning, large capital investment, and boutique construction, which has initially built the Yuhe as a beautiful scenery line in Kaifeng.