henan china places to visit

Top Things to Do in Henan Province

Located in the middle of China on a plain, Henan Province, which has the most ancient cities in China, enjoys a long history and plenty of tourist attractions. Reasons for visiting Henan Province include exploring the beautiful natural scenery, such as Mt. Yuntai. The most important tourist draw is to discover Chinese history through visiting the ancient relics, such as temples and museums.

1. Shaolin Temple

Shaolin Temple is a famous ancient temple where Shaolin kung fu originated. The ancient buildings, including the Forest of Pagodas, attract thousands of travelers every year.

• Chinese Kung Fu
• Shaolin Kung Fu

2. The Longmen Grottoes

Located in Luoyang, the Longmen Grottoes are one of the three most important collections of Buddhist sculptures and carvings in China. They are famous for the huge number (more than 100,000) Buddhist items.

• China Famous Ancient Grottoes

3. White Horse Temple

White Horse Temple was China's first ancient temple, located in Luoyang. It is renowned as the cradle of Chinese Buddhism, as well as for the large number of Buddhist items housed there. It is well worth a trip.

• China's Top 10 Temples and Monasteries

4. Mt. Yuntai

With a large number of waterfalls and steep cliffs, Mt. Yuntai is a great place for a summer residence, located in Jiaozuo. Apart from seeing the historic sites in Henan, it is also a good idea to visit Mt. Yuntai to appreciate the natural scenery of Henan Province.

• Top 6 Most Beautiful Mountains in China

5. Millennium City Park

Millennium City Park, which is full of ancient charm and elegance, was built to recreate the flourishing environment of the Song Dynasty based on the painting work, "Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival".

6. Eating Luoyang Water Feast

Pastry is popular in Henan Province, such as steamed small dumplings in baskets. Luoyang Water Feast is also enjoyed by many and full of local characteristics.

• Zhengzhou Restaurants
• Luoyang Food

7. Appreciating the Shaolin Performances

"Shaolin Zen Music Ritual" and "The Great Song Dynasty - Reminiscences of the Eastern Capital" are the two best shows, in Dengfeng and Kaifeng respectively.

• Top 7 Night Shows in China

8. Attending Luoyang Peony Fair

Luoyang Peony Fair held in Luoyang every April, and is one of the four famous flower festivals in China. During the festival, many travelers come to Luoyang to appreciate peonies and experience the local culture.

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Affluent Chinese may roll their eyes at the mention of slow-moving and impoverished Henan (河南, Hénán), but the province’s heritage takes us back to the earliest days of Chinese antiquity. Ancient capitals rose and fell in Henan’s north, where the capricious Yellow River (Huáng Hé) nourished the flowering of a great civilisation.

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Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Shaolin Scenic Area

The largely rebuilt Shaolin Temple is a commercialised victim of its own incredible success. A frequent target of war, the ancestral home of wǔshù was…

Longmen Grottoes

The ravaged grottoes at Longmen constitute one of China’s handful of surviving masterpieces of Buddhist rock carving. A sutra in stone, the epic…

Temple of the Chief Minister

First founded in AD 555, this frequently rebuilt temple vanished along with Kaifeng in the early 1640s, when rebels breached the Yellow River’s dykes…

Ancient Tombs Museum

This superb but little-visited museum has three main exhibits: 20 reconstructed tombs (spanning five main dynasties, or over 1000 years), re-created using…

Long Corridor in the Cliffs

This tunnel on the cusp of Guoliang village offers a closer perspective on the plunging cliffs, with dramatic views carved through the rock. The tunnel…

White Horse Temple

Although its original structures have all been replaced and older Buddhist shrines may have vanished, this vast, active monastery outside Luoyang is…

Taishi Shan

Arguably the best hike in the area, Taishi Shan serves as a much quieter counterpoint to Shaolin Temple. It's not for slackers, however; like all Chinese…

Iron Pagoda Park

Kaifeng's most iconic landmark is a magnificent 11th-century Iron Pagoda (55m tall) at the centre of a pleasant park. The gorgeous, glazed-brick edifice,…

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Henan Travel Guide

Henan facts.

Chinese Name: 河南 (hé nán) Abbreviation: Yu Population: 109,060,000 Area: 167,000 square kilometers (64,479 square miles) Location: in the east-central of China Administrative Division: 18 cities (Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, Luoyang, Pindingshan, Anyang, Hebi, Xinxiang, Jiaozuo, Puyang, Xuchang, Luohe, Sanmenxia, Nanyang, Shangqiu, Xinyang, Zhoukou, Zhumadian, Jiyuan); 21 county-level cities; 83 counties; 53 directs GDP (2019): CNY 5,425.92 billion (USD 786.48 billion)  

Cradle of Chinese Civilization & China’s Most Populous Province

Henan is located in the east-central of China and borders with Anhui and Shandong to the east, Shanxi and Hebei to the north, Shaanxi to the west and Hubei to the south. At present, Henan is China’s most populous province with more than 100 million inhabitants. The name of the province Henan comes from its geographic location. Henan means 'the south of the river', indicating that the province lies in the south of China's Yellow River. Given the superior location, Henan is an important comprehensive transportation hub. It is also the cradle of Chinese Civilization since it had been the political, economic and cultural center of the country for more than 3,000 years. More than 20 dynasties set their capitals here and the four great inventions of ancient China all originated from Henan. A visit to Henan is like a talk with many historical sites. While traveling to Henan, you cannot miss the Zhengzhou's Shaolin Temple , Luoyang's Longmen Grottoes , Sanmenxia’s Hangu Pass, and Kaifeng City Wall.

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China’s third most populous province, HENAN’s modern-day industrial trappings conceal a rich history watered by the great Yellow River. The wonderful Longmen Caves lie due south of Luoyang, an ancient dynastic capital thought by the Chinese of antiquity to be the centre of the universe – it may, at one time, have been the largest city on earth. Luoyang also makes a good jumping-off point for one sight whose name, at least, is familiar to many Westerners: Shaolin Temple, home to the famed fighting monks. Henan’s modern capital, Zhengzhou, is unremarkable, but further to the east is the old city of Kaifeng, which wears its history rather better than others in the province – particularly in the form of the ancient wall still enclosing its centre.

Shaolin Temple

The longmen caves, tailor-made travel itineraries for china, created by local experts.

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Sichuan Specialities: Chengdu, Temples and Pandas

Discover the Buddhist history and the natural wonders of Sichuan. From bustling Chengdu and its giant pandas, to the national parks and lake districts of Sichuan Province, to the giant Buddha statue at Leshan, this trip is perfect for those who want to discover this culturally rich part of China.

5 days  / from 838 USD

Family Time in Guilin and Yangshuo

This 5-day family trip is a magnificent opportunity to experience the beautiful outdoor settings of Guilin and Yangshuo. Walk, cycle and raft through awe-inspiring scenery, including dramatic limestone karst mountains, and learn about the everyday lives of the Zhuang and Yao ethnic groups.

8 days  / from 1962 USD

Sichuan Family Adventure

Sichuan is home to a rich and vibrant culture, stunning scenery and wildlife, and delicious cuisine. Spend time with Chengdu's giant pandas, trek around Mount Qingcheng, stand in awe of the world’s largest Buddha at Leshan, and much more, all with this exciting trip, which is perfect for families!

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Located on the alluvial plains in the middle reaches of the Yellow River 70km east of Zhengzhou, KAIFENG is an ancient capital with a history stretching back over three thousand years. However, unlike other ancient capitals in the region, the city hasn’t grown into an industrial monster, with most of its sights in a pleasingly compact area within the town walls, which enclose a 5km-long rectangle. These tamped-earth ramparts have been heavily damaged and there’s no path along them, but they do present a useful landmark. The town is also crisscrossed by canals, part of a network that connected it to Hangzhou and Yangzhou in ancient times. While not especially attractive, Kaifeng’s low-key ambience and sprinkling of older temples and pagodas encourage a wander, and in all, this is a worthwhile place to spend a couple of days, especially if you’ve grown weary of the scale and pace of most Chinese cities.

Kaifeng’s Jews

A number of families in Kaifeng trace their lineage back to the Jews, though their origins remain a mystery. It’s likely that their ancestors arrived from central Asia around 1000 AD, when trade links between the two areas were strong. The community was never large, but it seems to have flourished until the nineteenth century, when – perhaps as a result of disastrous floods, including one in 1850 that destroyed the synagogue – the Kaifeng Jews almost completely died out. However, following the atmosphere of greater religious tolerance in contemporary China, many Jews have begun practising their faith again. You can see a few relics from the synagogue in the museum, including three steles that once stood outside it, but most, such as a Torah in Chinese now in the British Museum, are in collections abroad.

Sprawling, increasingly industrial LUOYANG lies in the middle reaches of the Yellow River valley. While the drab modern city itself retains little hint of past glories, bar its astonishingly good museum, there’s plenty to see in the surrounding area and Luoyang makes a convenient hub for visiting the famed Longmen Caves, one of China’s three major rock art galleries, which lie just to the south. In addition, the city is within striking distance of several important religious complexes, including Shaolin Temple. These ancient sights hint at a rich history – Luoyang has, indeed, been occupied since Neolithic times, and served as China’s capital at various points from the Zhou dynasty through to 937 AD. Confucius once studied here, and this is where Buddhism first took root in China in 68 AD.

Luoyang’s peonies

It’s said that in 800 AD the Tang Empress Wu Zetian, enraged that the peonies, alone among flowers, disobeyed her command to bloom in the snow, banished them from her capital at Chang’an. Many were transplanted to Luoyang (the secondary capital) where they flourished, and have since become one of the city’s most celebrated attractions, the subject of countless poems and cultivation notes. Luoyang now boasts over 150 varieties of peony, which have found their way onto every available patch or scrap of ground – including central Wangcheng Park (王成公园, wángchéng gōngyuán; ¥55 during the April Peony Festival) – a splendid sight when they flower in spring. The peony motif is also everywhere in the city, from trellises to rubbish bins.

Sitting 13km west of Dengfeng on the road to Luoyang, Shaolin Temple is a place of legends. This is the temple where the sixth-century founder of Buddhism’s Chan (Zen) sect, Bodhidarma, consolidated his teachings in China, and also where – surprisingly, given Buddhism’s peaceful doctrines – Chinese kung fu is said to have originated. Today, it’s a tourist black spot, packed with noisy groups and commercial enterprises, and a complete non-starter if you’re seeking any form of spiritual enlightenment – though as an entertaining look into modern China’s kung fu cult, it’s a lot of fun. In autumn, the place is particularly busy, filling up with martial-arts enthusiasts from all over the world who come to attend the international Wushu Festival in nearby Zhengzhou.

Shaolin Kung Fu

Kung fu was first developed at the Shaolin Temple as a form of gymnastics to counterbalance the immobility of meditation. The monks studied the movement of animals and copied them – the way snakes crawled, tigers leapt and mantises danced – and coordinated these movements with meditational breathing routines. As the temple was isolated it was often prey to bandits, and gradually the monks turned their exercises into a form of self-defence.

The monks owed their strength to rigorous discipline. From childhood, monks trained from dawn to dusk, every day. To strengthen their hands, they thrust them into sacks of beans, over and over; when they were older, into bags of sand. To strengthen their fists, they punched a thousand sheets of paper glued to a wall; over the years, the paper wore out and the young monks punched brick. To strengthen their legs, they ran around the courtyard with bags of sand tied to their knees, and to strengthen their heads, they hit them with bricks.

Only after twenty years of such exercises could someone consider themselves proficient in kung fu, by which time they were able to perform incredible feats, examples of which you can see illustrated in the murals at the temple and in photographs of contemporary martial-arts masters in the picture books on sale in the souvenir shops. Apart from breaking concrete slabs with their fists and iron bars with their heads, the monks can balance on one finger, take a sledgehammer blow to the chest, and hang from a tree by their neck. Their boxing routines are equally extraordinary, their animal qualities clearly visible in the vicious clawing, poking, leaping and tearing that they employ. One comic-looking variation that requires a huge amount of flexibility is drunken boxing, where the performer twists, staggers and weaves as if inebriated – useful training given that Shaolin monks are allowed alcohol.

Yet the monks were not just fighters; as many hours were spent meditating and praying as in martial training. They obeyed a moral code, which included the stricture that only fighting in self-defence was acceptable, and killing your opponent was to be avoided if possible. These rules became a little more flexible over the centuries as emperors and peasants alike sought their help in battles, and the Shaolin monks became legendary figures for their interventions on the side of righteousness.

The monks were at the height of their power in the Tang dynasty, though they were still a force to be reckoned with in the Ming, when weapons were added to their discipline. However, the temple was sacked during the 1920s and again in the 1960s during the Cultural Revolution, when Shaolin’s monks were persecuted and dispersed. Things picked up again in the 1980s, when, as a result of Jet Li’s enormously popular first film Shaolin Temple, there was a resurgence of interest in the art. The old masters were allowed to teach again, and the government realized that the temple was better exploited as a tourist resource than left to rot.

Evidence of the popularity of kung fu in China today can be seen not just at the tourist circus of the Shaolin Temple, but in any cinema, where kung fu films, often concerning the exploits of Shaolin monks, make up a large proportion of the entertainment on offer. Many young Chinese today want to study kung fu, and to meet demand numerous schools have opened around the temple. Few of them want to be monks, though – the dream of many is to be a movie star.

Inevitably, such attention and exploitation has taken its toll on Shaolin Temple’s original purpose as a Buddhist monastery. The temple’s primary drive today seems less towards the spiritual and more about the travelling shows and protecting commercial interests – they are currently pursuing efforts to trademark the name “Shaolin”, in order to capitalize on its use by everything from martial-arts outfits to beer companies. For a good account of what it’s like to live and train here, and the challenges that the modern temple faces, read American Shaolin by Matthew Polly.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Longmen Caves are a spectacular parade of Buddhist figurines and reliefs only 12km south of Luoyang. Caves pockmark the cliffs lining a meandering river, hosting figures ranging in size from the miniature to the monumental. It’s an extremely popular place in the summer, though even the teeming crowds can’t lessen the spectacle; try to visit early on in the day, however, as the exposed site can be rather hot.

Longmen’s roadhead is almost 2km short of the caves; if you don’t fancy a walk through the souvenir stalls, head down to the river and follow it to the entrance. Starting from the northern end and moving south down the group, the following are the most important carvings, which stand out due to their size.

Creating the Longmen caves

Over the years, 1350 caves, 750 niches and 40 pagodas containing 110,000 statues were carved out of the limestone cliffs bordering the Yi River to create the Longmen Caves. Stretching more than 1km in length, the carvings were commissioned by emperors, the imperial family, other wealthy families wanting to buy good fortune, generals hoping for victory, and religious groups. The Toba Wei began the work in 492 AD, when they moved their capital to Luoyang from Datong, where they had begun the Yungang Caves. At Longmen, they adapted their art to the different requirements of a harder, limestone surface. Three sets of caves, Guyang, Bingyang and Lianhua, date from this early period. Work continued for five hundred years and reached a second peak under the Tang, particularly under Empress Wu Zetian, a devoted adherent of Buddhism.

There’s a clearly visible progression from the early style brought from Datong, of simple, rounded, formally modelled holy figures, to the complex and elaborate, but more linear, Tang carvings, which include women and court characters. In general, the Buddhas are simple, but the sculptors were able to show off with the attendant figures and the decorative flourishes around the edges of the caves.

Close to the south bank of the Yellow River, ZHENGZHOU lies almost midway between Luoyang to the west and Kaifeng to the east. The walled town that existed here 3500 years ago was probably an early capital of the Shang dynasty, and excavations have revealed bronze foundries, bone-carving workshops and sacrificial altars. Today’s Zhengzhou, however, is an entirely modern city, rebuilt virtually from scratch after heavy bombing in the war against Japan. Despite the resultant dearth of historical sights, and the industrial trappings inevitably springing from a position atop China’s two main rail routes, Zhengzhou is not all that unpleasant, its broad, leafy avenues lined with shopping malls and boutiques.

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updated 26.04.2021

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Henan Province: Travel to the birthplace of Chinese civilization

This article is a practical travel guide to visit Henan, the birthplace of Chinese civilization and martial arts. Here you’ll find:

• Some basic info about Henan province.
• Why you should visit Henan.
• The places to visit in Henan (with information on how to get there, where to stay and what to do or see).
• Some general suggestions for traveling in Henan.

A bit of history and clichés

Henan (河南) , with nearly 100 million inhabitants, is one of the most populated provinces of China. Since most of the population is composed of farmers, this is one of the poorest regions of the country. For these reasons, together with Shangdong, people from Henan are the most numerous emigrant population in Beijing.

If you ask Chinese people about Henan, a lot of them will say that it’s a poor area and its inhabitants are dishonest. If you then talk with people from this province, most of them will end up complaining that the central government doesn’t want the province to develop so that they can keep on producing food for the rest of the country. However, Henan is much more than all these clichés!

Henan is considered to be the birth place of Chinese civilization and was the China’s political, cultural and economic center until one thousand years ago, when the Song Dynasty collapsed. Even if the title of “Old Chinese Capital” belongs to Xi’an , looking at the list of the Great Ancient Capitals of China , half of them are situated in Henan (Kaifeng, Luoyang, Anyang and Zhengzhou).

Why should you visit Henan?

Even if Henan attracts many Chinese tourists, most international travelers don’t even know the existence of this province. So the question is: why should you visit Henan?

As I mentioned before, Henan is the birthplace of Chinese culture and possesses plenty of interesting historical and natural sites. After Beijing, Henan is the Chinese province with more UNESCO World Heritage cultural sites in China.

Also, Henan is located between Beijing and Xi’an, and the trains that join these two cities have several stops in this province. Thus, if you’re traveling along the popular Beijing-Xi’an-Shanghai route a stopover in Henan is quite convenient.

Finally, Henan is the birthplace of Tai Chi Chuan (太极拳) and the Shaolin Temple is located here. Therefore, if Chinese martial arts fascinate you, in Henan, you’ll have the opportunity of learning more about their origin.

Places to visit in Henan

Luoyang (洛阳)

If you can only visit one place in Henan and you ask me where to go, I’d choose Luoyang. This ancient capital is extremely rich in culture and history and is believed to be the origin of Taoism. Also, here you can find the impressive Longmen Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

How to get there

• By plane: Luoyang has an airport located 10 Km from the city center with regular flights coming from several Chinese cities.
• By train: Probably the most convenient way as Luoyang is a major stop in the high speed line Beijing-Xi’an. The trip from Beijing takes around 4 hours and costs 400 Yuan. From Shanghai there are only slow trains; the journey takes around 14 hours and the hard sleeper ticket is around 250 Yuan (check out our guide on traveling by train in China to know more about Chinese trains and railways).

Where to stay

• Luoyang Longmen Youth Hostel : This hostel is cheap, clean comfortable and the staff can speak a decent English. Also, from here getting the bus to the Longmen Grottoes is quite convenient.
• Luoyang Aviation E-Home Inn : Even if this hotel is a bit far from the city center (1.5 Km), the rooms are clean and comfortable, overall, it offers a great quality for what you pay.

Also, click here to read our review of the best hotels in Luoyang .

Places to visit :

Luoyang has plenty of historical sites, several museums, and an impressive number of parks. Here are three places that, in my opinion, you shouldn’t miss:

• Longmen Grottoes (龙门石窟, Lomgmen shiku) : Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 2000, it’s a huge complex of Buddhist statues carved on the mountain. Here you’ll walk around 1,400 caves that contain 100,000 statues carved in the rock. Located at 13 km from the city center, you can get there by taking bus number 81 from the east side of the Luoyang train station (1.5 Yuan). The entrance ticket should cost around 120 Yuan.
• Baima Temple (白马寺; Baimasi) : This is the first Buddhist temple in China and one of the oldest in the world. The Baima temple is located 12 km from Luoyang city center, you can get there by taking bus number 58 from the Luoyang train station (1.5 Yuan), the entrance fee should cost around 50 Yuan.
• Luoyang Museum (洛阳博物馆; Luoyang bowugan) Reopened in 2011, this museum exposes a large collection of objects recovered in the area. At the present moment, the entrance is free.

Dengfeng (登封) and Shaolin Temple (少林寺)

Dengfeng is a small rural town located at the feet of the Mount Song , one of the five sacred Chinese mountains and the location of the Shaolin Temple. Even if you don’t need to stay a night in Dengfeng as you can visit the Shaolin temple in one day coming from Luoyang or Zhengzhou, Dengfeng offers more than the Shaolin temple. If you have a bit of time it’s not a bad idea to spend one night here and enjoy the calm of rural China. For the ones interested in Chinese martial arts, you may want to know that, besides the Shalin Temple, here there’re more than sixty schools of martial arts.

The only way to reach Dengfeng is by bus:

• From Luoyang : There’re frequent buses from Luoyang Bus Station (洛阳汽车站). The trip takes around 2 hours and the ticket costs around 14 Yuan.
• Shaolin Traveler Hostel : Located in the center of Dengfeng, this hostel is a cheap and comfortable option.
• Dengfeng Shao Shi Shan Zhai Express Hotel : Nice hotel with reasonable prices, it’s located near the Shaolin Temple.
• “The Centre of Heaven and Earth” UNESCO world heritages sites : A group of eight historic sites across Dengfeng that have been included onto the UNESCO World Heritage list .
• Shaolin Temple (少林寺; Shaolin Si) and Song Shan National Park (嵩山国家森林公园; Songshan guojia senlingongyuan) : The temple is located inside the park. Today I’m not going to describe it as we’ll write a whole article about it. You can get here by bus from Dengfeng, Luoyang (main bus station) or Zhengzhou (in front of the train station). The entrance fee is about 200 Yuan.
• Kung Fu (功夫; Gongfu) lessons : If you are interested in Chinese martial arts, as I said before in Denfeng there’re several schools. Just to give you an example, at the Shaolin Warriors Monks School the prices range between 15 and 50 USD per day (the price includes the lessons, food and accomodation).

Kaifeng (开封)

Capital of China during various dynasties, Kaifeng features a beautiful lake, a city wall where you can take a walk and numerous rebuilt historical buildings.

• By plane: The nearest airport is in Zhengzhou, which is located around 70 Km from Kaifeng.
• By train: Kaifeng is well connected with train lines coming from several major cities in China. While from Shanghai you can take a high-speed train (6:30 hours and 230 Yuan), from Beijing there’re only night trains, the trip takes 9:30 hours and the ticket costs 180 Yuan (for a hard sleeper bed).
• By Bus: There’re regular buses arriving from many cities in Henan, including Zhengzhou (North Long Distance Bus Station “郑州市长途汽车北站” and Longhai Bus Station “郑州市陇海汽车站”) and Luoyang (Central Bus Station “洛阳市汽车站”).
• Kaifeng International Youth Hostel : Located in the center of the city near the lake, this is the only hostel in Kaifeng, thus don’t expect much.
• City 118 Inn Kaifeng University : A decent hotel, located in the city center, with quite good prices.

What to visit

• Dragon Pavilion (龙亭; Longting) : This building belongs to the old Song imperial palace and it has been rebuilt many times throughout its history. The entrance fee is 50 Yuan.
• Song Imperial Street (宋都御街; Song duyujie) : This is the reconstruction of the ancient city of Kaifeng during the Song Dynasty.
• Youguo Temple (佑国寺; Youguosi) and Iron Pagoda (铁塔; Tieta) : An impressive Buddhist monastery built during the Song Dynasty, you can climb the pagoda (but if you are claustrophobic you better don’t) for 30 Yuan. The entrance fee is 50 Yuan.

Jiaozuo is a typical, ugly third-tier city from Northern China that grew thanks to the coal mines in the area. However, in recent years the local government has been taking a great effort to improve the infrastructures and attract tourists to the area. Jiaozuo was declared the birthplace of Tai Chi Chuan and hosts an annual international meeting at the end of August.

You can take a bus or train from Luoyang and Zhengzhou or a long-distance train from Beijing West Station (the trip lasts 8 hours and the ticket costs 175 Yuan for a hard sleeper bed).

• 7 Days Inn : Jiaozuo doesn’t have any hostels and most of the cheap hotels don’t accept foreigners, thus the 7 Days Inn is probably the cheapest and decent way to spend the night here.
• Days Hotel And Suites Jiaozuo : This is an excellent hotel located at the city center. If you don’t mind to spend a bit more you shall stay here.

Places to visit

Yuntai Mountain (云台山; Yuntaishan) : The Yuntai Geo Park scenic area is classified as a AAAAA scenic area by the China National Tourism Administration and it attracts tourists from all over the country. This spectacular natural resort has “state of the art facilities” with finger print recognition associated with your entrance ticket. The entrance ticket is valid for two days and during the peak season costs 150 Yuan (60 Yuan during low season).

As it also happens in Jiuzhaigou , the bus fee (60 Yuan) isn’t mandatory but necessary as walking from a site to another inside the park isn’t practical (because of the huge distances).

Chenjiagou Village (陈家沟; Chenjiagou) : Located 5 km from the Wen County (温县) that belongs to Jiaozuo (41km from the city center), this is the place where Chen Bu established the Tai Chi Chuan (Chen style or shadowboxing). It’s a sacred place of Tai Chi Culture and a peregrination destination for Tai Chi lovers.

You can get there from Zhengzhou by taking the line Zhengzhou-Wen County line (郑州-温县, 21 Yuan, 2 hours) and then transfer to the local bus line 1 (1路) to Chenjiagou (2 Yuan). You can also take a taxi from Jiaozuo (it costs less than 100 Yuan, one way).

Anyang (安阳)

Anyang is the first known capital of China and here you can find the first library of inscriptions on bones and tortoise shells that is believed to be the origin of Chinese characters.

• By plane: You can take a direct bus from the Zhengzhou airport (the ticket costs around 70 Yuan) but they are not so frequent.
• By train: There’re frequent trains arriving at Anyang from all the major cities in Henan. Also, you can take a fast train from Beijing West Station ( the trip takes 2:30 or 3:30 hours and the ticket costs 160 or 240 Yuan).
• By Bus: There’re regular buses connecting Anyang with most of the cities in Henan, Hebei, and Shanxi provinces.
• Jinjiang Inn Anyang Wenfeng Main Road : Quite decent hotel, clean rooms, good prices, well located in the city center and some of the staff can speak a bit of English.
• Yinxu (殷墟; yinxu) : Anyang has plenty of interesting historical sites, but Yinxiu alone justifies the trip. Declared UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006, this massive archaeological site was the location of the ancient capital. Here were found the earliest Chinese scriptures, that were used for divination. The entrance fee is 90 Yuan.

Zhengzhou (郑州)

This metropolis is the capital of Henan province and hasn’t much to offer to travelers besides its train hub.

You can get there by plane or train from most major cities in China. As an example, from Beijing West Train Station to Zhengzhou Train Station the fast train takes 2:30-3:00 hours and the ticket costs 300 Yuan.

As I said Zhengzhou is a huge city and I don’t have any special recommendations, just choose something convenient for you. Notice that you won’t find international hostels here. Here you can get a complete list of hotels in Zhengzhou .

As I said before, Zhengzhou isn’t that interesting. However, you may enjoy visiting these two places:

• Yellow River Scenic Area (黄河风景区; Huanghe fengjingqu) : A tour that will bring you to five scenic and touristic spots: Five Dragons Peak, Camel Mountain Range, Yueshan Temple, Stone Figures, and the Ancient cities of Liubang and Xiangyu. You can get the by bus from Zhengzhou Train Station. The ticket costs 30 Yuan.
• Henan Provincial Museum (河南省博物馆; Henan sheng bowuguan) : This is one of the most important museums in China; it especially focused in ancient civilizations.

Some random suggestions

• Even if Henan isn’t a famous destination among international travelers, there are a lot of Chinese tourists that come here. Thus be prepared to find hordes of tourists in the most famous spots such as the Luoyang grottoes, the Yuntai Moutain, or the Shaolin temple.
• Related to the previous point, most of the cities receive very few foreign tourists and for this reason, many hotels aren’t prepared (not even allowed, actually) to host foreigners. Even if many hotels won’t care so much as far as you pay, some of them won’t allow you to stay. I suggest you book in advance and avoid the unpleasant situation of trying dozens of hotels and being rejected in all of them (I’ve been there in Zhengzhou and it can be frustrating).
• Most of the foreigners that arrive here already live in China and can speak a bit of Chinese, so don’t expect to find many people able to speak English.
• Despite their reputation, Henan people aren’t more dishonest than the average Chinese person. So don’t worry, they won’t try to cheat you all the time.
• Zhengzhou people have a strange sense of distance. If you come here and ask for directions, never trust them when they say “it’s only five minutes by walking” because you’ll end up walking more than half an hour.
• Henan has plenty of local dishes, you should not leave this province without tasting one of the several types of noodles. One of the most famous is the huimian (烩面).

Notice that all the information that you found on this guide comes from my personal experience, the few English sources available (most of them incomplete and with several mistakes), and some Chinese sources. If you’ve visited this province before, I’d appreciate any comments or suggestions you may have to improve the guide. Also, if you have any questions just ask using the comments section below.

Photo Credits: Photos by Sapore di Cina

About The Author

Sergi Portolés

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16 thoughts on “henan province: travel to the birthplace of chinese civilization”.

My name is Robert and I am from a rural village (Located at Yexian county,Pingdingshan City,Henan province). I have been working for an US company since the Oct. 2010 and just at this moment I am wring the comment in Mineeapolise,MN. The author of this article has spent a lot wring this guide. Henan is famous in China mainly because it is the birthplace of Chinese civilization. People from Henan province have a bad reputation in China, that is true. Probably because Henan has a population of 100 million and at the end of last century, some of them moved to the coastal cities like Beijing,shanghai and Shenzhen to make money. These people were low-skilled and had to do some work that others were not willing to do, there is no doubt that these people were not welcomed by native people. Nowadays, more and more educated people are leaving Henan and working at Beiing ,shanghai and some of them have been hired by Foreign companies. These people are easy to work with and very warm-hearted. Just 2 months ago, there was a news that a nurse from Henan province brought a Japanese back to life when she was in Japan. Henan people are shy but they are willing to give you help when it is needed. Look the good side of Henan province and enjoy the tour in Henan province. As one of the 100000000 Henan people, I am glad to help you when I am available in Henan. You could add me on your wechat ( 502500012) or contact me through 502500012@ qq.com I am glad to discuss more about Henan and China with you.

Thank you for your comment, I agree in everything you say and I must add that Henan is one of my favourite provinces in China, mainly because of their people.

Hello everybody! We are planning a 12 days trip through which we want to know Luoyang/DengDeng, Xi’An, Zhanghjiajie and Guilin. We will be starting from Beijing and ending in Guangzhou. What would you reccomend? Which transports/tours/accomodations/routes do you suggest? Hoy many days would it be ideal to spend at each location? Is it possible to do such a thing? Thanks in advance for your answer! Best regards

Very interesting. I’m planning to visit soonish and wondered about the popular route you mentioned; Beijing, henan, Xian, Shanghai and which order would you travel by train? Thanks in advance.

I would say in the order you say Beijing-Luoyang-Xi’an- Shanghai, however the last trip I would take a plane.

I’m an American that has traveled and stayed in Kaifeng, Henan, China many times. In fact, I married a a beautiful Kaifeng woman. I have also traveled much of the country and can compare Kaifeng with other cities. I am baffled why you think Chinese people have a preconceived notion that Henan people are dishonest. That is absolutely irresponsible for you to publish defamatory and generalized comments about the people of Henan Province. Chinese people make those kind of statements about every province other than their own. Henan is relatively poor, but not at the bottom. From my experience, people in Henan (specifically Kaifeng) are extremely friendly and honest. The night market is known as one of the best in China (many international articles and TV shows highlight the market). And Kaifeng is not as polluted as the more prosperous cities – money comes at a price. You didn’t mention the Kaifeng Jews, another unique aspect of Kaifeng history. If you want to slam a province, I can think of several that deserve your negativity more than Henan. Maybe you had a bad visit, or maybe you need to speak to people that actually spend time there.

take it easy. Sborto has lived in China 4 years, is closed related to people born in Henan and what he reported comes from what he heard. And he clearly stated it’s a cliché.

So I don’t see nothing bad or irresponsible.

Hi Will I think you took the article the wrong way, in fact the article pretends to put Henan in the map, as in my opinion it’s a province that offers a lot to visitors, especially about Chinese history and culture. Personally I’ve been many times in Henan and I consider it as my second home, also I let people from this province to read the article and no one feel like it was offensive, in fact the contrary, so I suggest you to read the whole article again.

After saying that, I should thanks you for remembering that I have to mention Jewish importance in Kaifeng history.

I hope after reading the article again you can get me an other feedback and help us to make the article better, as I think you have much more knowledge about Kaifeng than me.

Will, I’ve lived here for 5 years , zhengzhou. I guess you don’t do much business here at least on a large scale, it is very true that Henan ren are extremely dishonest, not all of course but all business people. I personally have not lost out but ohhhh they all try with their lies and guanxi. Yes you married a nice Henan girl, typically the woman are much better than the men. When it comes to money Henan people are the most dishonest in trying to cheat money out of people! So if your a teacher or a small timer your not in the real circles and therefore your not worth the time or effort to be cheated on, so you won’t come across these ppl because they consider you have too little to take. There is a reason why Henan is so behind most of china it’s because they have the worst reputation and no one wants to deal with them.

Pretty harsh comment. And I disagree with you.

I don’t think Henan “is behind” cause it has the “worst” reputation in China. The reason is that it’s an internal province where farming was quite developed. When Deng Xiao Ping decided to open the country to foreign investment etc he chose Guangdong and Fujian (for obvious historical reasons) and then Shanghai and Zhejiang (again, an obvious choice).

Nowadays the government is investing a lot in Sichuan and Hunan, while Henan is still out of the equation. Also, not all Chinese provinces are good for farming (try to grow something in Xinjiang…) and China already import a lot of food. So it wouldn’t be smart to transform Henan in an industrial pole while it’s one of the few provinces you can use for farming.

It’s a strategic choice that has nothing to do with Henan people reputation.

I do agree with you that if you’re a teacher it’s difficult to see the dark side of doing business with China.

I totally agree with Furio’s comment and just want to stand with my opinion in the article, Henan people aren’t more dishonest or honest than other Chinese people, while doing business in China you’ll find plenty of dishonest people (is difficult to be successful if you are honest) and Henan is not an exception. In fact if you talk with some business people from the south, they’ll tell you that northern people (including Henan) are naive and easy to cheat (again a cliché). In my opinion the reputation comes because most of the poor emigrant people in Beijing come from this province and some of them had to do not so “clean” business in order to survive.

Where in tarnation did you find a Kaifeng woman who was pretty AND nice? In my experience, I’ve found neither here! Some modestly pretty ones, perhaps, but nice? And as for the Jewish girls, I think JAP (JCP?) is a more accurate describer than “Nice Jewish Girl”. Trust me – there ain’t much to see of Jewish stuff here – yet.

I have no idea about Jewish Girls, but in my opinion Kaifeng have some interesting woman. Maybe too strong character for you : )

I was born in Zhengzhou and lived there until age 12. Sborto is 100% correct, “Henan ren” do have a bad reputation in the country, and people often made jokes about “Henan ren” being more “peasant” than the others. My parents were both not from Henan province and nor were most of their friends, but they all studied in Zhengzhou and at reunion dinners they will often make such comments. This was done jokingly most of the time but you can’t help but wonder if a lot of these people do indeed believe it.

But remember, this is just the reputation, as Sborto mentioned. There is no concrete statistics proving that Henan people are really the worst in all of China.

It’s true. That’s the Chinese stereotype…

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  • Tour Experiences

  Destinations

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  3 Days Essence of Luoyang Tour

  

  Henan Tours & Best Henan China Tour Packages

  Travel to the birthplace of Chinese Nation

  Henan, located at the south of the Yellow River, is the cradle of China’s 5000-year-long civilization , the birthplace of Chinese martial arts , the origin of many Chinese surnames as well as the site where the Oracle Bone Inscriptions were found. During China’s history, there were more than 200 emperors of more than 20 dynasties ruined China or part of China in Henan. Half of the Eight Great Ancient Capitals of China are located in Henan. Looking at the list of China’s World Heritage Sites, Henan, with 5 sites listed , ranks only after Beijing, the capital of China. All these facts make the province Henan one of the best places to trace back on the Chinese roots and discover the essence of Chinese culture. Don’t think the historical sites are only things Henan can offer. The mighty Yellow River winds through the vast plain of Henan and creates many natural wonders. If you travel to the northern province, you will find gigantic mountains, tearing canyons, tranquil lakes, colorful cliffs and many other pleasant natural miracles. A trip to Henan Province will not only please your eyes, but also refresh your mind .

  With more than 3,630+ feedbacks of satisfaction from our clients and 1,830+ good reviews on Tripadvisor , we are the leading providers of all kinds of classic Henan tours and tailor-made packages. Traveling with us, you can easily enjoy the bests of the region as well as enjoy the highest holiday standards with great flexibility , comfort and personalized services . Find a classic Henan tour from our Top 8 Henan Tour Packages, or browse Henan tours by destinations . If you have no idea where to start, you can find useful Henan travel guide here or feel free to contact us to design a wonderful Henan trip of your own!

  Classic Henan

  Featured henan.

  

  Henan Highlights

  6 days henan highlights tour.

  Trip at a Glance: Zhengzhou (2N), Anyang (1N), Kaifeng (1N), Luoyang (1N)

  Sites: Museum of Chinese Characters, Yinxu, Millennium City Park, Shaolin Temple, Longmen Grottoes

  Transfer: Private Car

  

  Essence of Luoyang

  Trip at a Glance: Luoyang (2N), Dengfeng

  Sites: Longmen Grottoes, Luoyang Museum, Tianzi Jialiu Museum, Whilte Horse Temple, Shaolin Temple

  

  Legendary Shaolin Temple

  3 days shaolin temple longmen grottoes tour from zhengzhou.

  Trip at a Glance: Zhengzhou (1N), Dengfeng, Luoyang (1N)

  Sites: Shaolin Temple, Astronomical Observatory, Longmen Grottoes, Luoyang Museum

  

  Shaolin Kung Fu Class

  3 days in-depth shaolin kung fu class tour.

  Trip at a Glance: Zhengzhou (1N), Dengfeng (1N)

  Sites: Shaolin Temple, Kung Fu School, Astronomical Observatory

  

  Stunning Mount Song

  3 days shaolin temple mount song hiking tour.

  Sites: Shaolin Temple, Mount Song, Longmen Grottoes, Luoyang Museum

  

  Ancient Capitals

  5 days henan cultural tour to luoyang and kaifeng.

  Trip at a Glance: Zhengzhou (2N), Kaifeng, Luoyang (2N)

  Sites: Shaolin Temple, Kaifeng Millennium City Park, Ancient City Wall, Longmen Grottoes, Luoyang Museum

  

  Hidden Land That Time Forgot

  5 days hidden guoliangcun village tour.

  Trip at a Glance: Luoyang (3N), Guoliangcun (1N)

  Sites: Longmen Grottoes, Luoyang Museum, White Horse Temple, Guoliangcun Village

  

  Magnificent Heritage Tour from Xian

  Grand world heritage sites of china.

  Trip at a Glance: Xian (3N), Luoyang

  Sites: Terracotta Warriors, Ancient City Wall, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, Longmen Grottoes

  Transfer: Private Car & Bullet Train

  

  International Peony Festival

  3 days luoyang peony culture festival tour ().

  Sites: Longmen Grottoes, Luoyang Museum, Luoyang National Peony Garden, Shaolin Temple

  

  Xiaolangdi Dam Visit

  3 days luoyang culture and nature tour.

  Trip at a Glance: Luoyang (2N), Dengfeng, Xiaolangdi

  Sites:  Longmen Grottoes, Luoyang Museum, Xiaolangdi Dam, Shaolin Temple

  

  Authentic Shaolin Kung Fu Tour from Luoyang

  3 days shaolin kung fu tour including luoyang highlights.

  Sites: Shaolin Temple, Longmen Grottoes, Luoyang Museum

  

  Luoyang History and Culture Discovery

  4 days in-depth luoyang history and culture discovery.

  Trip at a Glance: Luoyang (3N)

  Sites: Shaolin Temple, Longmen Grottoes, Luoyang Museum, Tianzi Jialiu Museum

  Henan Tours by Destinations

  When planning your itinerary in Henan, Luoyang should be on the top of the bucket list. With some of the finest Buddhist arts in China and many interesting museums, you can stay there about 2 or 3 days. An efficient day trip to Shaolin Temple from Luoyang is also available. If you find Zhengzhou suits your plan well, you can also start your tour from Zhengzhou, then travel to Luoyang via Shaolin Temple. For a deeper exploration of the region, you can extend your trip to Kaifeng to look for ancient glory, or a historical tour to Anyang to witness the great archaeological wonder of Yinxu. If you prefer some eyes-pleasing experience, you can go to hanging village of Guoliangcun in Xinxiang, stunning Yuntain Mountain Geopark in Jiaozuo and spectacular Xiaolangdi Irrigation System in Luoyang. Following are well-selected Henan tours by destinations.

  • Shaolin Temple
  

  3 Days Luoyang Essence Tour

  Highlights: Shaolin Temple, Longmen Grottoes, White Horse Temple

  Apart from the surviving Longmen Grottoes, you will also explore more of Luoyang by visiting its local museums and experience the authentic Shaolin Kung Fu in nearby Dengfeng Shaolin Temple.

  

  2 Days Luoyang Longmen Grottoes Tour

  Highlights: Longmen Grottoes, White Horse Temple, Shaolin Temple

  This 2-day tour helps you make full use of your time and money in Luoyang. You will not only appreciate the fine example of Chinese Buddhism art, but also explore Zen Buddhism and Kung Fu in Shaolin Temple!

  

  3 Days Luoyang Kung Fu Tour

  Highlights: Shaolin Temple, Kung Fu Class, Longmen Grottoes

  This 3 days tour offers you a special Shaolin Kung Fu class in a Shaolin Temple and explore the can't-be-missed highlight of Luoyang. Packaged services include tour guide, transfer, hotel, etc.

  

  3 Days Luoyang & Yuntai Mountain Tour

  Highlights: Longmen Grottoes, Shaolin Temple, Yuntai Mountain

  This 3 days tour offers you a wonderful experience in Yuntai Mountain from Luoyang. You will firstly discover the cultural heritage sites in Luoyang and end your trip with a visual feast in Yuntai Mountain.

  

  Highlights: Shaolin Kung Fu Training, Shaolin Kung Fu Show, Shaolin Temple, Pagoda Forest

  Be taught to acquire some real Shaolin Kung Fu skills by a professional Kung Fu teacher and enjoy a fascinating Kung Fu show performed by real martial monks of Shaolin Temple. Free airport/train station pick up and drop off.

  

  3 Days Shaolin Temple Tour from Zhengzhou

  Highlights: Shaolin Temple, Shaolin Kung Fu Show, Luoyang Longmen Grottoes, Luoyang Museum, Ancient Astronomical Observatory

  Driving about 1 hour 45mins from Zhengzhou to Shaolin Temple to experience real authentic Shaolin Kung Fu and extend your tour to nearby Longmen Grottoes with well organized itinerary and private tour guide.

  

  Highlights: Shaolin Temple, Mount Song Hiking, Longmen Grottoes, Luoyang Museum

  This tour starts from Luoyang (Zhengzhou also available), visit Shaolin Temple and hike Mount Song, then return to Luoyang to visit Longmen Grottoes. It is a trip of diverse experiences.

  

  2 Days Shaolin Kung Fu Tour from Zhengzhou

  Highlights: Shaolin Temple, Shaolin Kung Fu Show, Astronomical Observatory

  Private tour package with your own English-speaking guide and private driver. dig deeper into the very essence of Shaolin Temple. The Best local price guaranteed.

  

  Highlights: Yinxu, Shaolin Temple, Longmen Grottoes, Museum of Chinese Characters, Kaifeng Millennium City Park, Luoyang Museum

  Explore the essential highlights of Henan in a brief but enjoyable way, including the ancient Yinxu Site in Anyang, famous Shaolin Temple and magnificent Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, etc.

  

  Highlights: Shaolin Temple, Longmen Grottoes, Millennium City Park, Kaifeng Ancient City Wall

  This private tour takes you to discover Luoyang, Shaolin Temple and Kaifeng with a leisure pace. It’s an authentic cultural experience which is quite different from what you can get in other parts of China.

  

  5 Days Hidden Guoliangcun Village Tour from Luoyang

  Highlights: Guoliangcun Village, Shaolin Temple, Longmen Grottoes, Luoyang Museum, White Horse Temple

  Take this tour to explore Guoliang Village, a delightful stone hamlet which used be unconnected to the outside world due to inaccessibility and anonymity. It is situated high up on the clifftop in northern Henan.

  

  Highlights: Longmen Grottoes, Shaolin Temple, Xiaolangdi Scenic Area

  This 3 days tour offers you not only the culture fun in Luoyang, but also the majesty of Yellow River. All historic and cultural essences of Luoyang will be covered, including Buddhist grottoes, time-honored temples, informative museums, etc.

  Henan Travel Guide & Articles

  To help you learn more useful travel guide and tips about Henan, we have created below comprehensive articles about top Henan destinations , city guide , popular things to do , updated transportation and maps , the best time to visit , recommended accommodating areas , etc. If you have any other questions and travel ideas, don’t hesitate to contact us for instant help.

  Useful Henan Travel Articles

  

  Helpful Shaolin Temple Travel Guide

  • How to Plan Shaolin Temple Trip
  • Shaolin Kung Fu Training
  • Top Attractions in Dengfeng
  • Shaolin Kung Fu Shows
  • Get to & around Shaolin Temple
  • Where to Stay around Shaolin Temple
  • Dengfeng Weather & Seasons
  • Shaolin Temple Maps

  Helpful Luoyang Travel Guide

  • How to Plan Luoyang Trip
  • Top Attractions in Luoyang
  • Longmen Grottoes
  • Luoyang Museum
  • White Horse Temple
  • Luoyang Things to do & Activities
  • Luoyang Peony Festival
  • Get to & around Luoyang
  • Where to Stay in Luoyang
  • Luoyang Weather & Seasons
  • Luoyang Maps

  Extend Your Henan Tours

  Henan Province is the heartland of China. It borders Shaanxi to the west, Shandong and Anhui to the east, Shanxi and Hebei to the north, Hubei to the south. Geographically speaking, Henan is located between Beijing and Xian . The daily trains between Beijing and Xian have several stops in Henan. Thus, it’s quite convenient to take a stopover in Henan if you take the classic Beijing-Xian-Shanghai itinerary . If time allows, an in-depth Chinese culture tour that includes Beijing, Datong and Pingao in Shanxi Province, Luoyang and Shaolin Temple in Henan, Xian in Shaanxi Province is strongly recommended. You can also travel Henan with many other popular China destinations, such as Chengdu , Guilin , Zhangjiajie , etc. with our tailor-made tour services.

  

  Beijing / Luoyang / Xian

  

  Beijing / Luoyang / Dengfeng / Xian / Chengdu / Shanghai

  

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  HOME > NEWS CENTER > National

  Friendly travel policies push inbound tourism surge

  Source: China Daily | 2024-04-11 18:55

  

  Maximilian Klaus Puechler from Germany crammed in as much sightseeing as he could during his short trip to Beijing in late March.

  In one day, Puechler, in his 20s, visited the Juyongguan section of the Great Wall and the royal gardens at the Summer Palace as well as viewed the ancient architecture at the Temple of Heaven.

  He was especially impressed by a culturally immersive experience at the temple, where he learned about traditional Chinese architectural oil painting, and tried techniques such as the gilding and decorative application of gold powder to the surface of a painting.

  At the end of the tour, he was given a dragon-shaped hat by a staff member at the temple as a gift.

  "As a tourist, I felt everyone's hospitality. People would come up to me and strike up a conversation, and that's really nice," Puechler said.

  Talina Hotz from Switzerland took a special shine to the exhibitions at the Temple of Heaven. She said they helped her gain a better appreciation of the temple's history and structure as well as cultural aspects, such as the Hall of Prayer for a Good Harvest, a magnificent triple-gabled circular building.

  "I'm really interested in Chinese cultural heritage, and I really enjoyed it," she said. Hotz said she was also impressed that so many people on her tour had enjoyed the experience.

  The two Europeans are among a growing number of international travelers who have benefited from China's recent visa-free entry policy.

  

  Opening doors

  Since March 14, China has granted visafree entry on a trial basis to visitors from Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg.

  According to the Foreign Ministry, from March 14 to Nov 30, passport holders from the six countries can enter China without a visa for up to 15 days for business, tourism, family visit, and transit purposes.

  In November, visa-free policies were implemented for travelers holding passports from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia.

  More than 1,200 tourists, mostly from Germany, Switzerland and Austria, were on board the MS Artania cruise ship, when it docked in Shanghai from March 19 to March 21.

  They qualified for unrestricted entry to the country under the visa-free policy, said Hu Jiying from the Beijing-based CYTS Tours, which was in charge of arranging the tour.

  The previous 15-day visa-free policy for cruise ship passengers entering Shanghai port would have restricted their stay to the Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai area, Hu said.

  The new visa-free policy allows them to book tours to other destinations in the country such as Beijing. "Despite the tight schedule, passengers enthusiastically signed up for a trip to Beijing," Hu said.

  In addition to the 350 guests who took tours in Beijing, other passengers also booked excursions in Shanghai and surrounding areas, she added.

  

  Numbers on the rise

  As China's visa-free "circle of friends" has expanded, foreign tourists have shown increasing willingness to visit the country.

  On March 10, more than 2,000 travelers from 47 countries and regions arrived in Dalian, Liaoning province, onboard the Zuiderdam cruise ship, operated by the Holland America Line, and took in the city's numerous attractions, ranging from its beautiful parks and beaches to its theaters and museums.

  In January and February, nearly 2.95 million entries and exits of foreign nationals were recorded by the National Immigration Administration, according to statistics cited by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

  During the Spring Festival holiday, the effects of China's visa-free policy became apparent, with a significant increase in visitors from countries newly added to the visa-free list, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia and Singapore.

  The total volume of inbound tours booked on some online travel agency platforms was double that for the same period in 2019, the tourism ministry said.

  Since the beginning of this year, inbound tourism orders have increased more than threefold compared with the same period last year, and 50 percent with 2019, said Qin Jing, vice-president of major online travel agency Trip.com Group based in Shanghai.

  Inbound hotel bookings have increased more than threefold year-on-year, with a growth rate of over 70 percent compared with 2019. Inbound flight bookings have also seen a more than threefold increase year-on-year, representing a growth rate of over 60 percent compared with 2019, Qin said.

  Yu Tong, product manager with CYTS Tours, said recently she has been receiving inbound travel groups in Beijing almost every day. The Palace Museum, the Great Wall, the Temple of Heaven, and the Ming Tombs Reservoir are the most popular destinations for inbound tourists, she said.

  "Some of them have also opted for immersive cultural tours, like hiking the Jinshanling and Simatai sections of the Great Wall or exploring deep into hutongs," Yu said.

  

  German beer index

  Restaurants that cater to overseas travel groups have been in contact with her, hoping to resume business cooperation. Yu cites this as clear evidence inbound tourism is recovering.

  Eateries that have long-term agreements with travel agencies will tailor their menus according to the preferences of tourists from different countries, she said.

  "For example, German tourists love beer, so the restaurant will provide two bottles of beer for them," Yu said.

  Tourism operators have also launched a range of financial services to make the stay of inbound travelers more convenient.

  A number of high-end hotels and restaurants in the capital not only accept international credit card payments, but also provide foreign-currency exchange services as many overseas guests prefer to pay in cash.

  "Due to the complexity of the process, we have specifically conducted training on manual foreign-currency exchanges," said Zhong Yong, deputy general manager of China World Summit Wing, a Shangri-La hotel in Beijing.

  Guests can also use their bank cards to withdraw cash at the self-service foreign-currency exchange machines in the lobby, Zhong added.

  However, a rising number of inbound guests want to use local electronic payment services while visiting China. Zhong's hotel guides them on how to link their international credit cards to Alipay and WeChat Pay and how to make payments through them.

  Some hotels offer simpler ways for foreign visitors to get cash and also experience Beijing at a more local level. At Huajiantang hotel, tucked away in a Beijing hutong, a guide is available to take guests to nearby banks.

  The hotel also provides a map highlighting public transportation as well as call services for emergencies, said Zhu Hailong, the hotel's general manager.

  For guests who don't want to go far, Huajiantang gives recommendations on neighborhood sights, shops and restaurants. It also offers guests handicraft classes such as making dolls of Tu'er Ye (the Lord Rabbit).

  At Hotel Jen Beijing, inbound travelers are given advice on how to use mobile phones to hail taxis, how to book and purchase tickets for popular attractions, and how to purchase domestic flights and train tickets, and select seats. The goal is to make their trips smoother, said Zhang Lize, a deputy manager at the Hotel Jen.

  

  Convenience key

  To ensure the recovery continues, tourism officials will launch a series of targeted measures to remedy existing problems in the market.

  On March 29, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said at a news conference it will make it easier for payments at various places such as tourist attractions, cultural and performance venues and star-rated hotels. Inbound tourism products and services will also be stepped up, along with overseas promotions, to better meet inbound travelers' needs.

  Wu Kefeng, deputy head of the ministry's Department of Resource Development, said special emphasis was being placed on improving the convenience of payments at key tourist destinations.

  This includes promoting the establishment of software and hardware facilities for accepting mobile payments, bank cards, and cash at all national 5A and 4A tourist attractions, national and provincial tourist resorts, and national-level tourist leisure districts, Wu said.

  The ministry said it will cooperate with the relevant departments to promote the establishment of foreign-currency exchange service points at tourist resorts and national-level tourist leisure districts with a high number of inbound tourists. It will also encourage nearby bank branches to provide foreign-currency cash exchange services to meet the needs of inbound tourists.

  All tourist attractions will retain staffed windows to offer ticket services for inbound travelers, while English-language online reservations will also be available.

  "For reservations requiring real-name authentication, foreign passports, permanent residence identity cards, and travel permits for residents of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan to the Chinese mainland will be included in the recognized identification documents," Wu said.

  Key tourist attractions will also be encouraged to improve multilingual signage and guide facilities, and to continue improving their foreign-language services.

  

  More to come

  Edouard Rebilly from Belgium could not take advantage of the visa-free policy before he came to China in late March.

  "I had to go to a center in London, and it was quite a long wait, which was a bit annoying," Rebilly said.

  The Belgian, in his 20s, came to China to visit friends he met in 2019 during a six-month college exchange program in Hong Kong. On the latest trip he took tours to Guangzhou, Guangdong province, Xi'an, Shaanxi province, and Beijing and Shanghai over about two weeks.

  Rebilly said he was drawn to the distinctive culture and food in those cities. "I think every city is very different, and it's very safe to travel here," he said.

  As the beneficial travel policies have been unrolled, Rebilly says he's likely to visit again soon. "I will probably check out Zhangjiajie where they filmed the Avatar movie," he said, referring to the spectacular national forest in Hunan province.

  Dou Junjie, who for two decades has arranged cycling tours to Beijing's historical and cultural areas such as the Central Axis and hutongs, believes the effects of the positive measures will be fully seen in autumn.

  "The guests from abroad we have received have usually made their travel plans at least six to ten months in advance," said Dou, who has received a stream of orders for cycling tours since February.

  "If past experience is any reference, September to early November is the peak season. That means if we can align the influence of the policies with the traditional cycle we can expect a very promising scenario," Dou said.

  

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