Things to do in Zhengzhou

Henan is the cradle of Chinese civilization. Known as the Central Plains (中原), it is where the earliest dynasties, writing systems, bronze technology, and organized states first emerged. The fertile soil of the Yellow River nurtured farming communities as early as 5000 BCE, laying the foundation for Chinese culture.Luoyang, in Henan, is historically celebrated as the Ancient Capital of Thirteen Dynasties (十三朝古都), while Kaifeng (开封) is recognized as the Ancient Capital of Six Dynasties (六朝古都). Luoyang’s White Horse Temple (白马寺) is revered as the birthplace of Chinese Buddhism, and the Longmen Grottoes (龙门石窟) — with over 100,000 Buddhist statues — are honored as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Kaifeng, meanwhile, was the world’s largest city during the Northern Song dynasty, a thriving metropolis of commerce and culture.Henan as a whole is culturally dense and historically profound. The Henan Museum located at Zhengzhou is a must-visit, serving as a microcosm of Chinese civilization across thousands of years.I visited Henan Museum on a weekday and was struck by the sheer size of the crowd. Admission is free, but locals must register in advance. As a foreigner, I simply presented my passport, wrote my name in the register, and was then free to explore.The Henan Provincial Museum features one main permanent exhibition, Ancient Civilization of the Central Plains, divided into eight chronological galleries, alongside four themed galleries — Bronze of Chu, Ancient Jade, Treasures of Ming & Qing, and Musical Instruments. Each gallery highlights a different facet of Henan’s role as the cradle of Chinese civilization.I was deeply impressed by the exquisite porcelain, bronze bells and ritual vessels, the earliest pottery, oracle bones and early writing, Buddhist sculptures, and funerary art. My visit lasted about 3 hours enough to take in all the galleries and appreciate Henan’s extraordinary legacy.Article published at TripAdvisor on 20 Sep 26

Upon entering the Shaolin Temple scenic area, take the shuttle bus to the Pagoda Forest Station. From there, walk for about 5-10 minutes to reach the Shaolin Cableway. After exiting the cableway, walk a short distance to reach Shuce Cliff. After visiting Shuce Cliff, I returned to the cableway via the same route, without walking any further. It's very convenient and doesn't strain your legs.

Great for taking photos. Less crowded on weekdays, queues go quickly. Weekends are expected to be more crowded. The rides are gentle and suitable for children. There are also special children's play areas with many animals.

It combines a zoo and an amusement park. Suitable for children under 10. It has everything, but nothing is done exceptionally well. The price-performance ratio isn't high. At least not as good as Qingming Riverside Park or Wansui Mountain Martial Arts City. The food inside is a bit pricey.

I was deeply influenced by the movie "Shaolin Temple" when I was a child. Visiting the real Shaolin Temple, I found it wasn't as big as I had imagined, but the young actors' kung fu performance was wonderful, which fulfilled my martial arts fantasies.

The iron flower display was absolutely stunning, far exceeding my expectations! Definitely worth seeing. The staff were incredibly hardworking and dedicated. When the staff and performers lined the path to see us off at closing time, I was deeply moved by their genuine emotions. Due to time constraints, I only visited the night session; I'll definitely come again next time. The food was also delicious—a happy carb feast!

The Fort Fushi Tower offers observation decks at higher elevations. The inner ring has railings for safety, while the outer ring is outdoors and requires you to be secured with a safety harness. The entire tour is on foot; please keep your phone in a case and store your belongings there.

The Yellow River Cultural Park is a spiritual landmark representing the roots of Chinese civilization. The park is vast, lush with greenery, and resembles a forest park. A sightseeing bus costs 20 yuan, and a cable car costs 50 yuan. Main attractions include: views of the Yellow River, a cable car ride up Dayu Mountain, the site of Chairman Mao's inspection of the Yellow River, and Yanhuang Square. A well-planned visit takes about two hours. The cable car opens at 9:00 AM. From Zhengzhou city center, you can take bus route 18 or tourist route 16 to the park entrance. The nearby train station is called Yellow River Scenic Area Station, a 15-minute train ride from Zhengzhou, but the location is desolate and train services are infrequent. The park staff are aggressive in their sales pitches and have poor manners.

There are many attractions. Besides those relying on the facilities, there are also interactive rides along the way where you can exchange your points for park tokens. There are many thrilling rides, enough to experience them all in a day. In the evening, there's a water festival and performances, where everyone can play and have fun together – a truly enjoyable experience.

Zhengzhou Fantawild Dream Kingdom (Mythology/Family-Oriented): Qinling Adventure, Magic Castle, Jungle Dragon; During the Spring Festival, there will be a 3000㎡ Xiongling Snow Valley ski area, a Boonie Bears IP performance, and the Boonie Bears Dream Galaxy fireworks show.