Day 1 Across the country → or → Zhengzhou
All day
Today is the gathering day. Please check in at the designated gathering hotel after arriving in Zhengzhou. (Check-in at the Zhengzhou gathering hotel is available after 14:00)
Tourists arriving earlier can leave their luggage at the hotel front desk and arrange their own sightseeing activities in the commercial capital of Zhengzhou.
We recommend visiting scenic spots such as the Henan Provincial Museum, the Erqi Memorial Tower, and the Yellow River Huayuankou, and tasting Zhengzhou's specialties (Henan braised noodles, Daokou roast chicken, etc.).
During your free time, please be careful! The tour leader will inform you of the departure time the following morning. Rest early to recharge your batteries for tomorrow's scenic journey.
Day 2 Zhengzhou → Anyang Yin Ruins → Red Flag Canal → Linzhou
·morning
After breakfast, we gathered and boarded the bus heading north, crossing the Yellow River to Anyang, the hometown of oracle bone inscriptions and the location of the earliest capital in Chinese history. The low-key Anyang not only has the historical heritage of being the ancient capital of seven dynasties, but also has many world-class honors and underestimated beautiful landscapes.
Tourists choosing to meet in Anyang will be picked up at Anyang East Station at 10:00 AM today (the tour leader will confirm the exact pick-up location in advance, so please be sure not to be late). If you arrive in Anyang early, you can explore the city on your own (we recommend visiting the Chinese Character Museum and the Wenfeng Pagoda at Tianning Temple), or arrive at Yinxu before 1:00 PM to reunite with the main group.
Arrive at Anyang Yinxu around 10:30, a treasure trove that is on the must-see list in one's lifetime. Let's experience the prosperity of the ancient capital thousands of years ago. Today we will visit the Yinxu Museum (New Hall).
As the place where oracle bone inscriptions and the Simuwu Ding were discovered, Yinxu itself is a top-level world heritage site in China. For people who love history and traditional culture, each piece of oracle bone is a decoding of a piece of history, and each bronze artifact is a true legend, recording the endless past of the ancient Shang city.
·afternoon
Around 1:30 PM, we'll depart for the Red Flag Canal Scenic Area. The Red Flag Canal, known as the "Man-Made River in the Sky," winds through the Taihang Mountains, known for its breathtaking scenery. Like a blue ribbon, it winds its way through the Taihang Mountains, known as "the most majestic and scenic spot in the north." The Youth Cave, a key project of the Red Flag Canal's main canal and the epicenter of the Eighth Wonder of the World, traverses the breathtakingly steep Xiao Gui Face. The cave was named "Youth Cave" after the 300 young men who dug the cave, drawn from migrant workers across the county. The renowned artificial river stretches majestically and perilously high above the mountainside cliffs. We'll walk along the canal dam to experience the arduous construction process up close. We can also take an optional boat tour inside, followed by a visit to Yixiantian (One Line Sky) and the Sky Bridge.
Return to Linzhou city for accommodation at 17:30.
Day 3 Linzhou → Guoliang → Yuntaishan
·morning
After breakfast, we will drive to South Taihang [Wanxian Mountain Scenic Area], where the famous Guoliang Cave (Hanging Wall Highway), the eighth wonder of the world, is located.
Arriving at the scenic area around 10:00 AM, we'll spend the morning traversing the cliffs and lingering upward, experiencing firsthand the wisdom of the Taihang people. We'll also explore the Film and Television Village, with its ancient stone houses, to discover traces of a bygone era. We'll also visit the Cliff Houses, where there are multiple viewing platforms offering panoramic views of Guoliang Cave. This is also a great vantage point for overlooking the Red Rock Cliff Canyon. From afar, the vertical red rock walls resemble a towering city wall. On rainy days, misty clouds rise, making those perched high above feel like gods.
·afternoon
We went down the mountain in due time and then took a bus to the "World Geopark", a national 5A-level scenic spot - [Yuntaishan] for accommodation, and checked in near the scenic area.
In the afternoon, we transferred to a scenic shuttle bus and entered the core tourist area. We first arrived at Hongshi Gorge, a breathtaking jewel of Yuntaishan's landscapes. Entering the scenic area, we never turned back. The canyon stretches 2,000 meters and typically takes 1.5-2 hours to explore.
Entering from the entrance, we first encountered the majestic White Dragon Waterfall, a three-tiered waterfall with a drop of over 60 meters. Further ahead, we encountered a narrow "slit of sky" at the southern end of the canyon entrance, flanked by towering mountains, leaving only a narrow sliver of skylight. Deeper, we encountered the Nine Dragons Stream, formed by Shoulongtan and Heilongtan. Other scenic features include secluded waterfalls, stone caves, and kissing rocks, each with its own unique charm. The canyon's purple-red rocks are relics of the Sinian period, 1.4 billion years ago. Rich in rocks from various ages, it's a veritable geological museum, a breathtaking landscape painting.
Return to your hotel and rest in due time. Tourists still interested in the evening can enjoy the Yuntaishan Night View Project at their own expense. Located in Yunxi Valley, Yuntaishan's "Yunxi Night Tour" features a large-scale nighttime light show that blends seamlessly with the natural landscape, utilizing high-tech technologies such as sound, light, electricity, and holographic projection.
Day 4 Yuntaishan → Luoyang
·morning
After breakfast, we continued to visit Yuntaishan Scenic Area.
Take the scenic area bus and pass through Diecai Cave to reach Zhuyu Peak, the main peak of Yuntai Mountain. Diecai Cave is a highway tunnel connecting Henan and Shanxi provinces. It is a masterpiece of the Xiuwu people's struggle against nature and earth. It took eight years to build.
Yuntaishan Zhuyu Peak, at 1,308 meters above sea level, is the main peak of Yuntaishan. Densely covered with vegetation, it resembles a natural oxygen bar. From the summit, panoramic views of the rolling mountains unfold, offering a sense of grandeur and the feeling of "standing on the summit, overlooking all the other mountains."
Next, we'll take you on a thrilling journey through the air and admire the breathtaking scenery of the towering peaks – the Yuntaishan High-Altitude Glass Plank Road (visit fee is at your own expense). (If you're not physically fit, you can take the cable car up and down the mountain at your own expense, with a round-trip fee of 120 yuan.)
·afternoon
At around 14:00 in the afternoon, we will gather by bus to Luoyang, the ancient capital of 13 dynasties.
Check-in time is around 4:00 PM. Free time to explore Luoyang.
If you're not tired, you can also make an appointment to visit the ancient capital at night, including Luoyi Ancient City, Yingtian Gate, Lijing Gate, and Xigong Street, to enjoy the prosperity of the ancient capital today and check out Luoyang's delicious food.
Day 5 Luoyang → Peony Garden/White Horse Temple → Tri-color Town → Longmen Grottoes → Dengfeng
·morning
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then depart for Luoyang. This morning's itinerary will be adjusted according to the season. (During the peony blooming period from March to May, we will visit the Peony Garden; otherwise, we will visit the White Horse Temple. You can choose one of the two attractions.)
1.08:00 After breakfast, depart for a visit to the Luoyang Peony Garden to experience the saying, "Only the peony is the true national beauty, and the capital city is moved when the flowers bloom!"
2.08:00 After breakfast, we will go to White Horse Temple for a tour. White Horse Temple is the first temple built by the government since the introduction of Buddhism into China. It is known as the source and ancestral home of Buddhism. At White Horse Temple, we will listen to the story of "White Horse Carrying Scriptures" and pray for our families together.
10:30 AM Depart for Zhangjia Caiyao, a small town in Mengjin, Luoyang, to visit the folk collection of fine Tang Sancai. You will then be arranged to enter the Sancai workshop where the founder of Zhangjia Caiyao, Zhang Ernao, or his disciples will personally teach you how to draw Sancai. You can choose to make your own Sancai according to your favorite cartoon character or animal shape.
·afternoon
Lunch is at your own expense. In the afternoon, we'll visit the Longmen Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of China's three great grotto art treasures. Here, you'll discover the spirit of the Wei, Tang, and Song dynasties and experience the essence of Buddhism. With grottoes dotted along the banks of the Yishui River, we'll slow down and admire the ancient wisdom on display. We'll begin at the Xishan Grottoes, a highlight of the grottoes, and continue along the Yishui River, comparing the stark contrasting styles of the Northern Wei and Tang grottoes, reflecting on the tragic fate of these cultural relics. After crossing the Yishui River Bridge, we'll gaze across the river to see the captivating smile of the Vairocana Buddha, still captivating.
In the evening, we will go to the hometown of Chinese martial arts, Dengfeng, and stay at the hotel.
Day 6: Dengfeng → Shaolin Temple → Kaifeng Prefecture → Qingming Riverside Park
·morning
After breakfast at 8:00 AM, visit the Shaolin Temple Scenic Area, the birthplace of Zen Buddhism, the origin of martial arts, and a historic temple. Enjoy a martial arts performance at the Martial Arts Hall and appreciate the profoundness of Shaolin Kung Fu. After a guided tour of the Shaolin Permanent Residence, the centerpiece of the scenic area, visit the Pagoda Forest, a complex of ancient tombs and pagodas where eminent monks from past dynasties are buried. Look for the seven-story pagoda.
·afternoon
Around 12:00, you can have lunch at your own leisure and then go to Kaifeng, the ancient capital of seven dynasties.
At 3:00 PM, we visit Kaifeng Prefecture, the National AAAA-rated tourist attraction and renowned as the capital of the country. Located on the north bank of Baogong East Lake, it served as the administrative and judicial headquarters of the Northern Song Dynasty. It was also the place where Baogong meditated and upheld justice, a place steeped in righteousness. Here, you can uncover the secrets of the Song Dynasty.
Around 17:00, we went to check in at the [Qingming Shanghe Park], a large-scale Song Dynasty cultural real-life theme park built based on the famous Song Dynasty painting "Qingming Shanghe Park". It highly restored the scenery of Qingming Shanghe Park. The staff in the park were all dressed in Song Dynasty costumes, giving people a feeling of traveling through time and space. In addition, there were wonderful scene performances and folk performances, such as Bao Gong welcoming guests, stilt walking with pan drums, cockfighting competitions, Yue Fei challenging the young Liang King with a spear, etc., which were wonderful.
·night
We will stay overnight in Kaifeng. Kaifeng's night view is truly breathtaking. You can enjoy the night view of Kaifeng by eating, drinking, strolling, watching the light show, and admiring the night view of Kaifeng. Interested tourists can also watch the live performance of the "Dream of the Capital" in the Song Dynasty.
Day 7 Kaifeng → Qingming Riverside Park → Disbandment
·morning
Around 07:30, have breakfast at the hotel;
09:00 Enjoy a visit to Qingming Shanghe Park, known as the "Disneyland of the East." Based on the monumental painting "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" by Northern Song Dynasty artist Zhang Zeduan, this large-scale folk customs theme park recreates the bustling scenes of Kaifeng, Tokyo. Experience the feeling of "stepping into a painting and dreaming of a thousand years." In Qingyuan, you can experience the flavor of Tokyo and watch performances such as Bao Zheng welcoming guests, stilt walking, and folk fire-breathing.
·afternoon
12:00 Enjoy your own meal in the scenic area. We recommend you try Kaifeng’s local snack, Kaifeng Soup Dumplings.
The trip ends at 13:00, and we kiss goodbye with tears. We will be dropped off at Kaifeng North Station at around 13:30 (due to time constraints, we only drop off at Kaifeng North Station. If you are returning from Kaifeng Station, you can take a taxi directly from Qingming Riverside Park, which is about a 20-minute ride). We will then drop off at Zhengzhou East Station and are expected to arrive at Zhengzhou East High-speed Railway Station at 15:00 (Zhengzhou Airport is not included). Please allow at least half an hour for boarding during holidays!
