Three-Day Tour of Kaifeng

📅 Highlights of the itinerary:

Immersive Song Dynasty cultural experience (Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden, Great Song Wuxia City)
Taste of Kaifeng (night market snacks, traditional Henan cuisine)
Combination of history and arts (museums, Iron Pagoda light show)

🗓️ Day 1: Journey through the Northern Song Dynasty's heyday
🌞 Morning
📍 Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden (Ticket 120 RMB, opens at 8:30)

✅ Must-see:

9:00 Opening welcome performance (Rainbow Bridge Square)
10:10 Yue Fei’s spear fight with the Little Liang King (military horse battle)
11:00 Song Dynasty costume experience (Hanfu rental inside the park 50 RMB/hour)

🍜 Lunch: “Tokyo Food Court” inside the park, try soup dumplings and carp baked noodles

🌙 Afternoon to evening
📍 Longting Park (Ticket 35 RMB)

Enjoy the ruins of the Six Dynasties imperial palace, climb Longting Hall to overlook Pan and Yang Lakes
📍 Great Song Wuxia City (Night ticket 60 RMB, entry after 17:00)
✅ Must-watch:

19:30 Three Attacks on Zhu Family Village (live horse battle)
20:40 Iron Flower Intangible Cultural Heritage performance (spectacular!)

🍢 Dinner: Xisi Night Market (recommended braised fish, stir-fried cold noodles)

🗓️ Day 2: History and arts journey
🌞 Morning
📍 Kaifeng Museum (Free, reservation required)

Focus on Song Dynasty history and culture exhibition (1st floor) and Qingming Riverside Painting special exhibition
📍 Tianbo Yang Mansion (Ticket 30 RMB)
Live performance of the Yang Family Generals story (10:30/15:00 each session)

🌙 Afternoon to evening
📍 Iron Pagoda Park (Ticket 30 RMB)

Climb the millennium-old glazed pagoda (limited opening), stunning light and shadow show at dusk!
📍 Drum Tower Night Market (opens at 18:00)
✅ Must-eat:

First Floor soup dumplings (time-honored brand)
Almond tea, lamb baked bun

🗓️ Day 3: Off-the-beaten-path deep experience
🌞 Morning
📍 Fanta Pagoda (Ticket 15 RMB)

The oldest building in Kaifeng, climb the pagoda to see Song Dynasty Buddhist brick carvings
📍 Zhuxian Town Qifeng Old Garden (40 minutes from city center by car, Ticket 60 RMB)
Experience woodblock New Year painting making, pray at Yue Fei Temple

🌙 Before departure in the afternoon
📍 Bookstore Street

Hunt for ancient books and cultural creations, enjoy a cup of “Song Tide” themed coffee

🍜 Food recommendations and warnings
✅ Recommended:

Soup dumplings (First Floor, Huang Family Old Shop)
Carp baked noodles (sweet and sour flavor, a must-try Henan dish)
Night market snacks: lamb baked bun, stir-fried cold noodles, almond tea
❌ Avoid: Packaged snacks labeled “Kaifeng specialties” at scenic spot entrances (not authentic)

🚗 Transportation tips

Within city: Taxi starting fare 7 RMB, shared electric scooters cover the whole city
Between scenic spots: Tourist bus line (Line 1 connects main attractions)

🏨 Accommodation suggestions

High-end: Jianye Pullman (next to Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden)
Cost-effective: Guesthouses near Drum Tower (100-200 RMB/night)

💡 Tips:

Wear comfortable shoes! Most Kaifeng attractions have stone slab roads
Buying combo tickets is more cost-effective (e.g., “Kaifeng Annual Pass” 80 RMB includes 10 attractions)
Best time to visit is autumn (October-November Chrysanthemum Culture Festival is beautiful)