Discover the Ancient Capital of Seven Dynasties｜3 Days 2 Nights In-Depth Travel Guide to Anyang

🏯Discover the Ancient Capital of Seven Dynasties｜3 Days 2 Nights In-Depth Travel Guide to Anyang

Hidden in Henan is an underrated ancient capital—Anyang! The hometown of oracle bone script and the site of the Yin Ruins, every step you take here is steeped in 3,000 years of history~ This guide will unlock the hardcore experiences of Anyang for you!

🚗 Transportation Guide
✈️ Airplane: The nearest airport is Zhengzhou Xinzheng Airport. Take the airport shuttle bus to Anyang, about 3 hours, or transfer to the high-speed train for 1.5 hours directly to Anyang East Station.
🚄 High-speed train: The preferred station is Anyang East Station. After exiting, a taxi to the city center takes about 20 minutes. Bus routes 38 and 44 are also available.
🚌 Within the city: Attractions are quite spread out, so renting a car for self-driving (around 100+ RMB per day) is recommended, or city taxis with a starting fare of 6 RMB are very cost-effective.

🏡 Accommodation Recommendations
📍 City center preferred: Anyang Guesthouse, a garden-style hotel with antique architecture. It’s a 10-minute walk to the Yin Ruins Museum, where you can watch the morning light shine on the flying eaves from the courtyard.
📍 Old town charm: Cangxiang Street homestay cluster, recommended "Shierfu," a renovated northern siheyuan courtyard. Rooms are decorated with old Anyang artifacts, and sitting in the courtyard at night watching the stars is super cozy.

🗺️ Must-Visit Attractions

1. Yin Ruins Museum 🌟
The birthplace of oracle bone script! Be sure to rent an audio guide (20 RMB). Seeing the replica of the Simuwu Ding will give you goosebumps~ The Fuhao Tomb exhibit features exquisite jade artifacts, and the sacrificial pit site offers a direct experience of Shang Dynasty civilization. Allocate about 3 hours.
2. Chinese Characters Museum 📜
Free but requires advance reservation! The exterior resembles a giant bronze ding vessel. Inside, it covers the history from oracle bone script to simplified characters. The interactive area lets you carve oracle bone script by hand. The third-floor terrace offers an amazing panoramic view, especially atmospheric at 4 PM when the sunlight slants.
3. Taihang Grand Canyon 🏞️
Anyang is not just about history! The Taihang Mountains here are stunning. We recommend driving the Taihang Sky Road, where winding mountain roads overlook the canyon like a giant split rock. Peach Blossom Valley’s streams and waterfalls are perfect for summer cooling, and the adventurous can challenge the glass suspension bridge.
4. Cangxiang Street 🏮
Anyang’s version of "Kuan Zhai Alley," with Ming and Qing dynasty buildings hung with red lanterns. It’s more beautiful at night than during the day! Don’t miss "Zhangde Prefecture City God Temple," where the wooden carvings in the ancient theater are exquisite. The old locust tree on the corner is said to be 500 years old.

🍜 Food List

1. Bianfencai: The soul of local breakfast! Wide rice noodles with pig’s blood and tofu, poured with lamb bone soup. Be sure to add freshly fried oil cakes to soak it up. Recommended spot: "Lao Xi Bianfencai."
2. Fenjiang Fan: A sour and appetizing fermented dish, mung bean soup cooked with millet, topped with peanuts and cabbage, paired with salty fried sausage—delicious.
3. Sanbuzhan: An intangible cultural heritage dessert! Made from egg yolks, it doesn’t stick to the plate, chopsticks, or teeth. It’s dense with a hint of osmanthus. The most authentic is at "Jubinlou."
4. Daokou Roast Chicken: You can buy it on the way in Huaxian County. Vacuum-packed for easy carrying. The chicken skin is shiny and the meat tender, juicy when torn apart.

📸 Photo Tips
▪️ Yin Ruins: Take a backshot in front of the oracle bone script stele forest, with sunlight filtering through leaves onto the stone tablets for a great vibe.
▪️ Chinese Characters Museum: Shoot symmetrical compositions in the second-floor corridor; the afternoon light and shadows are stunning.
▪️ Taihang Grand Canyon: At the Taihang Sky Road viewing platform, use the winding mountain road as a backdrop for silhouette shots.
▪️ Cangxiang Street: At dusk when the lanterns just light up, stand on the arch bridge to capture the street’s depth.

💡 Tips

1. Yin Ruins and Chinese Characters Museum are closed on Mondays, don’t go empty-handed.
2. For Taihang Grand Canyon, wear non-slip shoes as some sections are steep.
3. For souvenirs, choose Anyang Liaohua (traditional pastries) and Neihuang jujubes.

Come to Anyang, touch the warmth of history, and experience the civilization that emerged from oracle bone script~