Before my desire to share fades, I hurry to jot down this travel guide for my trip to Henan. As the New Year approaches, I’ve become increasingly lazy, haha.
Important notice for friends from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and foreign nationals: When staying in hotels in Luoyang, you need to register at the local police station, which is not required in Zhengzhou. Moreover, many attractions in Henan require advance booking, such as museums, which caused inconvenience during my trip. Due to the inability to purchase tickets through platforms like Meituan, my plans kept changing, and ultimately, the focus was on visiting museums.
Although museums offer an in-depth understanding of history, I have a greater desire to explore cultural aspects! I sincerely hope that more options will be provided so that visitors from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and foreign countries can freely purchase tickets and enjoy unrestricted travel.
Detailed Itinerary and Musings
Day 1: Depart from Hong Kong, fly to Zhengzhou via Shenzhen.
Day 2: Stay at the Tuk China Hotel (Erqi Square) in Zhengzhou.
- Morning: Visit the Henan Museum. I really enjoyed the provincial museum; I could leisurely view the exhibits and revisit Chinese history.
Day 3: Travel from Zhengzhou to Luoyang.
- Evening: Dress up in traditional Hanfu and stroll along Shizi Street. I chose to stay at the Tuk Light Stay Hotel in Luoyang.
Day 4:
- Morning: Hanfu makeup and styling, expected to take 2 hours.
- Afternoon: Visit the Luoyang Museum.
- Night: Photograph the Jiuzhou Pond scenery. I wish the Luoyang Museum had QR codes for explanations.
Day 5:
- Afternoon: Visit the Ancient Tomb Museum.
- Evening: Walk around the Luo City Ruins. The tomb murals were impressive, and although it was a bit crouching to navigate the tomb, it was good for photography. The Luo City Ruins were more beautiful than expected, lively, and full of beautiful young women, a feast for the eyes! Shizi Street was busier than typical pedestrian streets, and the food was delicious.
Day 6: Return from Luoyang to Zhengzhou.
- Evening: Explore the Phoenix Tea City Night Market. Experiencing the night market skewers for the first time, even someone with a sensitive stomach was satisfied. I love this lively, human atmosphere.
The original plan for the second day was to go to Kaifeng, but unexpected issues with ticket purchasing and hotel cleanliness led to a change in plans.
Day 7:
- Afternoon: Visit the Zhengzhou Shangdu Site Museum, Confucius Temple, Daguangyin Temple, and the Xidajie Hui District for souvenir shopping. This route is perfect for a city walk, and after a day of sightseeing, it’s just right to go out for dinner.
Day 8: Return from Zhengzhou to Shenzhen.