Zhengzhou Attractions - Things to Do

Zhengzhou, as an outstanding tourist city and one of the eight Chinese ancient cities, is always the first destination of any Henan tour. Located between the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River, this ancient and lively city is the cradle of the splendid culture of the Chinese Nation. Here we base our Yellow River Tour. Mt. Song - one of the Five Famous Mountains in China, sits in Northwestern Dengfeng, Zhengzhou City. Mt. Song Tour with Shaolin Kung Fu performance is another popular tour in the city. Additionally we recommend the Downtown Tour which focuses on some memorial, museum and historical sites. Now we will introduce the three tours in a little more detail.
 

The best place to experience the culture of the Yellow River is the Yellow River Scenic Area in this city. It is about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) northwest of Zhengzhou, situated on the southern bank of the Yellow River. There are green lands, clear waters, pavilions, scattered statues with interesting histories, inside the scenic area. With more than 20 years of development, the scenic area is now a national tourist destination with modern amusement facilities, which appeals to thousands of tourists from all over the world. This Yellow River Scenic Area is the ideal viewpoint to appreciate the mother river of China.

Erqi Square-the Famous Square

The Pogada Forest in Shaolin Temple

As one of the Five Famous Mountains in China, there is no need to say more about the beauty of Song Mountain. If you visit one mountain in Henan, make it this one for its charming natural views and its fame. Shaolin Temple is situated in the west foothills of Song Mountain. At the mention of Shaolin Temple, tourists mostly think of Shaolin Kung Fu, and it is true that you can appreciate wonderful performances here. Another place worth a visit near Shaolin Temple is the Pagoda Forest. There are about 250 different pagodas which are the graves of every abbot of Shaolin Temple from Tang Dynasty (618 - 907) till the last. The constructions, reflecting the architectural styles of every dynasty, are now the treasures for studying Chinese ancient brick architecture and the art of engraving.

Also, one of the four Academies of Classical Learning in Song Dynasty (960 - 1279) - Songyang Academy, and the Astronomical Observatory are both worth a visit.
 

Located at Xinzheng, 40 kilometers (25 miles) from South Zhengzhou, it is very popular with Chinese people at home and abrod as the birthplace of Yellow Emperor who was the ancestor of Chinese nation and created the Chinese civilization. There are three attractions in Huangdi Hometown: the Ancestor Worship Area - housing the statue of Huangdi; the Xuanyuan Temple where you can pary for good luck; and the Chinese Surname Square carved more than 4,600 surnames and collecting the world’s largest Tripod - Huangdi Treasure Tripod.
 

Erqi (meaning Feb. 7th) Square, located in the center of the downtown area, is the busiest commercial area in Zhengzhou and even Henan Province. There are many department stores and restaurants, which should not be missed. The most eye-catching architecture on the square is the central Er' Qi Memorial Tower which commemorates a strike that happened on Feb.7th, 1923. To get to the square from Zhengzhou Railway Station take Bus Nos. 2, 6, 32 or 34 and get off at Er' Qi Guangchang Stop.

Shang Ruins, the largest and the most well-preserved site of the capital city in early Shang Dynasty (16th - 11th century BC), is located in the city downtown area. It is more ancient than the Yin Xu (Yin Ruins) in Anyang. Covering an area of about 25 square kilometers (about 9.7 square miles), the site still has a city wall with a girth of nearly 7 kilometers (about 4.3 miles). Items unearthed here include rare bronzes, many shell articles, stone wares, jade articles and relics of silos, wells and graves offering plenty of material for the study of the development of Slave Society and Chinese ancient cities.

Situated in the northern part of the city, Henan Museum is a modern historic museum. From the architectural style of the museum to the treasures there stored, the history presented here will amaze you. The idea for the design of the museum comes from the aspect of the Astronomical Observatory, which looks mysterious and pyramid-like. Cultural relics housed in the museum are definitely precious. There are ancient stone carvings, bronze wares and jade articles of Chu (897 - 951) and workmanship of Ming (1368 - 1644) and Qing (1644 - 1911) dynasties. One item not to be missed is a rare sculpture of an ivory cabbage on which insects are vividly carved. It is said that sometimes one can not tell the ivory cabbage from a real one when glancing at the sculpture. Tourists should take Bus Nos. 42, 61, 69 and 72 to Henan Sheng Bowuguan Stop.

 Further Reading: Top 10 Things to Do in Zhengzhou