Henan Attraction Guide
Henan is the heartland of Chinese civilisation: Luoyang's Longmen Grottoes hold 100,000 Buddhist statues carved over four centuries, Anyang's Yin Ruins are the excavated capital of the 3,000-year-old Shang dynasty, and Dengfeng's Shaolin Temple is the birthplace of Zen Buddhism and kung fu. Add Kaifeng's Song-dynasty theme park, Yuntai Mountain's red-rock gorges, and Laojun Mountain's golden Taoist summit, and you have a 5–7 day journey through 3,000 years of history.
Luoyang (Longmen Grottoes & Laojun Mountain)
- Longmen Grottoes (龙门石窟) — Over 100,000 Buddhist statues and 2,800 inscriptions carved into the Yi River cliffs between the 5th and 9th centuries, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2000; the 17-metre Vairocana Buddha in Fengxian Temple is the masterpiece of Chinese Buddhist sculpture.
- Walk the west bank cliff path from Binyang Caves to Fengxian Temple, then cross the bridge for the panoramic east-bank view — allow half a day, and visit in the morning for the best light on the statues.
- Laojun Mountain (老君山, Luanchuan) — A 2,197-metre Taoist sacred mountain crowned with golden temples that glow at sunrise above a sea of clouds; the mountaintop complex and the cliffside walkways make it one of central China's most spectacular day hikes.
Zhengzhou & Dengfeng (Shaolin Temple)
- Shaolin Temple (少林寺, Dengfeng) — Founded in 495 AD, the birthplace of Chan (Zen) Buddhism and Shaolin kung fu; tour the temple halls, the Pagoda Forest (240+ brick stupas of past abbots), and catch the monks' martial-arts demonstration at the nearby training schools.
- Combine it with Songyang Academy (one of China's four great ancient academies) and the Songyue Pagoda, both within the same Dengfeng scenic cluster.
Kaifeng
- Millennium City Park (清明上河园, Kaifeng) — A large Song-dynasty theme park recreating the world of Zhang Zeduan's famous "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" scroll: recreated streets, the rainbow bridge, period-costumed performers, and nightly large-scale shows.
- Go for the full day and stay for the evening performance — Kaifeng was the Northern Song capital, and the park is the most entertaining way to experience that era.
Anyang & Jiaozuo (Yin Ruins & Yuntai Mountain)
- Yin Ruins (殷墟, Anyang) — The excavated last capital of the Shang dynasty (c. 1300–1046 BC) and the site where oracle-bone script — China's earliest writing — was unearthed; a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2006. The museum's bronze ding vessels and the royal tomb pits are the highlights.
- Yuntai Mountain (云台山, Jiaozuo) — A UNESCO Global Geopark of red-rock gorges, waterfalls, and the 1,314-metre Zhuyu Peak; the Hongshi Gorge boardwalk through crimson cliffs and pools is the signature walk, best in spring and autumn.
Practical Tips
Best season: April–June and September–October suit the whole province — Yuntai's gorges and Laojun's summit are at their best, and the grottoes are comfortable. July–August is hot (Luoyang and Kaifeng exceed 35°C); winter is quiet with occasional snow at Shaolin and Laojun, which is beautiful.
Transport: Zhengzhou is the high-speed hub: Zhengzhou–Luoyang ~40 minutes, Zhengzhou–Kaifeng ~20 minutes, Zhengzhou–Anyang ~1 hour. Shaolin Temple is reached by tourist bus from Zhengzhou or Luoyang (1.5–2 hours). Laojun Mountain requires a bus from Luoyang to Luanchuan (~2.5 hours); Yuntai Mountain connects via Jiaozuo.
Frequently asked questions
How much time do the Longmen Grottoes need?
Half a day is enough for the main west-bank caves and the east-bank panorama. Enthusiasts can add the Xiangshan Temple and Bai Juyi's tomb nearby for a full day.
Is Shaolin Temple too commercialised?
The temple area is busy and the kung fu schools around it are tourist-oriented, but the 1,500-year-old halls, the Pagoda Forest, and the morning chanting are genuine. Go early (before 9 am) to experience it at its most atmospheric.
Sources
- UNESCO, Longmen Grottoes: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1003
- UNESCO, Yin Xu: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1114
- Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China: https://www.mct.gov.cn