Kaifeng Late-Night Summary and No-Fail Travel Guide
✅Day 1: Experience the Northern Song Dynasty's Vibrancy
Theme: Immersive experience of the prosperous Song Dynasty
👉🏻Accommodation Recommendations:
TL Guesthouse (Old River West Gate branch, 50-70 RMB/night, zodiac-themed rooms, electric toilets)
Xindongyuan Hotel (city center, 200 RMB+/night, cost-effective four-star)
🗺️Itinerary:
Morning
Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden (ticket 120 RMB, opens at 8:30)
🚌Transport: Bus No.1 to "Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden" stop
📸Activities:
Rent Song Dynasty costumes (50 RMB/hour) for photos, watch the "Yue Fei Challenges Little Liang King" performance (10:50/16:50)
At dusk, climb Fuyun Pavilion to watch the sunset, then enjoy the night show "The Great Song: Dream of Tokyo" water curtain show (Zone B 249 RMB)
⚠️Tips: Buying a show ticket waives the day ticket, download the app in advance to check showtimes
Noon
2. First Tower (Drum Tower branch, about 60 RMB per person)
🍜Must-try: Soup-filled buns (open the window first, then drink the soup), Carp baked noodles (sweet and sour Yellow River carp + dragon beard noodles)
Afternoon
3. Wansui Mountain Martial Arts City (ticket 80 RMB, opens at 9:00)
🚌Transport: Bus No.15 to "Wansui Mountain" stop
📸Activities:
Watch the live-action show "Three Attacks on Zhu Family Village" during the day, iron flower and drone light show at night
In summer, enjoy water gun battles (bring your own water gun), wear Hanfu for great photos
Evening
4. Drum Tower Night Market (free)
🚶♀️Route: Lamb stuffed bun (more authentic at Xisi Night Market) → Almond tea (fragrant and refreshing) → Stir-fried cold noodles (Old Chen’s)
📸Activities: Brightly lit, wearing Song costumes for photos feels like time travel
✅Day 2: Jianghu and Local Festivities
Theme: Martial arts dreams + local favorites
Accommodation Recommendations:
Guesthouse in Drum Tower District (150 RMB+/night, walking distance to night market)
Itinerary:
Morning
Kaifeng Ancient City Wall (free, open 24 hours)
🚲Activities: Ride along the west section of the city wall (14.4 km), visit the underground "City on City" ruins (ticket 30 RMB)
📸Photo spots: Less crowded corners of the wall for dramatic, solitary shots
Noon
2. Bianjing Roast Duck Restaurant (Daxiangguo Temple branch, about 70 RMB per person)
🍗Must-try: Roast duck (earlier than Beijing, duck skin dipped in sugar), duck frame soup (with cabbage and winter melon)
Afternoon
3. Iron Pagoda Park (free, opens at 8:00)
📸Activities: Northern Song glazed brick pagoda (tower body reliefs), the glazed bricks shine best in afternoon light
⚠️Tips: You can climb the pagoda (ticket 20 RMB) for a panoramic view of Kaifeng
Dusk
4. Xisi Night Market (free)
🍢Food: Barrel chicken (salty and firm), grilled gluten (with sesame sauce), red bean cakes (same style as Old River Datong)
Evening
5. Great Song Imperial River Night Cruise (boat ticket 60 RMB, departs at 19:30)
🚤Activities: Boat ride to see the light show on both banks, listen to ancient music performances
✅Day 3: Cultural Heritage and Historical Exploration
Theme: Millennium cultural lineage + intangible heritage experience
Accommodation Recommendations:
Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden Atour Hotel (Song-style guesthouse, 300 RMB+/night)
Itinerary:
Morning
Kaifeng Museum (free, reservation required)
🚌Transport: Bus No.16 to "Kaifeng Museum" stop
📸Activities: See the original "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" painting (ticket needed, limited), interactive movable type printing experience
Noon
2. Huang Family Old Shop (Jin’an Road branch, about 50 RMB per person)
🍲Must-try: Soup-filled buns (38-year-old brand), chicken blood soup (suitable for all meals)
Afternoon
3. Daxiangguo Temple (ticket 40 RMB, opens at 8:00)
📿Activities: See the Thousand-Hand Guanyin statue, listen to monks chanting (15:00-16:00)
🛒Shopping: Buy prayer bead bracelets inside the temple (blessed, affordable)
Dusk
4. Bookstore Street Night Market (free)
📚Activities: Stroll the cultural street, buy overseas Chinese rice rolls, candied hawthorn, feel the saying "there is a golden house in books"
Evening
5. Bianliang Little Song City (free)
🏮Activities: Indoor Song-style architecture, eat Xing family potstickers, lamb skewers, watch the show "A Thousand Turns of the Great Song"
✅Day 4: Easy Return + Souvenirs
Theme: Shopping spree + last Song Dynasty experience
Itinerary:
Morning
Kaifeng Seafood Market (Yuhua Market, near Xinghai Square)
🛍️Must-buy: Shredded squid, dried shrimp, sea cucumber (cheaper than scenic spots)
Noon
2. Lai Jishou Private Kitchen (small local shop in residential building, about 50 RMB per person)
🍲Must-try: Fish-flavored shredded pork, spicy bird clams (local secret)
Afternoon
3. Tianxiang Sightseeing Cruise (west side of Century City, Xinghai Square)
🎫Ticket: 50 RMB (1-hour sea sightseeing)
📸Activities: Enjoy the sea breeze, see panoramic views of the cross-sea bridge
Budget Breakdown (per person)
Item Cost
Accommodation 200 RMB × 3 nights = 600 RMB
Transport subway + bus ≈ 50 RMB
Tickets & cruise 50 RMB (optional)
Meals 60 RMB × 7 meals = 420 RMB
Souvenirs 100 RMB
Total 1170 RMB
Little Tips 🔥
Weather: Kaifeng is rainy from August to October, bring a raincoat + light jacket (big temperature difference between morning and night).
Transport: Bus starts at 1 RMB, subway uses "Ma Shang Xing Dong" app for scanning.
Avoid traps: Don’t buy Bian embroidery at scenic spot entrances, frozen buns are not worth eating.
Photography: Wear light-colored clothes (ancient city background mainly red walls), bring a selfie stick.