I dare to bet that Shangqiu is definitely a city rich in cultural heritage.
Autumn in Shangqiu is the most charming season of the year. This city, known as the "Source of the Yin Shang," reveals even more of its historical depth and richness on crisp autumn days. This autumn travel guide will take you through five thousand years of history to experience Shangqiu's unique Han-style autumn charm and cultural allure.
🍂 Shangqiu Autumn Travel Guide: Journey Through Five Thousand Years of Han-Style Autumn Charm
✨ Highlights
· A city that spans five thousand years: Experience the historical changes from the Yin Shang, Han, to Song and Ming dynasties inside and outside the ancient city of Shangqiu, and feel the unique charm of the birthplace of Chinese civilization.
· Autumn-exclusive festival experiences: Autumn coincides with National Day, Mid-Autumn Festival, and harvest season, allowing you to participate in special festival activities, intangible cultural heritage performances, and autumn temple fairs.
· Pleasant autumn climate and beautiful scenery: The crisp autumn air, ancient city walls, Nanhu Lake, and the old Yellow River course add poetic and romantic touches to the historical sites.
🗓️ Classic Three-Day Autumn Itinerary in Shangqiu
Here is an overview of the three-day autumn trip in Shangqiu to help you grasp the entire travel plan intuitively:
```mermaid
gantt
title Classic Three-Day Autumn Itinerary in Shangqiu
dateFormat HH:mm
axisFormat %H:%M
section Day 1: Cultural Exploration of Shangqiu Ancient City
Arrival in Shangqiu :d1_1, 09:00, 1h
Tour of Shangqiu Ancient City Scenic Area :d1_2, after d1_1, 3h
Lunch inside the Ancient City :d1_3, after d1_2, 1h
Yingtian Academy :d1_4, after d1_3, 1h
Boating on Nanhu Lake :d1_5, after d1_4, 1.5h
Zhang Xun Shrine :d1_6, after d1_5, 1h
Ancient City Night View and Dinner :d1_7, after d1_6, 2h
section Day 2: Han Culture and Yin Shang Origins
Shangqiu Museum :d2_1, 09:00, 1.5h
Yanbo Platform :d2_2, after d2_1, 1.5h
Shangzu Shrine :d2_3, after d2_2, 1h
Lunch :d2_4, after d2_3, 1h
Travel to Mangdang Mountain in Yongcheng :d2_5, after d2_4, 1.5h
Han Liang King Mausoleum Scenic Area :d2_6, after d2_5, 2h
Mangdang Mountain Han Heroic Scenery Area :d2_7, after d2_6, 1.5h
Return to Shangqiu City :d2_8, after d2_7, 1.5h
section Day 3: Natural Ecology and Leisure Experience
Yellow River Old Course Forest Park :d3_1, 09:00, 3h
Farmhouse Lunch :d3_2, after d3_1, 1.5h
Sui Huang Mausoleum :d3_3, after d3_2, 1h
Weizi Shrine :d3_4, after d3_3, 1h
Local Market Shopping :d3_5, after d3_4, 2h
End of Trip :d3_6, after d3_5, 30m
```
🏯 Day 1: Cultural Exploration of Shangqiu Ancient City
· Morning: Start your journey at the Shangqiu Ancient City Scenic Area. This ancient city, built in the sixth year of the Ming Dynasty's Zhengde reign, has a unique layout—round outside and square inside, resembling an ancient coin. It is recommended to enter through the North Gate, Gongchen Gate, climb the city wall, and overlook the chessboard-style street layout inside. Then visit the Hou Family Residence (Zhuanghuitang) to learn about the joys and sorrows of Hou Fangyu and Li Xiangjun.
· Afternoon: Head to Yingtian Academy, one of the four great academies of the Northern Song Dynasty and the only one upgraded to the Imperial Academy. It is especially quiet in autumn, where you can try on ancient scholar costumes and participate in elegant games like touhu (pitch-pot). Then go boating on Nanhu Lake to enjoy the rippling lake scenery harmonizing with the ancient city. Afterwards, visit Zhang Xun Shrine to learn about the loyalty and bravery of the Tang Dynasty general Zhang Xun, who "defended one city and protected the world," and try your hand at drumming in the war drum experience area.
· Evening: If your visit coincides with the National Day holiday (October 1-8), you can enjoy the "Ancient City Has Drama" National Day special featuring opera parades and classic Yu opera performances. Taste local snacks inside the ancient city and admire the night view.
🐎 Day 2: Han Culture and Yin Shang Origins
· Morning: Visit the Shangqiu Museum (China Shang Culture Museum), the first museum in China dedicated to showcasing the history and civilization of Shang culture. The collection includes over 20,000 artifacts, with highlights such as the gold-threaded jade burial suit and Han dynasty stone reliefs. Then proceed to Yanbo Platform (Fire God Platform), one of the earliest existing astronomical observation platforms in China, about 4,000 years old. Climb the 35-meter-high platform to overlook the autumn scenery. If you happen to be there during a temple fair, you can also see dragon and lion dances and various folk performances.
· Afternoon: Travel to Mangdang Mountain tourist area in Yongcheng City (about 80 km from Shangqiu), the birthplace of Han culture. Visit the Han Liang King Mausoleum Scenic Area to explore the Western Han dynasty royal tomb complex known as the "underground palace." Then head to Mangdang Mountain Han Heroic Scenery Area, the site of Liu Bang's snake-slaying uprising, where you can climb the observation deck to enjoy the autumn views of the eastern Henan plains.
· Evening: Return to Shangqiu city center and enjoy a local specialty dinner, recommended dishes include Huimian (braised noodles) and roast chicken from eastern Henan.
🌳 Day 3: Natural Ecology and Leisure Experience
· Morning: Visit the Yellow River Old Course National Forest Park in Shangqiu. In autumn, the wetlands, lakes, and forests here form a picturesque scene, making it an ideal place to escape city noise and relax. Stroll along the Shenggan forest belt, admiring golden leaves and the wide river surface.
· Afternoon: Visit the Sui Huang Mausoleum to learn about the story of Sui Ren, the ancestor who discovered how to make fire. Then go to Weizi Shrine; Weizi was a ruler enfeoffed in the Song state during the early Zhou dynasty. This site is the ruins of the ancient Song capital. The ancient architecture combined with red autumn leaves makes it perfect for photography.
· Evening: Before leaving Shangqiu, visit the local market to buy some souvenirs such as Shangqiu paper cuttings and Yongcheng flour.
🎉 Autumn-Exclusive Festival Activities
1. National Day and Mid-Autumn Double Festival: From October 1 to 8, Shangqiu Ancient City hosts a series of immersive cultural activities.
· Opera parades: Performed daily in the ancient city, allowing close-up experience of traditional opera charm.
· Intangible cultural heritage performances: On the south city wall, enjoy lion dances, face-changing, fire-spitting, and other heritage shows.
· Interactive experiences: Participate in historical scene interactions like "Beating the Pot and Singing" and "Zhang Xun Muster."
2. Fire God Platform Temple Fair: Held three times every autumn, featuring dragon and lion dances, folk performances, authentic Shangqiu snacks, and traditional handicrafts.
🗺️ Other Themed Route Recommendations
If you have more time, consider these themed routes:
1. One-day Yin Shang Culture Exploration: Shangqiu Ancient City → Shangqiu Museum → Fire God Platform → Sui Huang Mausoleum → Weizi Shrine.
2. One-day Han Dynasty Elegance Tour: Han Liang King Mausoleum Scenic Area → Liu Bang’s Snake-Slaying Site → Mangdang Mountain Han Heroic Scenery Area → Shangqiu Ancient City (Guide Prefecture City Wall, Yingtian Academy) → Han Liang Cultural Park.
3. One-day Ecological Wellness Tour: Yellow River Old Course National Forest Park → Yellow River Old Course Tianmu Lake Scenic Area → Eastern Henan Bamboo Sea Scenic Area.
🍽️ Shangqiu Autumn Specialty Foods
· Traditional Eastern Henan dishes: Try Huimian (braised noodles), roast chicken, braised beef, and other local specialties.
· Seasonal autumn ingredients: Autumn is harvest season, so enjoy fresh local walnuts, pomegranates, and other specialties.
· Ancient city snacks: Various authentic Shangqiu snacks can be found inside and outside the ancient city.
💰 Budget and Cost Reference
Cost Category Economy (CNY) Comfortable (CNY)
Tickets (3 days) About 100-150 About 200-250
Accommodation (2 nights) About 300 About 500-800
Meals (3 days) About 200 About 400
Transportation (within city) About 100 About 300 (including car rental)
Total About 700 About 1400-1750
Note: Shangqiu Ancient City Scenic Area is free to enter. Tickets for the city wall, Zhang Xun Shrine, and Yingtian Academy are 20 CNY each; a combined ticket for all three is 35 CNY. Shangqiu Museum is free. Yanbo Platform adult ticket is 30 CNY. Ticket prices for Mangdang Mountain vary.
💡 Practical Tips
1. Best time to visit: Late September to early November, with cool weather and pleasant autumn colors.
2. Transportation suggestions:
· Attractions in Shangqiu city are relatively concentrated; you can use buses or taxis.
· Renting a car or taking a long-distance bus is recommended for Mangdang Mountain.
· Traffic control is implemented around the ancient city during holidays; public transport is advised.
3. Special reminders:
· Autumn in Shangqiu often has rain; bring rain gear.
· Visitors over 60 years old can enter the ancient city walls for free.
· Shangqiu Museum is closed on Mondays (except public holidays); plan accordingly.
Autumn in Shangqiu is not only a visual feast but also a spiritual journey through five thousand years of civilization. Walking on the ancient city walls, boating on Nanhu Lake, exploring Han dynasty relics, and savoring Yin Shang culture—this city will uniquely let you experience the profoundness of Chinese civilization and the beauty of autumn.