In Kaifeng, I experienced a time-travel adventure

This is not only a tribute to the Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden but also a true reflection of our trip to Kaifeng. From the flying eaves and upturned corners seen from the window of the Atour Hotel at the Drum Tower near Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden, to the faint fragrance of the endless sea of chrysanthemums at Longting Scenic Area; from the grand opening ceremony at Kaifeng Prefecture Office to the steaming soup-filled buns at Heyuan Bun Restaurant; from the picture books on the hotel bookshelf that our child couldn’t put down to the Song-style aesthetics embedded in the villa renovation design... this ancient capital of eight dynasties wove an elegant dream spanning a thousand years for our whole family. Attraction Experience: A Day Touring the Glory of the Song Dynasty 🌿 Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden Inside the garden, the Rainbow Bridge lying over the waves and the Bian River boat rides, along with interactions with NPCs dressed in Song dynasty costumes, make you feel as if you have stepped into the bustling scenes of the "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" painting. 🏵 Longting Chrysanthemum Exhibition In the golden autumn of October, Longting Scenic Area is a sea of chrysanthemums. Featuring "daytime chrysanthemum viewing and nighttime floral banquets," hundreds of chrysanthemum varieties bloom in competition, creating a spectacular boundless sea of flowers—an excellent backdrop for photos and check-ins. ⚖ Kaifeng Prefecture Office Opening Ceremony It is recommended to arrive before 8:40 at the entrance to secure a front-row spot by the fence and watch the opening ceremony from 9:00 to 9:10 up close. We witnessed the impressive opening performance and the "Judge Bao’s Trial" show, experiencing the noble spirit of the Northern Song southern government office. 🖋 Hanyuan Stele Forest As a famous Chinese calligraphy garden, this place is not only a paradise for calligraphy enthusiasts but also a great spot to experience traditional culture. The elegant garden landscape complements the rich cultural atmosphere perfectly. 🏨 Highly Recommended Accommodation: [Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden Atour Hotel] This hotel was one of the biggest surprises of our trip~ Upon entering, the first thing that catches your eye is the meticulously crafted courtyard. Bamboo shadows sway, white stones form a stream, instantly transporting you from the urban hustle to a tranquil and elegant atmosphere. The hotel’s greatest advantage is its unbeatable location. It’s only about a 5-minute walk from the hotel to Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden. This means that while other tourists are still rushing, we leisurely blend into the morning life of Bianjing; at night, when the garden lights dim and performances end, we can avoid the crowds and quickly return to peace. 📚 Bamboo Residence Book Bar — A Child’s Favorite The hotel has a 24-hour open "Bamboo Residence" public library with a rich collection of books, including Kaifeng history, Song dynasty culture, and various children’s picture books. Our daughter dove straight into the children’s section, reading with great interest, and even borrowed two books to continue reading in the room. 🍵 Specialty Breakfast — Authentic Kaifeng Flavors For breakfast, besides the usual Chinese and Western dishes, the hotel specially offers Kaifeng’s signature almond tea and spicy pepper soup. The almond tea is finely brewed and silky smooth, sprinkled with sesame and crushed peanuts, rich and sweet. [Awesome] Food Recommendation: Heyuan Soup-filled Bun Restaurant For lunch, we chose Heyuan Soup-filled Bun Restaurant, frequently recommended by locals. This old brand may not be as famous as some others, but it is one of the most frequented soup bun shops by locals. We ordered traditional pork soup buns and shrimp soup buns: the pork buns have thin skin, generous filling, and rich broth, delicious and savory; each shrimp bun contains a whole shrimp, making it even fresher. Following the traditional way—"first open a window, then drink the soup, and finally savor the full flavor"—we carefully experienced the essence of this intangible cultural heritage delicacy. Kaifeng, this ancient capital praised as "Qishu Mingxia Wufenglou, Yimen since ancient times the imperial city," with its profound historical heritage and exquisite modern interpretation, created an unforgettable millennium dream for our family. If you are also coming to Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden, consider this route to experience the beautiful rendezvous of Song charm and Atour.