Three-Day Travel Guide to Shangqiu

📍 Highlights: Yin Shang culture, ancient city strolls, Eastern Henan cuisine, old Yellow River course 👫 Suitable for: History enthusiasts, niche travelers, food explorers, self-driving families 💰 Budget reference: 600-1000 RMB per person (including round-trip transportation from Zhengzhou/surrounding cities) 📅 Itinerary Day 1: Tracing Shang Dynasty Roots & Ancient City Time Travel 🚄 Morning: Arrive in Shangqiu 1 hour by high-speed train from Zhengzhou / 40 minutes from Xuzhou to Shangqiu Station (taxi or car rental recommended) Accommodation options: Inside Shangqiu Ancient City (recommended "Guidefu Cultural Hotel," traditional courtyard style) City center (recommended "Vienna International Hotel," near the train station) 🏛️ Morning: Yin Shang Cultural Tour Shangqiu Museum (free, reservation required): Must-see: Shang Dynasty bronzes, Han dynasty stone reliefs Hidden gem: VR experience "Migration of the Shang People" Yanbo Platform (30 RMB ticket, one of China's earliest observatories): Climb the platform for panoramic views of Shangqiu Ancient City 🍜 Noon: Eastern Henan Traditional Flavors "Guocun Roast Chicken" (century-old marinade, crispy yet not greasy skin) "Gaolu Sesame Cake" (stuffed with Duozhi lamb, served with spicy pepper soup) 🏯 Afternoon: Ancient City Walk Shangqiu Ancient City (free, Ming dynasty Guidefu city walls): Key spots: Mu Family Courtyard (Qing dynasty Shanxi merchant mansion) Confucian Temple (millennia-old academy, ancient cypress trees) Cycling tip: Rent a bike (20 RMB/day) to circle the city walls 🌃 Evening: Ancient City Nightscape Nanhu Scenic Area (free, light show + musical fountain) Night market recommendations: Guidefu Snack Street (try "Shuiji Mo" dipped in sugar) Or (lamb noodle stew + sesame cake) Day 2: Yellow River Memories & Han-Liang Culture 🌅 Early morning: Old Yellow River Course (40-minute drive) Old Yellow River Course National Forest Park (free): Stunning reed marsh photos in autumn Experience: Horse carriage wetland tour (50 RMB/car) 🏺 Morning: Han Liang King’s Tomb (50 RMB ticket) Explore the Western Han Liang Xiaowang family tomb cluster Must-see: "Four Divine Beasts Cloud Pattern" mural (600 years earlier than Dunhuang) Replica of gold-thread jade burial suit 🍲 Noon: Farmhouse Flavors "Zhang Gong Manor" (Yellow River carp baked noodles + earthen pot bread) Or "Zhecheng Duozhi Lamb" (served with Schizonepeta, Eastern Henan specialty) 📜 Afternoon: Cultural Immersion Yingtian Academy (20 RMB ticket, one of the four great Northern Song academies): Hanfu experience "Apprenticeship Ceremony" (advance booking required) Baguan Zhai (free, Yan Zhenqing calligraphy stone inscriptions) 🌙 Evening: Artistic Nightlife "Shangqiu People" Theater (listen to excerpts from Henan opera "Hua Mulan") Or "Tea Fragrance Alley" (drink Xinyang Maojian tea while listening to storytelling) Day 3: Intangible Cultural Heritage & Departure 🎨 Early morning: Craft Heritage Shangqiu Huoshentai Temple Fair (busiest on the 1st and 15th of each lunar month): Watch the "Iron Flower Beating" intangible cultural heritage performance (more spectacular at night) Or visit "Song Embroidery Workshop" (experience Song dynasty embroidery) 🛍️ Morning: Souvenir Shopping Must-buy list: Zhang Gong Liquor (pioneer of low-alcohol spirits, choose the "Du Zhi Du" series) Minquan Grape Wine (classic Chinese brand, ice white is the most iconic) Jiazai Dried Tofu (five-spice vacuum packed) 🍜 Noon: One Last Fresh Bowl Before Leaving "Old Brand Wei’s Cold Noodles" (served with roujiamo) Or "Xiayi Sand Soup" (chicken broth base, sprinkled with yellow chives) 🚄 Departure: Recommended to leave from Shangqiu Station (about 15 minutes by taxi from the ancient city) ✔ Transportation: Best to walk or bike inside the ancient city; for the Old Yellow River Course, car rental is recommended (about 200 RMB/day) Shangqiu bus "Ancient City Tourism Line" costs 1 RMB, direct to all attractions ✔ Accommodation Tips: Choose homestays near the "South Gate" inside the ancient city (beautiful night views and quiet) Book one week in advance during peak seasons (April-May, October-November) ✔ Pitfall Avoidance: Be cautious buying roadside "Shang Ding" souvenirs (mostly Yiwu goods) Ignore fortune tellers who approach you in the ancient city ✔ Seasonal Specials: March: Huoshentai Temple Fair is grandest July: Old Yellow River Course Lotus Festival October: Yingtian Academy Confucian Ceremony 🏮 Shangqiu is an underestimated historical treasure trove! Three days and two nights, from Shang Dynasty bronzes to Han-Liang murals, ending with a steaming bowl of sand soup to warm your farewell stomach~