Kaifeng, You Feel Like a Stranger to Me. Must-Visit Spots in Kaifeng

Budget Travel Guide for Girls: A Trip to Kaifeng | Travel Through the Millennial Bianliang City, Dreaming of the Grandeur of the Song Dynasty** --- ### **🏯 Must-Visit Attractions** **1. Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden (5A Scenic Spot)** - **Highlights**: An immersive Song Dynasty cultural theme park based on the *Along the River During the Qingming Festival* painting, featuring all-day live performances! - **Must-See Shows**: ✅ **"Yue Fei Defeats Prince Xiao Liang"** (Epic horse battle with stunning special effects) ✅ **"Dream of the Prosperous Song Dynasty"** (Nighttime water-based live show, highly recommended!) - **Experiences**: Stroll in Hanfu costumes, savor Song Dynasty delicacies at "Sun Yang Zheng Dian," and take a canal boat ride. **2. Kaifeng Prefecture (4A Scenic Spot)** - **Highlights**: The foremost government office of the Northern Song Dynasty, where Judge Bao served. Daily "Opening Ceremony" performance at 9:00 AM. - **Activities**: 📜 Watch the *Judge Bao Hears a Case* reenactment 🏛️ Snap a photo under the "Upright and Honest" plaque and experience ancient judicial culture **3. Daxiangguo Temple** - **History**: One of China's top ten famous temples, where Lu Zhishen once became a monk! - **Attractions**: Thousand-Hand and Thousand-Eye Guanyin wooden carving, Buddhist music performances (on the 1st and 15th of the lunar month) **4. Longting Park** - **Highlights**: Ruins of six dynasties' imperial palaces. Climb the Longting Hall for a panoramic view of Pan and Yang Lakes. - **Best Time to Visit**: During the October Chrysanthemum Festival, when the city is bathed in golden blooms! **5. Iron Pagoda Park (Kaibao Temple Pagoda)** - **Legend**: The 900-year-old "First Pagoda Under Heaven," standing strong through wars and floods. - **Night Tour**: The pagoda under the light show is magical—perfect for photos! --- ### **🍜 Kaifeng Food Guide** - **Must-Try Snacks**: 1️⃣ **Soup Dumplings** (Try "Huang Family Old Shop"—first poke a hole, then sip the soup) 2️⃣ **Carp with Noodles** (Sweet and sour Yellow River carp + dragon beard noodles, a Song Dynasty royal dish) 3️⃣ **Mutton Pancake** (Crispy and fragrant, a must-buy at Gulou Night Market) 4️⃣ **Almond Tea** (Lotus root starch + almonds + nuts, sweet and warming) - **Night Market Picks**: 🌃 **Gulou Night Market** (Iconic but slightly pricier) 🌃 **Xisi Night Market** (Locals' favorite—try "Zhou’s Almond Tea" and "Zhang’s Stir-Fried Liangfen") --- ### **📅 Itinerary Suggestions** - **One-Day Highlights**: Morning: Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden → Lunch: Soup dumplings Afternoon: Kaifeng Prefecture → Daxiangguo Temple → Evening: Gulou Night Market - **Two-Day In-Depth Tour**: Day 2: Longting Park → Iron Pagoda Park → Shan-Shaan-Gan Guild Hall → Xisi Night Market --- ### **💡 Travel Tips** - **Transportation**: Attractions are concentrated downtown—taxis or shared e-bikes are convenient. - **Accommodation**: Stay in Longting or Gulou District for easy night exploration. - **Best Season**: Spring and autumn (April-May, September-November)—avoid summer heat. - **Hidden Gems**: 🔥 Night tour of Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden (lights + shows, less crowded) 🎭 Catch a Yu Opera performance (*Judge Bao* plays are classics) --- **✨ Kaifeng: A City Living in *The Eastern Capital: A Dream of Splendor*** When night falls and the lanterns light up Gulou Night Market, it feels like stepping back into the golden age of "Bianjing, the unrivaled splendor under heaven." --- **Need more Song Dynasty cultural experiences/family-friendly activities/day trips? Let me know how to tailor this guide!**