Central · DESTINATION GUIDE

Henan 河南

Henan lies in central China, where broad plains, the Yellow River and mountain margins frame a succession of former capitals and long-established settlements. Zhengzhou is the modern provincial capital and a useful transport hub, but Luoyang, Kaifeng, Anyang and the Dengfeng area tell different historical stories. Choose the period, collection or landscape you most want to understand, then build a regional route around it. Archaeological remains, original monuments and contemporary visitor districts offer different experiences, with local breakfasts and evening streets providing a welcome everyday counterpoint.

Location of Henan in China

About Henan

Henan at a glance

Population
97,440,000Year-end resident population, entire provincial-level administrative area · 2025Source ↗
Income per person
33,215Mean annual disposable income per person, all residents · 2025 · CNYSource ↗
Languages & dialects
Mandarin; mainly Central Plains Mandarin (中原官话), with Jin in the north and Jianghuai Mandarin in parts of the southeast.Source ↗
Geography
Central and eastern plains, western and southern mountain belts, and the Nanyang Basin in the southwest.Source ↗
Elevation
Many plains and basins lie around 50–100 m; surrounding mountain areas commonly exceed 1,000 m.Typical terrain bands, not the complete provincial range.Source ↗
Main gateway
ZhengzhouProvince
Longmen Grottoes · 龙门石窟
Longmen Grottoes · Henan · xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0

Discover Henan

Choose a historical chapter to explore closely

Henan Museum in Zhengzhou introduces material culture through significant objects, while Yin Xu at Anyang connects late Shang history with an archaeological landscape. Luoyang's Longmen Grottoes shift the focus toward Buddhist sculpture. Dengfeng's monuments form a wider landscape of ritual, education, astronomy and religion, with Shaolin only one part. These are separate cities and site clusters. Give the chosen museum or monument time for close observation instead of assuming that every famous name belongs in one day.

Keep food and evening streets in the picture

Huimian turns noodles and broth into a substantial meal, while peppery hulatang provides a different breakfast. Kaifeng's soup-filled buns and Luoyang's soup traditions create further local distinctions; a straightforward soup breakfast is a different occasion from a water banquet. Evening food streets can balance a day of formal visits. Recognise that places such as Luoyi Ancient City include contemporary visitor presentation and photography settings, rather than treating every scenic street as surviving ancient fabric.

Decide whether to extend south

Xinyang introduces tea country, lake scenery and another regional kitchen, away from the familiar central-capital corridor. It makes sense as a chosen southern stay, not an incidental stop between northern monuments. Rail serves major cities, but Dengfeng and individual heritage complexes still require road transfers. Confirm the complete station name and the final approach before planning several same-day visits. A focused corridor with room for meals and interpretation is more useful than a province-wide dash.

Explore Henan

Core places to explore, with English and Chinese names.

Henan local specialties

河南特色美食 · 192 specialties to discover

Photograph of Huimian (烩面).Huimian 烩面

The broad noodles are supple and chewy, carrying a rich broth well. Meat, greens or tofu products introduce contrasting textures.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: AddisWang · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo adjustments

EXIF orientation applied where present; resized proportionally to at most 640 px on the long edge and encoded as WebP. No crop, retouching, recoloring or subject changes.

Photograph of Hulatang (胡辣汤).Hulatang 胡辣汤

The soup is dense and coating, with warm pepper heat and a variety of chewy or tender pieces. It need not taste like a chili-only soup.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: Windmemories · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo adjustments

EXIF orientation applied where present; resized proportionally to at most 640 px on the long edge and encoded as WebP. No crop, retouching, recoloring or subject changes.

Photograph of Kaifeng soup-filled buns (开封灌汤包).Kaifeng soup-filled buns 开封灌汤包

The skin is delicate but resilient, with a savory center and a burst of hot broth. Its texture depends on being eaten soon after steaming.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: Gisling · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo adjustments

EXIF orientation applied where present; resized proportionally to at most 640 px on the long edge and encoded as WebP. No crop, retouching, recoloring or subject changes.

A bowl of beef soup with coriander, photographed in Luoyang in April 2025.Luoyang beef soup 洛阳牛肉汤

The broth is savory and warming, while sliced meat adds a firmer bite. Chili and herbs can alter the flavor considerably, so the plain soup is worth tasting first.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: Roller Coaster Philosophy · CC BY 2.0
Photo adjustments

Resized proportionally to a maximum 640 px long edge, EXIF orientation applied where present, and encoded as WebP. No crop or subject alteration.

Luoyang water banquet · 洛阳水席 · AI dish illustrationLuoyang water banquet 洛阳水席AI dish illustration · AI 菜品示意图

The meal offers changing textures and flavor balances, from light broths to richer or tangier dishes, so there is no single water-banquet taste.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Bufan soup · 不翻汤 · AI dish illustrationBufan soup 不翻汤AI dish illustration · AI 菜品示意图

The pancake pieces soften in the liquid, creating a tender, layered bite. Vinegar, pepper or other seasonings can make the soup tangy and aromatic.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Maojian green tea leaves; the source categorizes this photograph as Xinyang Maojian.Xinyang Maojian tea 信阳毛尖

The liquor is fresh and vegetal with a gentle nuttiness and a possible light astringent finish. Leaf quality, water temperature and steeping time change the balance.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: Azzurro~commonswiki · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo adjustments

EXIF orientation applied where present; resized proportionally to at most 640 px on the long edge and encoded as WebP. No crop, retouching, recoloring or subject changes.

Photograph of Daokou chicken (道口烧鸡).Daokou chicken 道口烧鸡

The flavor is deeply savory and spice-scented, with soft skin and meat that pulls apart easily rather than a brittle roasted exterior.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: Windmemories · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo adjustments

EXIF orientation applied where present; resized proportionally to at most 640 px on the long edge and encoded as WebP. No crop, retouching, recoloring or subject changes.

All dish names · 全部菜名 (192)

Top sights in Henan

Trip.Best · Best Things to DoChecked 2026-09-20

  1. Longmen Grottoes · 龙门石窟TOP1

    Longmen Grottoes龙门石窟

    Show on map
    洛阳市

    4.7 / 5 · Trip.com

    Longmen’s Buddhist figures occupy limestone cliffs on both sides of the Yi River, with the densest sequence on the west bank. Small niches and inscriptions lead to compositions on a very different scale, especially the great…

    View guide →
  2. Millennium City Park · 清明上河园TOP2

    Millennium City Park清明上河园

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    开封市

    4.6 / 5 · Trip.com

    Qingming Riverside Garden is a modern recreation inspired by Zhang Zeduan’s painting of urban life along a river. The artificial waterway links market streets, bridges and performance areas, with Rainbow Bridge forming a central…

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  3. Laojun Mountain Scenic Spot · 老君山景区TOP3

    Laojun Mountain (Henan)老君山

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    栾川县

    4.7 / 5 · Trip.com

    Laojun Mountain rises above Luanchuan with a combination of rocky peaks, elevated paths and Taoist buildings. The Shili Huaping sector follows a landscape of closely spaced rock pinnacles, while the Golden Summit temples give…

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  4. Wansuishan Martial Arts City · 万岁山武侠城TOP4

    Wansuishan Martial Arts City万岁山武侠城

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    龙亭区

    4.6 / 5 · Trip.com

    Wansuishan Martial Arts City (万岁山武侠城) is a theme parks, shows & resorts entry in Longting District, Henan. Its listed highlights include live performance.

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  5. Unique Henan Land of Dramas · 只有河南戏剧幻城TOP5

    Unique Henan Land of Dramas只有河南戏剧幻城

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    郑州市

    4.7 / 5 · Trip.com

    Only Henan is a theatre complex built as a grid of tall, earth-coloured walls and enclosed spaces.

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  6. Luoyang Museum · 洛阳博物馆TOP6

    Luoyang Museum洛阳博物馆

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    洛龙区

    4.7 / 5 · Trip.com

    Luoyang Museum (洛阳博物馆) is a museums, art & science entry in Luolong District, Henan.

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  7. Henan Museum · 河南博物院TOP7

    Henan Museum河南博物院

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    郑州市

    4.8 / 5 · Trip.com

    Henan Museum turns the archaeology of the Central Plains into a sequence of material encounters. The Jiahu bone flute introduces early music-making, while Fu Hao’s owl-shaped bronze vessel shows the sculptural imagination of…

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  8. Kaifeng Fu (Kaifeng Palace) · 开封府TOP8

    Kaifeng Fu (Kaifeng Palace)开封府

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    鼓楼区

    4.5 / 5 · Trip.com

    Kaifeng Fu (开封府) is a reconstruction of the prefectural government seat of the Northern Song capital, standing on the north shore of the eastern Baogong Lake in Gulou District, Kaifeng, Henan.

    View guide →
  9. Songshan Shaolin Scenic Area · 嵩山少林景区TOP9

    Songshan Shaolin Scenic Area嵩山少林景区

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    登封市

    4.5 / 5 · Trip.com

  10. Kaifeng Museum · 开封博物馆TOP10

    Kaifeng Museum开封博物馆

    Show on map
    开封市

    4.8 / 5 · Trip.com

    Kaifeng Museum’s collections offer a way to examine the city’s long history through particular objects. A Northern Song bronze bell inscribed Dasheng Yize connects the former capital with court music, while the stone list of…

    View guide →
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Ranking source & photo credits

The first ten entries of Trip.Best Best Things to Do. Rankings reflect platform recommendations, not counts of international visitors. Read on 20 September 2026; platform pages may use cached snapshots.

  • Longmen Grottoes: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Millennium City Park: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Laojun Mountain (Henan): Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Wansuishan Martial Arts City: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Unique Henan Land of Dramas: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Luoyang Museum: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Henan Museum: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Kaifeng Fu (Kaifeng Palace): Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Songshan Shaolin Scenic Area: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Kaifeng Museum: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.

Our place guide directory →

EXPLORE THE NEXT LEVEL

Cities, counties & districts in Henan

18 areas belong directly to Henan.

18 areas

Prefecture-level city

Zhengzhou郑州市

Zhengzhou, previously romanized as Chengchow, is the capital and the largest city of Henan Province, China. With a population of 12.6 million people in 2021, it is China's 11th largest city by population.

12 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Kaifeng开封市

Kaifeng (simplified Chinese: 开封; traditional Chinese: 開封; pinyin: Kāifēng) is a prefecture-level city in east-central Henan province, China.

9 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Luoyang洛阳市

Luoyang (simplified Chinese: 洛阳; traditional Chinese: 洛陽; pinyin: Luòyáng) is a city located in the confluence area of the Luo River and the Yellow River in the west of Henan province, China.

14 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Pingdingshan平顶山市

Pingdingshan (simplified Chinese: 平顶山; traditional Chinese: 平頂山; pinyin: Píngdǐngshān), also known as Eagle City (simplified Chinese: 鹰城; traditional Chinese: 鷹城; pinyin: Yīngchéng), is a prefecture-level…

10 local areas →
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Prefecture-level city

Anyang安阳市

Anyang (simplified Chinese: 安阳; traditional Chinese: 安陽; pinyin: Ānyáng; [án.jǎŋ]) is a prefecture-level city in Henan, China.

9 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Hebi鹤壁市

Hebi (simplified Chinese: 鹤壁; traditional Chinese: 鶴壁; pinyin: Hèbì [xɤ̂.pî]; postal: Hopi) is a prefecture-level city in northern Henan province, China.

5 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Xinxiang新乡市

Xinxiang (simplified Chinese: 新乡; traditional Chinese: 新鄉; pinyin: Xīnxiāng [ɕín.ɕjáŋ]; postal: Sinsiang) is a prefecture-level city in northern Henan province, China.

12 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Jiaozuo焦作市

Jiaozuo is a prefecture-level city in the northwest of Henan province, China. Sitting on the northern bank of the Yellow River, it borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the south, Xinxiang to the…

10 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Puyang濮阳市

Puyang is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Henan province, People's Republic of China. Located on the northern shore of the Yellow River, it borders Anyang in the west, Xinxiang in the southwest, and…

6 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Xuchang许昌市

Xuchang (simplified Chinese: 许昌; traditional Chinese: 許昌; postal: Hsuchang) is a prefecture-level city in central Henan province in Central China.

6 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Luohe漯河市

Luohe is a prefecture-level city in central Henan province, China. It is surrounded by the cities of Xuchang, Zhoukou, Zhumadian and Pingdingshan on its north, east, south and west respectively.

5 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Sanmenxia三门峡市

Sanmenxia (simplified Chinese: 三门峡; traditional Chinese: 三門峽; pinyin: Sānménxiá; postal: Sanmenhsia) is a prefecture-level city in the west of Henan Province, China.

6 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Nanyang南阳市

Nanyang is a prefecture-level city in the southwest of Henan province, China. The city with the largest administrative area in Henan, Nanyang borders Xinyang to the southeast, Zhumadian to the east…

13 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Shangqiu商丘市

Shangqiu, alternately romanized as Shangkiu, is a city in eastern Henan province, Central China. It borders Kaifeng to the northwest, Zhoukou to the southwest, and the provinces of Shandong and Anhui to the…

9 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Xinyang信阳市

Xinyang (simplified Chinese: 信阳; traditional Chinese: 信陽; pinyin: Xìnyáng; postal: Sinyang) is a prefecture-level city in southeastern Henan province, People's Republic of China, the southernmost…

10 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Zhoukou周口市

Zhoukou is a prefecture-level city in eastern Henan province, China. It borders Zhumadian to the southwest, Xuchang and Luohe to the west, Kaifeng to the northwest, Shangqiu to the northeast, and the province…

10 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Zhumadian驻马店市

Zhumadian (simplified Chinese: 驻马店; traditional Chinese: 駐馬店; pinyin: Zhùmǎdiàn; postal: Chumatien) is a prefecture-level city in southern Henan province, China.

10 local areas →County-level city

Jiyuan济源市

Jiyuan (simplified Chinese: 济源; traditional Chinese: 濟源; pinyin: Jìyuán) is a sub-prefecture-level city in northwestern Henan province, People's Republic of China.

Explore the area →

Arrive, stay & get around Henan

交通枢纽、住宿与天气

YOUR ARRIVAL GATEWAY

Zhengzhou郑州

This Henan entry uses Zhengzhou as its selected gateway city. It does not describe transport coverage across the entire region.

Airports

Railway stations

Metro & city transport

GET AROUND BY METRO · 地铁出行

Zhengzhou Metro Network 郑州轨道交通线路图

Zoomable map · 可放大

Use the official operating-line planner for Zhengzhou East, Zhengzhou Railway Station and the airport corridor.

  1. 1Find your stations确认起点与终点站
  2. 2Check interchanges查看换乘线路与站点
  3. 3Follow exit signs到站后按站内标识出站
Zhengzhou rail network diagram · 郑州轨道交通线路图Explore the full network查看站名、线路与换乘Enlarge map点击放大线路图

Check the legend for closed, reserved or future sections. 停运、预留与规划区间，请按图例辨识。

Map edition: 2025-10-28 · Diagram reviewed 2026-09-06

Map: Alan Fan Pei · CC BY-SA 4.0

Map coverage & sources 图示范围与来源说明

Metro network with Chengjiao and Zhengxu lines. Enlarge the full diagram to read station names and interchanges. 含城郊线、郑许线；点击放大查看站名与换乘。

Original 3400×3400 Commons PNG converted losslessly to WebP; no geometry or labels changed.

Official information ↗
Amap · 高德地图Apple Maps · 苹果地图

Coaches, ferries & onward travel

Transport reference review: 2026-09-06. Consult the operator for current services and timetables.

More about getting around

Zhengzhou is a major rail junction and air gateway; Luoyang and Anyang fit naturally into a rail-based route. Dengfeng and individual heritage complexes require road transfers. Check station names carefully and plan the last leg before accepting an ambitious sequence of same-day sightseeing stops.

Stay in Henan

Luoyang is a useful base for Longmen and city museums, while Dengfeng suits a fuller exploration of the surrounding monuments. Stay in Anyang when Shang archaeology is a priority. In Zhengzhou, choose a neighborhood for your activities rather than automatically sleeping beside a distant station.

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Zhengzhou weather

The current-hour forecast loads when this section is visible. It uses MET Norway model data for the named city, not station observations.

Seasons & when to go

Expect hot summers with periods of heavy rain and cold, relatively dry winters. Spring and autumn usually suit outdoor archaeology and walking. Grotto viewing areas and temple courtyards can be exposed, so plan shade breaks; mountain temperatures and footing require separate attention after rain.

Local life & communication

Different kinds of evidence shape each stop: archaeological objects in Zhengzhou, Shang remains in Anyang, Buddhist sculpture in Luoyang, ritual and astronomy around Dengfeng, and a separate southern tea-and-food region.

Henan's heritage spans oracle-bone writing, imperial capitals and Buddhist art. At Dengfeng, look beyond martial-arts performances to the relationship between sacred mountains and institutions. Museum interpretation can make the chronology manageable. Wheat noodles, soups and steamed foods provide a practical introduction to local meals.

Language & communication

Mandarin and local Central Plains varieties dominate everyday communication. Major heritage sites provide some English interpretation, but deeper explanations benefit from a prepared audio guide or knowledgeable guide. Save Longmen Grottoes and Luoyang Longmen railway station separately in your map app.

Useful local tips

  • Label each visit as a museum, archaeological site, historic building or modern cultural district; the distinction improves expectations.
  • Choose the exact Dengfeng monuments and plan transfers between their separate locations.
  • For hanfu rental or photography, clarify outfit, styling, image delivery, duration and total cost before paying.
  • Luoyang's term 'sweet soup' can refer to unseasoned broth in local usage; ask which preparation is being served.
  • A full water banquet is different from ordering a few representative dishes; discuss the format and portion size.

Written by China Revealed · Editorially updated 2026-09-07

Sources & useful links