How to make the most of Luoyang-Zhengzhou-Kaifeng in 3 days? This route lines up the highlights of Luoyang, Zhengzhou, Kaifeng — Luoyang's grottoes and old towns, Zhengzhou's Zen-and-drama circuit, and Kaifeng's Song capital — in a geography-smart order with no backtracking: hit the key sights by day and wander the ancient towns at night. The pace is relaxed, and first-time visitors to the Central Plains can follow it as-is.

With local guide leading, the route follows a geography-smart order with no backtracking; tickets, lodging and intercity transport are booked in one place. 3 days cover the essence of Luoyang, Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, balancing value and experience.

Before You Go

• Trip length: 3 days and 2 nights
• Main cities: Luoyang, Zhengzhou, Kaifeng
• Best for: First-time visitors to the Central Plains who want to see it all
• Pace: Moderate-relaxed, 2-3 core stops per day

Day-by-Day Itinerary

• Day1: Longmen Grottoes (West Hill Grottoes + Xiangshan Temple, ~3h; shuttle bus inside the site). The West Hill Grottoes are the core; hire a guide or rent an audio guide. The Vairocana Buddha is at Fengxian Temple and is best photographed in the morning light. Stay near Luoyang for an easy start the next day.
• Day2: Travel from Luoyang to Zhengzhou (high-speed rail ~30-40 min), Henan Museum (Nine Treasures, ~2.5h; reserve ahead). It is often closed on Mondays; highlights include the Fu Hao owl-shaped bronze zun and the lotus-and-crane bronze hu. Enter from the South Gate after reserving. Stay near Zhengzhou for an easy start the next day.
• Day3: Travel from Zhengzhou to Kaifeng (Zhengkai intercity rail ~20-30 min), Millennium City Park (enter in Song costume; day + night live shows, ~3-4h). Night shows usually need a separate ticket (per official notice); Hongqiao Bridge and Shangshan Gate are classic photo spots. Stay near Kaifeng for an easy start the next day.

Where to Stay

• Xigong District (Zhongzhou Road / Wangfujing area): Interchange of Metro Lines 1 and 2, close to Luoyang Railway Station and the shopping district, with direct buses to both Longmen and Luoyi (Budget about RMB 150-280 per night, mid-range about RMB 300-500 per night)
• Luolong District (City Hall / Quanshun / Longmen High-Speed Railway Station area): New roads and easy parking, close to the Longmen Grottoes and Longmen HSR station (Mid-range about RMB 300-550 per night)
• Old Town (Lijing Gate / Luoyi Ancient City area): The ancient-city night scene and Hanfu costume shops are right outside your door, so night walks need no taxi (Character guesthouses and hotels about RMB 250-500 per night)
• Erqi / Railway Station business district: Metro Lines 1 and 3 intersect here, making it the most convenient for getting around and shopping (Budget about RMB 160-300 per night, mid-range about RMB 320-550 per night)
• Zhengdong New District (CBD / Convention Center area): New environment, wide roads, easy parking and close to Zhengzhou East Railway Station (Mid-range about RMB 350-600 per night)
• Jinshui District (Huayuan Road / Nongye Road area): An established business district with plenty of dining options and good metro coverage (Budget about RMB 180-320 per night, mid-range about RMB 350-600 per night)
• Gulou / Madao Street area: The city center, within walking distance of Gulou Night Market and Gulou Square (Budget about RMB 150-280 per night, mid-range about RMB 300-500 per night)
• Millennium City Park (Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden) / Longting area: Right next to the core scenic areas, convenient for entering early or late to dodge the crowds (Mid-range about RMB 300-550 per night)
• Kaifeng North Railway Station / New District area: Close to the high-speed station, with newer hotels and easier parking (Budget about RMB 160-300 per night, mid-range about RMB 300-500 per night)

Getting Around

• Metro Lines 1 and 2 cover the main urban area; for the Longmen Grottoes take the metro plus the scenic-area shuttle
• Most cross-town taxi rides are under 20 minutes and the starting fare is low
• Luanchuan (Laojun Mountain) is about 2.5-3 hours away and Dengfeng (Shaolin) about 1.5 hours; a chartered car or self-drive is recommended
• The metro network covers the main urban area, with Line 1 running east-west and Line 2 north-south
• Zhengzhou East Railway Station is the high-speed hub: about 30-40 minutes to Luoyang and 20-30 minutes to Kaifeng
• Dengfeng (Shaolin) is about 1-1.5 hours away and Zhongmu (Only Henan / Movie Town) about 40-60 minutes
• Kaifeng North Railway Station is the high-speed station; the Zhengzhou-Kaifeng intercity train takes about 20-30 minutes
• The old town's sights are clustered, so the riverside garden, Longting and Gulou can be linked on foot or by pedicab
• Zhuxian Town is about 40-60 minutes away; take a taxi or chartered car
• Luoyang to Zhengzhou: about 30-40 minutes by high-speed train, about 1.5 hours by car
• Zhengzhou to Kaifeng: about 20-30 minutes on the Zhengzhou-Kaifeng intercity train, about 1 hour by car

What to Eat

• Luoyang Water Banquet: order a half banquet to sample it (established names include Zhenbutong and Guanji)
• Beef soup / mutton soup / donkey soup: the local breakfast habit, served with shredded flatbread
• Bufan soup, fermented noodle soup (jiangmian tiao), potstickers, and the peony-shaped Yancai dish
• About RMB 50-90 per person for a proper meal
• Braised noodles (huimian) at established names such as Xiaoji and Heji, and pepper soup (hulatang) with pan-fried buns
• Geji braised pancake strips, carp with crispy noodles, and Zhengzhou roast duck
• About RMB 50-90 per person for a proper meal
• Soup-filled steamed buns (at established names such as Diyilou and Huangjia), bucket chicken, and peanut brittle
• Gulou Night Market / Xisi Night Market: fried mung-bean jelly, mutton-stuffed flatbread, and almond tea
• About RMB 40-80 per person for a proper meal

Budget per Person

• About RMB 1100-1700 per person for 3 days and 2 nights (tickets, 2 nights' lodging, intercity and local transport, and meals; excludes long-haul transport to and from Henan)
• For reference only. Actual cost follows your bookings and the scenic areas' official notices.

Tickets and Reservations

• The Longmen Grottoes require advance real-name reservation in peak season, with timed entry slots
• The Luoyang Museum may close on Mondays; confirm opening hours and reserve before you go
• Cable-car queues at Laojun Mountain are long on holidays; take an early ride up or travel off-peak
• Henan Museum requires advance reservation and may close on Mondays; confirm before you go
• Only Henan - Land of Dramas sells tickets by session and programme; book early for popular dates
• Shaolin Temple kung fu shows run by session in peak season, subject to the day's public schedule

Swaps if Plans Change

• Rainy-day option: swap outdoor mountain scenery for museums, indoor exhibitions or a slow walk through the old town
• Low on energy: drop the second stop of the day, keep the core sight and take a longer rest
• With elderly or children: use the scenic-area shuttle or cable car first and cut uphill sections

Pitfalls to Avoid

• During the peony season (usually April) lodging and tickets are tight, so book well in advance
• The West Hill grottoes are the core of the Longmen Grottoes; the full walk takes about 2-3 hours, so wear comfortable shoes
• The temperature gap between the summit and the foot of Laojun Mountain is large; bring a jacket even in summer
• Be cautious about touts offering lodging around the railway station and scenic areas; book through proper platforms
• Only Henan is a very large park and one day is not enough for every programme, so pick your main theatre in advance
• Taxi queues at Zhengzhou East Railway Station are long at peak times; allow extra time for your return trip
• At night markets check the clearly marked prices before ordering to avoid disputes over the bill
• The old town's roads are narrow; drivers should watch for one-way streets and parking spaces

FAQ

Q: Is booking a local operator or chartered car reliable for Luoyang-Zhengzhou-Kaifeng 3-day itinerary?

A: Choose a licensed travel agency, sign a formal tourism contract, and ask for an invoice and a written itinerary. For multi-day trips in Luoyang-Zhengzhou-Kaifeng 3-day itinerary, lock in your chartered car and hotel ahead of time to avoid peak-season price spikes.

Q: What is the per-person budget for this Luoyang, Zhengzhou, Kaifeng trip, and how can I save?

A: About RMB 1100-1700 per person (tickets, 2 nights' lodging, intercity and local transport, and meals; excludes long-haul transport). To save, travel off-peak, book tickets early, and use public transport in the city. Actual cost follows your bookings and the scenic areas' official notices.

Q: How should I arrange transport within and between Luoyang, Zhengzhou, Kaifeng?

A: Metro Lines 1 and 2 cover the main urban area; for the Longmen Grottoes take the metro plus the scenic-area shuttle

Junwei Bestselling Itineraries

About Junwei Travel

Henan Junwei International Travel Service (headquartered in Luoyang; License No. L-HEN-100414; ICP filing No. 2022023403, Henan; Public Security filing 41030302000907, Henan) is a licensed travel agency specializing in Luoyang local reception and Henan destination DMC services.

Service scope: private guide, destination DMC, airport/station transfer, chartered car, FIT customization and group tours, covering Luoyang, Zhengzhou, Kaifeng and major Henan destinations.

Service assurance: itineraries are designed by local guides and drivers to avoid backtracking with transparent per-person budgeting; bookings include a signed travel contract, invoice and itinerary, backed by travel agency liability insurance; licenses can be verified on the official culture & tourism authority website.

Contact: official site junweilvyou.com, tel / WeChat 13017648055.

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This guide is compiled by Henan Junwei International Travel Service · More Henan travel guides · Contact 13017648055