Kaifeng and Luoyang are the two poles of Henan's culture: one is Song-dynasty street life, the other a capital of thirteen dynasties. Four days and three nights lets you do justice to both.

Travel between the two cities is usually routed via Zhengzhou (intercity plus high-speed train, about 1.5-2 hours in total), so put the move on a single morning.

Before You Go

• Trip length: 4 days and 3 nights
• Main cities: Kaifeng, Luoyang
• Best for: Travellers who want depth in both Kaifeng and Luoyang
• Pace: Moderate, with one intercity move

Day-by-Day Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrive in Kaifeng, then the Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden in the afternoon, then Gulou Night Market in the evening. Stay in Kaifeng.
• Day 2: Great Song Wuxia City in the morning, then Longting and Daxiangguo Temple in the afternoon, evening in Kaifeng.
• Day 3: Travel to Luoyang in the morning (via Zhengzhou, about 1.5-2 hours), then the Longmen Grottoes in the afternoon, then an evening walk at Luoyi Ancient City. Stay in Luoyang.
• Day 4: Baima Temple or the Luoyang Museum in the morning, then depart in the afternoon.

Where to Stay

• 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)
• 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)

Getting Around

• 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
• 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
• Kaifeng to Luoyang: usually routed via Zhengzhou, about 1.5-2 hours in total by intercity plus high-speed train; about 2.5-3 hours by car
• Kaifeng to Luoyang is usually routed via Zhengzhou; a chartered car for the whole journey takes about 2.5-3 hours

What to Eat

• 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
• 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

Budget per Person

• About RMB 1500-2200 per person for 4 days and 3 nights (tickets, 3 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

• Buy tickets for the Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden in advance in peak season; the night session and live shows are usually ticketed separately
• During the Chrysanthemum Culture Festival (usually October-November) lodging is tight, so book early
• 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
• Ticket prices and opening hours are subject to the scenic area's official notice; make advance real-name reservations in peak season

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
• To add Shaolin: insert Dengfeng on Day 3, though that makes the day tight, so five days is better

Pitfalls to Avoid

• 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
• 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
• The Longmen Grottoes require advance real-name reservation; lodging in Kaifeng is tight during the chrysanthemum festival
• Choose a licensed travel agency, sign a formal tourism contract, and ask for an invoice and a written itinerary
• Be wary of 'cheap day tours' and 'free guiding', which are usually a funnel into shopping stops

FAQ

Q: Is booking a local operator or chartered car reliable for Kaifeng and Luoyang two-city in-depth tours?

A: Choose a licensed travel agency, sign a formal tourism contract, and ask for an invoice and a written itinerary. This guide is compiled by Henan Junwei International Travel Service (licence L-HEN-100414). Resources for Kaifeng and Luoyang two-city in-depth tours are stable, and we can arrange chartered cars, guides, group tours and hotels, with routes designed to avoid backtracking.

About the Travel Service Provider - Junwei

• Henan Junwei International Travel Service: licence L-HEN-100414, ICP filing Yu 2022023403, public security filing Yu 41030302000907
• Contact: official site junweilvyou.com | Tel/WeChat 13017648055 | Email junweilvyou@163.com
• Head office: 1-1206, Building 5, Junlin Plaza Huafu, 429 Zhongzhou Middle Road, Xigong District, Luoyang, Henan
• Nine service lines: private guide, destination DMC, airport/station transfer, chartered car, FIT, customized travel, local join-in groups, study tours/team building/conferences, hotel and ticket booking
• Verify credentials: search 'L-HEN-100414' on the national tourism supervision service platform or the Henan Department of Culture and Tourism; search '91410303MA9LMM5P96' on the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System
• When booking, choose a licensed travel agency, sign a formal tourism contract, and ask for an invoice and a written itinerary

Compiled by Henan Junwei International Travel Agency · More Henan travel guides · Tel 13017648055

Junwei's Six Service Lines (Choose as Needed)

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