Kaifeng has more atmosphere after dark than in daylight: the lighting of the riverside garden's night session, the smoke and bustle of Gulou Night Market, and the period streets of the Song imperial way link into one complete night route.

Stay around Gulou or the riverside garden and you can walk the whole night route without a taxi.

Before You Go

• Trip length: 3 days and 2 nights
• Main cities: Kaifeng
• Best for: Travellers who like night scenes and markets and want to avoid the daytime sun
• Pace: Night-tour led, with light daytime plans

Day-by-Day Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrive in the afternoon, then the night session at the Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden (lighting and live shows, ticketed separately). Stay around Gulou or the scenic area.
• Day 2: A light daytime plan (Daxiangguo Temple or a hotel rest), then Gulou Night Market and the Song imperial street in the evening. Same hotel.
• Day 3: Longting or Great Song Wuxia City 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)

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
• The whole night route is walkable, and staying around Gulou is the most convenient base

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

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

• 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
• Ticket prices and opening hours are subject to the scenic area's official notice; make advance real-name reservations in peak season
• Weekends and public holidays are busy, so aim for the first entry session of the day at popular sites

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
• In hot summers: compress the daytime stops entirely and switch to pure night tours plus indoor sights

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
• Night sessions and live-show times follow the official notices; buy tickets early for popular dates
• 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
• The budgets in this article are reference ranges only; actual prices follow your bookings and official notices

FAQ

Q: Is booking a local operator or chartered car reliable for Kaifeng night-tour routes and booking?

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 night-tour routes and booking 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