Kaifeng's old-town sights cluster; the drive's edge is not needing the last bus after the night market. The snag is old-town one-ways and night-market spaces, park once and walk.

Two days 1 night keep Qingming Riverside + Kaifeng Prefecture + night market, park once, walk the night back.

Before You Go

• Trip length: 2 days and 1 nights
• Main cities: Kaifeng
• Best for: Drivers who want free night-market eating
• Pace: Relaxed, old-town walk + short drives

Day-by-Day Itinerary

• Day1: drive in -> Qingming Riverside lot (day + night session, half-day) -> Gulou night market (public lot, walk) -> stay Gulou / old town
• Day2: Kaifeng Prefecture (lot, about 2h) -> free / Baogong Lake -> return

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
• Qingming Riverside and Kaifeng Prefecture have lots; old town one-ways, park public then walk at night

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 700-1100 per person for 2 days and 1 nights (tickets, 1 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
• With kids: Day2 add Bianjing Park / Iron Pagoda
• Night alt: Day1 night session only, Baogong daytime

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
• Check marked prices at night markets first
• Old-town roads narrow, watch one-ways and spaces
• 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 self-drive 2 days 1 night?

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 Kaifeng self-drive 2 days 1 night, 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 Kaifeng trip, and how can I save?

A: About RMB 700-1100 per person (tickets, 1 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 Kaifeng?

A: Kaifeng North Railway Station is the high-speed station; the Zhengzhou-Kaifeng intercity train takes about 20-30 minutes

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.

Related Tours

After reading the guide, you can book the matching tours directly:

• 6-Day Henan Panorama Tour: Zhengzhou + Kaifeng + Shaolin + L
• 4-Day Henan Highlights Tour: Zhengzhou + Kaifeng + Shaolin +
• 3-Day Henan History & Culture Tour: Luoyang + Shaolin + Kaif
• Kaifeng Night Tour 5-Day Tour (Hot-spring · from Zhengzhou)
• Kaifeng Heritage 4-Day Tour (HSR · from Zhengzhou)
• Kaifeng Night Tour 3-Day Tour (Photography · from Kaifeng)

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