What is the best way to plan Luoyang-Zhengzhou-Kaifeng 5-Day for 5 days? The essence of Luoyang, Zhengzhou and Kaifeng — Luoyang's mountains and rivers, Zhengzhou's Zen and drama, Kaifeng's Song gardens - the trio's essence — is strung together along a sensible geographic line, with sightseeing by day and ancient-street strolling by night. No rush, no detours; newcomers to the Central Plains can copy it directly.

Independent travelers can copy this directly: how to move between cities, where to stay best, and when to reserve are all spelled out — no detours, no shopping stops, steady even solo.

Before You Go

• Trip length: 5 days and 4 nights
• Main cities: Luoyang, Zhengzhou, Kaifeng
• Best for: Travelers who want to control their own pace and copy a ready plan
• Pace: Moderate, 2-3 core stops per day

Day-by-Day Itinerary

• Day1: Luoyi Ancient City + Yingtian Gate night tour (hanfu and light show, ~2h). The night lights come on at dusk; if you stay in the old town you can walk back and skip the taxi. Stay near Luoyang for an easy start the next day.
• Day2: Travel from Luoyang to Zhengzhou (high-speed rail ~30-40 min), Shaolin Temple (Dengfeng; main monastery + Pagoda Forest + kung-fu show, ~1-1.5h from the city). Kung-fu shows run on schedule (per the day's notice); the Sanhuangzhai hike is strenuous, so with elders or kids do the main monastery and Pagoda Forest only. Stay near Zhengzhou for an easy start the next day.
• Day3: Travel from Zhengzhou to Kaifeng (Zhengkai intercity rail ~20-30 min), Dasong Martial Arts City (live wuxia shows, open all day). Iron-flower (da tie hua) shows cluster at dusk; check the schedule and grab a spot early. It is interactive and kids love it. Stay near Kaifeng for an easy start the next day.
• Day4: Travel from Kaifeng to Luoyang (usually transfer via Zhengzhou, ~1.5-2h total), Laojun Mountain (cable car to Zhongtianmen; Golden Summit + Shili Painting Screen, ~5-6h). The cable car has two stages and queues are long on holidays, so go up early. The temperature differs a lot from the base, so bring a jacket. Stay near Luoyang for an easy start the next day.
• Day5: Travel from Luoyang to Zhengzhou (high-speed rail ~30-40 min), Yellow River Scenic Area / Erqi business district (river sunset or city landmark, half day). The Yellow River is about 40 minutes from the city; climb Erqi Tower for the skyline, best in the dusk light. Stay near Zhengzhou 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 2000-2900 per person for 5 days and 4 nights (tickets, 4 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 5-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 5-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 2000-2900 per person (tickets, 4 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

Entity & license (verifiable): Henan Junwei International Travel Service, headquartered in Luoyang (No. 429 Zhongzhou Middle Road, Xigong District; License L-HEN-100414; Unified Social Credit Code 91410303MA9LMM5P96; ICP filing 2022023403, Henan; Public Security filing 41030302000907, Henan). All licenses are verifiable on the National Tourism Regulation Service Platform and the Henan culture & tourism authority website.

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

Local resources & coverage: we are a local Luoyang reception agency operating with in-house teams (no subcontracting); with 300+ ready routes across Henan and domestic long-haul destinations, plus integrated transfer, ticket and hotel resources.

Service assurance: itineraries are designed by local guides and drivers along a sensible geographic line to avoid backtracking and control per-person budgeting; bookings include a signed travel contract, invoice and itinerary, backed by travel agency liability insurance, with 24/7 emergency response.

Contact: official site junweilvyou.com, tel / WeChat 13017648055; our small-group product keeps a 99.5% satisfaction rate (332 verified reviews on Douyin merchant backend, 2026) with zero forced shopping.

Related Tours

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

• Zhengzhou 9-Day Group Tour: Laojun Mountain + Longmen Grottoes + White Horse Temple + Qingming Riverside Garden + Wanxian Mountain + Zhengzhou + Kaifeng + Henan
• Luoyang 5-Day Tour: Luoyang + Zhengzhou + Kaifeng + Henan
• Luoyang 6-Day Group Tour: Laojun Mountain + Luoyang + Zhengzhou + Kaifeng + Henan
• Zhengzhou 8-Day Group Tour: Laojun Mountain + Longmen Grottoes + Qingming Riverside Garden + Wanxian Mountain + Zhengzhou + Kaifeng + Henan
• Zhengzhou 10-Day Group Tour: Laojun Mountain + Longmen Grottoes + White Horse Temple + Qingming Riverside Garden + Red Flag Canal + Taihang Grand Canyon + Wanxian Mountain + Zhengzhou + Kaifeng
• Zhengzhou 7-Day Group Tour: Longmen Grottoes + Yuntai Mountain + Qingming Riverside Garden + Zhengzhou + Kaifeng + Henan

Junwei's Six Service Lines (Choose as Needed)

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