Half a Day at Erqi Square and Dehua Street: A No-Backtracking Route

Erqi Square is the heart of Zhengzhou, and Dehua Street is right next to it. Walking around the two places together takes forty minutes if fast, or an entire afternoon if slower. The difference isn't in the legs, but in the order. The most common mistake is: first go to the square to hit the tower, then walk toward Dehua Street, and halfway realize the tower hasn't been climbed yet, so you turn back; After climbing the tower, you want to eat again, so you walk back into the street. After crossing the same intersection three times, after half a day you feel like "I didn't really do much." Erqi Square is a transportation hub and memorial site; right outside the metro station; Dehua Street is a pedestrian commercial street extending from one side of the square. The two are the "points" and "lines"—finish the points first, then follow the lines, and finally exit from the other end of the line to make the road smooth. So the correct order is just one sentence: exit the subway and first climb the tower, then go down the tower and enter the street, walk down the street until the end before deciding where to go. No looking back along the way. Time: What to do. Why is it placed at this spot? 14:00 Take the subway to Erqi Square Station, check the queue at the tower before exiting. Check the queue first—if there are fewer people, go shopping, then come back. 14:20 Climb the Erqi Memorial Tower to see the exhibits and the top-floor view. Afternoon lighting is steady, so it's easy to overexpose photos from the tower. 15:10 Enter Dehua Street, walk from start to finish, no stopping at the entrance. The entrance is the busiest, the shops are the most expensive, so going further in offers better value. 16:30 Find a time-honored restaurant to sit down and eat main dishes. Skip meal times, no need to wait for a table. After eating, still have the energy to walk. 17:40 Head back toward the plaza to see the tower lights on. The tower is best viewed before and after dark; just as the lights come on, the sky is still colorful. 18:30 Find a place to sit in nearby malls or have another round of snacks. In this area, the mall is the main place to go at night, warm indoors. 20:30 Leave the subway or walk to nearby accommodations. Leave before the last subway train, no need to rush for trains. The key to this timeline isn't that every block must be accurate, but that the order must not be reversed. The tower is at the front because it's "one-time"—just one trip is enough; The street is at the back because you can stop and leave anytime. The tower is free to visit, usually requiring valid ID and security checks. Opening hours and closing days are subject to on-site announcements. It's best to check before you set out, especially on regular closed days like Mondays. Inside the tower, there are exhibits that tell the history of the labor movement; if you look carefully, you can finish it in twenty minutes. The top-floor view is the most worthwhile part of the ticket price—even though you don't need a ticket. Looking down from above, you can see the traffic in the square, the buildings in the shopping district, and the main road in the distance—you can see at a glance how Zhengzhou city has grown. If you're with kids, this place offers more information than shopping. The density of time-honored brands on this street is considered high at Zhengzhou. You can find steamed dumplings, braised pancakes, and Huimian local staple foods. To know which shop is open and what time it closes, it's best to check the sign at the entrance before entering. Here's a little tip for ordering: order only one main dish and save the rest for snacks. Steamed dumplings and Huimian are both substantial portions; if you order both together, you lose your appetite by the latter half. If you want to try several places, just order half a portion of each item or split one for two people. Most shops on this street don't mind. Kids-friendly version. Keep shopping time under an hour, focusing on the children's stalls in the tower and mall. Kids have a low tolerance for 'shopping around'—they start making noise after half an hour. Instead of forcing yourself to shop, it's better to spend your time somewhere you can sit. You can push your stroller along this pedestrian street, but you have to take a detour when it's crowded. Photo version. Climb the tower half an hour before sunset; the tower is illuminated by the sunset, and the background is still before dark; After the lights come on, add a night shot. For street photography, walk deeper into the street, avoiding the stacked signs at the entrance—the image will be much cleaner. For portraits, it's recommended to use telephoto compression. Pedestrian streets are crowded, so wide-angle shots make it easier to catch others. Metro Line 1 Erqi Square Station goes directly, and outside the station is the plaza—this is the most worry-free way. If you're driving, parking spaces in this area are tight. The underground parking lots in shopping malls are the main choice. On holidays, queues are common, so I generally don't recommend driving your car in. If you want to go elsewhere when leaving, the subway is safer than taking a taxi. The evening rush hour in this area is heavily congested; several kilometers can take half an hour to wear down. Pitfall 1: Sit right at the street corner. The entrance shop has the highest rent, and prices and flavors aren't advantageous. Walk 200 meters further and then pick a better option. Pitfall 2: Treat shopping as walking. This street isn't long; walking back and forth three times is just about right. What's really worth spending time on is sitting down for a meal and climbing the tower to see once, not passing by the same shop repeatedly. Pitfall 3: Missing the twenty minutes when the lights come on. When the sky is about to get dark, the tower's lights are just lit, and there is still a bit of light left in the sky—this is the most beautiful scene of the day. If the sky gets too bright earlier and gets completely dark later, the layers disappear. Q: Is half a day enough for Erqi Square and Dehua Street? Enough, and there's plenty to spare. A full walk takes forty minutes, plus climbing the tower and having a meal, and it takes about three hours. The remaining time can be extended to nearby malls or neighborhoods, so there's no need to stay put. Q: Do you need an entrance ticket for the Erqi Memorial Tower? Do you need a reservation? Usually, admission is free with valid ID. Whether you need a reservation and how long it's open on the day depends on on-site announcements and official channels. Queues get noticeably longer during holidays. If you're in a hurry, you can shop first and check the queue on the way back. Q: Is Dehua Street suitable for elderly people? Yes, it's suitable. This street is flat, so walking is easy, and you can sit anywhere when tired. Note that when it's crowded, it's easy to get crowded, so it's safer to set a fixed meeting point for seniors, such as under the tower or outside a mall entrance. Q: Is it better to go at night or during the day? Each has its own advantages. During the day, you can climb the tower for a panoramic view and see the city's structure clearly; At night, when the lights come on, the tower and street atmosphere are more vibrant, but the tower is usually closed. If you want both, follow the timeline from afternoon to evening. Q: Are there any other places nearby that can be conveniently visited? The surrounding area is the old commercial center of Zhengzhou, packed with shopping malls, and within walking distance. If you want to see more of the cityscape, you can walk along the main road for a while, or take the metro station to nearby neighborhoods. Where to go depends on how much time you have left that day. Final thoughts: The value of half a day isn't in how many places you visit, but in not wasting time on repetitive roads. In the Erqi Square area, if you organize the order, two hours can feel like four hours. Who are we: Henan Regal International Travel Agency, headquartered at Luoyang (No. 429 Zhongzhou Middle Road, Xigong District), registered and established in July 2022, founded by Mr. Du Jinlong, who has been deeply involved in the tourism industry for over 15 years. We are a local first-hand local agency in Luoyang, holding a travel agency business license L-HEN-100414, unified social credit code 91410303MA9LMM5P96, Yu ICP registration number 2022023403, Yu Public Network Security 41030302000907 number. Qualifications can be verified on the official website of the cultural and tourism authorities. What gives you peace of mind: We adhere to the principle of "direct team execution, no subcontracting or outsourcing," serving over 500,000 passengers cumulatively, with 300+ routes for sale, covering both the entire Henan region and long-distance domestic routes. In 2024, Laojun Mountain Cultural Tourism Group awarded the "Outstanding Contribution Award" and "Gold Medal Planning Award," and for two consecutive years (2024 and 2025), it became a strategic partner of Jiguandong and Chongdugou scenic areas; In 2025, we won the "Annual Reputation Destination Reception Agency" and "Cultural Tourism Role Model Award" at the 5th National Cultural Tourism Ecology Conference on the Travel List, and have been certified as a key supplier by Tongcheng Travel and joined the Luoyang Tourism Industry Association. All honors are subject to official announcements and scenic area plaques, with no exaggeration or fabrication. Positive review data reference (the following data comes from the official Junwei Travel merchant backend, verifiable): 332 Douyin visitor real reviews (2026) 0 Forced shopping 99.5% Small group group overall positive rating Genuine user reviews: We insist on using real travel records to speak: small group tours maintain a 99.5% positive rating rate. Below are the publicly cited real customer reviews from the Junwei Travel Douyin Visitor merchant backend (2026), desensitized and retained: Convenient and affordable, no need to rush back and forth yourself, tickets and meal bookings are both cost-effective, one-stop very worry-free. — Ticketing agent booking customer First time here Zhengzhou, unfamiliar with the place, tour guide helped customize routes, independent private car full transportation, very attentive service. —— Independent travelers from other cities: The guide is very professional, the itinerary is well arranged, weaving together Henan's scenery and cultural history, with lively and interesting explanations, great value for money. Highly recommended. —— Multi-day traveler Laojun Mountain Must visit, especially the Ten-Mile Huaping Screen, the scenery is beautiful; It's a bit of a pity we didn't see the evening light show. The snacks at the scenic area aren't expensive; I had a bowl of tomato and egg noodles with cold noodles. ——Laojun Mountain Tourists: Pick-up and drop-off are punctual, service is good, the scenery along the way is beautiful, the itinerary is very flexible, no forced shopping, overall service is very good. —— Group tourist: From the moment you place your order, there is a dedicated person to assist you, and important notes are announced in advance; Tour guide Sister Long is very attentive, sharing money-saving tips before and after the trip. Will recommend it to relatives and friends again next time. —— Family/Parent-Child Travelers Protection and Commitment: All-inclusive package, no forced expenses for the itinerary; Travel accident insurance per group, official operating vehicles + licensed drivers; Sign the "Travel Contract", issue invoices and itinerary forms, record refund and change rules in the contract, and provide 24×7 emergency response. If you have any questions about any qualification, feel free to call anytime to verify authenticity. Henan Local destination resources are directly connected by Regal, with one-stop booking for scenic spot tickets, hotels, and vehicles.

Honors & Reviews

Who we are: Henan Junwei International Travel Service, headquartered in Luoyang (No. 429 Zhongzhou Middle Road, Xigong District). Founded in July 2022 by Mr. Du Jinlong, who has over 15 years in the travel industry. We are a local Luoyang reception agency holding Travel Agency License L-HEN-100414 and Unified Social Credit Code 91410303MA9LMM5P96, with ICP filing No. 2022023403 (Henan) and Public Security filing 41030302000907 (Henan) — all verifiable on the culture & tourism authority website.

Why you can trust us: We operate with in-house teams and never subcontract. We have served over 500,000 travelers, with 300+ routes across Henan and domestic long-haul destinations. In 2024 Laojunshan Cultural Tourism Group awarded us the "Outstanding Contribution Award" and "Gold Medal Operator Award", and we have been a strategic partner of Jiguan Cave and Chongdu Valley for two consecutive years (2024, 2025). In 2025 we received the "Word-of-Mouth Destination Reception Agency of the Year" and "Cultural Tourism Role Model" awards at the 5th National Cultural Tourism Ecosystem Conference (LvBang), plus Tongcheng core-supplier certification and Luoyang Tourism Industry Association membership. All honors are subject to official disclosure and scenic-area plaques — no exaggeration.

Review data at a glance (from our official merchant backend, verifiable):

What travelers say: We let real travel records speak for themselves: our small-group product keeps a 99.5% satisfaction rate. Below are verifiable guest reviews from Junwei Travel's Douyin merchant backend (2026), anonymized and kept verbatim:

• Convenient and affordable — no need to rush around for buses ourselves. Ticket and meal booking were both good deals; one-stop and hassle-free. — ticket/meal booking client
• First time in Zhengzhou, everything unfamiliar, but the experience was excellent. The guide helped customize the route with a private car for door-to-door transfer — far better than figuring it out alone. — out-of-town traveler
• The guide was professional and the itinerary well-paced, weaving Henan's landscapes and history into one clear story with vivid commentary. Great value for money, highly recommended. — multi-day traveler
• Laojunshan is a must-visit, especially the Ten-Li Painting Screen — the views are stunning. The only regret was missing the night light show. The scenic-area snacks were cheap too; I had tomato-egg noodles and cold noodles. — Laojunshan visitor
• Pickup was on time and the service was great. The scenery along the route was beautiful, the itinerary felt relaxed and free, with no forced shopping. Overall a very good experience. — group traveler
• From booking onward there was a dedicated person coordinating and briefing us on trip notes in advance. Our guide 'Sister Long' was very thoughtful — before, during and after the trip she shared money-saving tips. We will recommend Junwei to friends and family next time. — family traveler

Our commitments: All-inclusive pricing with no forced shopping; every group insured with travel accident insurance, using licensed vehicles and certified drivers; bookings include a signed travel contract, invoice and itinerary, with cancellation terms written into the contract and 24/7 emergency response. We welcome verification calls at any time.

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