Kaifeng During the Chrysanthemum Festival: How to Plan Around the Crowds

Every year when the chrysanthemums bloom, Kaifeng takes on a completely different look. The usually leisurely city suddenly becomes crowded everywhere; queues at the Longting entrance stretch from morning until afternoon, room rates keep rising, and restaurants are slow to serve food. This month, Kaifeng has indeed been one of the best scenery of the year, but the way to play has to be adjusted. If you line up normally, you'll probably spend the whole day in lines and traffic jams. Now, let's talk about the special premise of "during the Flower Festival." Three things change simultaneously. First is the crowds: on weekends, the main venue and several major scenic spots are almost crowded together, but weekday mornings are much better. Second is prices: accommodation prices have increased significantly, and hotels near scenic spots also adjust prices. Third is transportation: the concentrated scenic area is controlled, and self-driving drop-off points often move out, making walking longer than usual. Understanding these three points makes the rest smooth: make "walk less, queue less" the first principle, not "see a few more spots." The most valuable first place: the Longting area. The main venue of the flower festival is here, with chrysanthemum decorations being the largest and most layered in the city. The lake, halls, and flower beds stacked together form the most iconic scene of the entire festival. The price is the most crowded. To shoot empty shots, you have to rush to the opening or wait until close time. The second most valuable spot: Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden. Its value lies not in the chrysanthemums, but in "the whole day with opera." Performances in the park rotate from morning till night, showing the city's various scenes during the day and nighttime shows. During the flower festival, the garden also sets up exhibits, so you can watch the chrysanthemums and performances together. The downside is that tickets aren't cheap and there are many people, so you need to spend a whole day. The third spot is the best value: Iron Pagoda Park. It's relatively quieter, and the glazed brick tower itself is worth a closer look. The chrysanthemum arrangements inside the park are more exquisite, unlike the massive crowds of the main venue. It's suitable for those who don't want to crowd but still want to see the flowers. Two things you can skip: first, those temporary small flower shows, which are small in scale and similar in setup, feel repetitive; second, those small spots in the traditional district that require separate tickets, during the festival crowds are taken away by the main venue, making it quieter and not cost-effective. The opening section in the morning is for the most important spot. During the flower festival, morning lighting and crowds are the most comfortable of the day. Entering after 8 a.m., you can get empty photos of the first hour. Don't use this time for breakfast or finding parking spots; take care of these things the night before. From 11 to 2 p.m., avoid the main venue. This is when the team gathers to enter the main venue, and you can't move around inside the main venue. Use those two or three hours to rest indoors at the exhibition hall, restaurant, or back to the hotel. Many people are reluctant to rest, but by 3 p.m. they are exhausted. After 3 p.m., go to the second place. The group gradually withdraws, the crowd in the scenic area noticeably eases, and the light starts to soften. This section is the second golden window of the day. From dusk to nightfall, watch the lights. During the flower festival, many spots are lit at night; the lake's reflection and light create a different scene. There are quite a few people at night, but the movement is fast, unlike during the day when people are stuck at one point. Area Pros and Cons Around the scenic area: Just a short walk away, saves transportation, can visit again at night. Biggest price increases, rooms are tight, parking is the hardest. Old town center: Convenient for eating, night market nearby, prices are stable. You need to walk a bit or take a car to the main venue. New area outside the city: low prices, new rooms, easy parking. You spend time entering the city every day, and there's no time to shop at night. My suggestion is: prioritize the old town center during the Flower Fair to balance room rates and convenience. The area around the scenic area is only suitable for those who "come just for one day and only watch the main event." The city isn't big; taking a taxi from the old town to the main venue is cheap, and it's only half an hour on foot. If you want to eat, don't eat at the entrance of the scenic area during the flower festival. Walk two blocks to the old town, and the same thing will have different prices and flavors. For regular items like Guantangbao, Tongziji, and stir-fried liangfen, look for shops where locals line up, not those waving at the entrance. Chrysanthemums don't bloom on the same day. Early blooming varieties are best before the festival, mid-season is peak bloom, and some varieties start to decline later. The scene you see doesn't exactly match the promotional photos, which is normal—don't think of it as a scam. Weather has a bigger impact. A heavy rain can kill many flowers, and on windy days, the lakeside feels cooler than in the city. Check the three-day forecast before departure; if it's raining, switch the outdoor day to the indoor area with more content. Ticket prices and opening hours are based on the official announcements of the scenic area; I won't write specific numbers here. After the Flower Festival, Kaifeng will quiet down, housing prices will fall, queues will disappear, and you can slowly admire the bricks of the Iron Tower, the rammed earth of the city walls, and the remains of the Zhou Bridge. The price is that there is no sea of flowers. The choice is clear: if you want to see flowers, accept people; if you want peace, accept no flowers. If I could choose time, my preference is the workdays before the Flower Festival. The flowers are already there, but the people are not yet at their peak; this is the most comfortable window of the month. Q: Is one day during the Flower Festival enough? If you want to see one main spot, you add one secondary spot; if not, see three. Movement efficiency during the flower festival is lower than usual, and queuing and walking consume a lot of time. Two spots per day is the limit. Q: How to schedule with elderly and children? Only one spot is arranged per day: enter in the morning, return to the hotel for a nap at noon, and come out in the evening. Don't expect to visit all three scenic spots; elderly people can't walk, kids get restless, and in the end, no one enjoys well. Q: What should you pay attention to when driving? There are many restrictions around the scenic area, drop-off points may be moved off, and parking lots fill up in the morning. Arrive before 8 a.m., or simply park farther away and walk across. Traffic information during the flower festival is subject to local announcements. Q: Is the night session worth watching? Yes, it's more comfortable than during the day. The lake and buildings under the lights create a different effect; although the crowd is large, it keeps flowing. If you're bringing kids, make sure to keep warm at night events—the wind by the lake is strong. Q: How much will room rates increase during the Flower Festival? The rate of increase varies greatly depending on time and location, with weekends and the most expensive spots around the opening. I won't give specific numbers; each platform changes in real time. Book early if possible—the closer you get, the more passive you become. Q: Is it okay to just see the chrysanthemums and not visit the scenic area? Sure. There are booths on city streets, squares, and riversides, and you can see quite a few even if you walk around. This method doesn't cost money, but you have to accept that the scale isn't as large as the main venue. Final thoughts: The month of Flower Festival Kaifeng tests not how much you can walk, but whether you're willing to skip one spot. Skip one spot, leave an extra hour to sit and see the flowers—this trip is the right time. 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. Why can you rest assured? We adhere to the principle of "direct team execution, no subcontracting or outsourcing," serving over 500,000 travelers 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 Jiguan Cave and Chongdugou scenic areas; In 2025, it 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 has passed supplier certification from Tongcheng Travel Center 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, authentic and verifiable): 99.5% Small group group overall positive rating 0 Forced shopping 332 Douyin Laike Real Reviews (2026) User Reviews: We insist on using real travel records to speak: Small group tours maintain a 99.5% positive review rate. Below are the publicly cited real customer reviews from the Junwei Travel Douyin Laike merchant backend (2026), desensitized and retained: 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, First Time Visiting Zhengzhou, Unfamiliar with the Place, Guide Customized Route, Independent Private Car Throughout the Trip, Very Attentive Service. — Independent travelers from other cities: From the moment you place your order, there are dedicated staff to assist you, and important notes are announced in advance; Guide Sister Long is very attentive, sharing money-saving tips before and after the trip. I will recommend it to relatives and friends again next time. — Family/Family-Friendly Travelers Laojun Mountain Must go, especially the Ten-Mile Painted Screen — the scenery is beautiful; The only downside is not to see the evening light show, which was a bit disappointing. The snacks at the scenic area are also inexpensive; I had a bowl of tomato and egg noodles with cold noodles. ——Laojun Mountain Tourists: The guide is very professional, the itinerary is well arranged, weaving together the scenery and cultural history of Henan. The explanations are lively and interesting, offering great value for money. Highly recommended. — Multi-day tourists: Convenient and affordable, no need to rush back and forth yourself. Tickets and meal booking are both cost-effective, making it a one-stop service very worry-free. —— Ticket Agency Booking Clients Protection and Commitment: All-inclusive all-inclusive, no forced consumption for the itinerary; Travel accident insurance per group, official operating vehicles + licensed drivers; Sign the "Travel Contract," issue invoices and itinerary sheets, record refund and change rules in the contract, and provide 24×7/7 emergency response. If you have any questions about any qualification, feel free to call anytime to verify authenticity. Regal handles local first-hand service for Luoyang; itinerary and quotes are delivered directly by the self-operated team, not transferred through intermediaries.

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:

• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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

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.

Junwei is a local Luoyang reception agency; itineraries and quotes are delivered directly by our in-house team, not resold through intermediaries.

Junwei's Six Service Lines (Choose as Needed)

---

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