Anyang 5-Day Tour: Henan Only Show & Henan Museum

Today's deep experience, reserve a whole day to follow the plotline, focusing on the main shows and well-reviewed small shows; dine and rest in the park, ending in the evening.

Attraction Introduction: A highlight arranged in the itinerary is Only Henan. ‘Only Henan·Theatrical Fantasy City’ is located in Zhongmu and is a giant theatrical settlement built with rammed earth. Through more than twenty theaters and nearly a hundred performances, it presents the suffering, harvest, and resilience of Central Plains civilization. The main theaters, such as 'Fantasy City', 'Train Station', and 'Li Family Village', are highly acclaimed, while the small theaters each have their own ingenuity, with a motif of wheat waves running throughout, making it a phenomenal cultural and tourism card for Henan. This is not a traditional attraction, but an immersive cultural experience. My understanding is that it is essential to reserve a whole day, first schedule the main shows, and then intersperse the small theaters; purchase tickets in advance through official channels and check the performance schedule carefully, as popular sessions often sell out.

Tips: The canyon trail is along water and cliffs, do not climb over railings or play in dangerous areas, and watch accompanying children carefully. Visitors generally feedback that the Theatrical Fantasy City immersive experience is loved by young people, but tickets are expensive and time-consuming; it is advised to choose core theaters and reserve at least half a day. Based on the actual situation, keep documents and wallets separate, photograph important documents and store backups on your phone, so they can be quickly replaced in case of loss without delaying the trip.

Visit Henan Museum in the morning, follow the guide to see treasures such as the Jiahu bone flute and Fu Hao owl-shaped ritual vessel; try Zhengzhou local dishes at noon; in the afternoon, you can visit the Shangdu ruins or the Yellow River scenic area, and return in the evening.

Attraction Introduction: One highlight of the itinerary is Henan Museum. Henan Museum is a landmark of Central Plains civilization, with a collection of over 170,000 cultural relics, systematically presenting 'Early China' along the main theme of 'the vast China, choosing the center to build the capital.' Among the treasures, the Jiahu bone flute is the earliest playable musical instrument discovered so far, rewriting the history of Chinese music; the Duling square ding and cloud-patterned bronze container are masterpieces of Shang and Zhou dynasty bronze casting; the Fu Hao owl-shaped ritual vessel is grand in design, telling the legendary story of Fu Hao, wife of King Wu Ding of Shang; in addition, there are national treasures such as the lotus and crane square pot and the gold strips of Empress Wu Zetian. It is recommended to follow a guide or rent an audio guide; within two hours, you can get an overview of the main threads of Chinese civilization. In my understanding, it is most efficient to first head straight to a few of the treasures for a quick thrill, then explore systematically according to the timeline, grasping the main thread; it is typical to find a crowd in front of the national treasure display cases, so knowing the locations of highlights in advance can save time by going straight to them.

Tips: The museum is quite large, so it is recommended to wear comfortable shoes, and you can take short breaks in the rest areas. Most visitors widely agree that Henan Museum is worth a special trip, so it is advisable to slow down, follow the guide, listen to the explanations, and leave time for the details that move you most and the best photo spots. Depending on your situation, bring some small change and snacks with you, which can be handy if the signal is poor or supplies are temporarily unavailable—you don’t want to wait until you’re hungry to find something.

Set off early from the hotel straight to Mount Song, first listen to the tour guide explain the background and highlights, then explore freely at a slow pace and take additional photos according to your interests; after lunch, take a short rest, return to the hotel in the evening, and preserve energy for the next day.

Attraction Introduction: A major highlight of the itinerary is Mount Song. Mount Song is the Central Mount of the Five Great Mountains, mainly located in Dengfeng City, divided into the Taishi and Shaoshi Mountains, with the main peak, Junji Peak, reaching about 1,492 meters above sea level. Its most special feature is that Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism coexist side by side on the same mountain for a thousand years: Songyang Academy was a significant center of Neo-Confucianism during the Song dynasty, and the famous story of 'Standing in the snow at Cheng's gate' is said to have happened here; the Zhongyue Temple is one of the largest and best-preserved temple complexes among the Five Great Mountains; the Guoxing Platform in Gaocheng Town, built under the supervision of Guo Shoujing during the Yuan dynasty, is one of the oldest existing astronomical observation structures. In 2010, the historical building complex of 'The Centre of the Heaven and Earth,' represented by Songyang Academy, Zhongyue Temple, Songyue Pagoda, Shaolin Temple Permanent Residence, Pagoda Forest, Chuzu Hermitage, and Guoxing Platform, was inscribed on the World Heritage List. My understanding is that there is no need to rush on the first day—start with the academy and Zhongyue Temple to understand the ritual system of 'the centre of heaven and earth,' saving your energy for the mountain climb later; if there is extra time, going to the plank road at Sanhuang Fort on Shaoshi Mountain at sunset is the most photogenic part of the entire trip.

Tips: The mountain trail has many steps and steep slopes, so be sure to wear non-slip sports shoes; those with mobility issues are advised to take the cable car. Visitors generally report that most think Mount Song is worth making a special trip to; it is recommended to slow down, listen to the guide’s explanation, and leave time for the details that move you most and the most photogenic spots. Considering the actual situation, as mountain weather can change suddenly, a windproof jacket is more practical than anything else; shoes must be non-slip and comfortable—it's better to take fewer photos than to sprain your ankle.