Jiaozuo 5-Day Tour: Henan Only Show & Shaolin Temple

TodayOnly Henan in-depth experience, reserve a whole day to follow the storyline, focusing on the main show and well-reviewed small shows; rest and dine within 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 Zhengzhou Zhongmu. It is a massive theatrical settlement built with rammed earth, presenting the hardships, harvests, and resilience of Central Plains civilization through more than twenty theaters and nearly one hundred performances. The main theaters such as 《Fantasy City》《Train Station》《Li Family Village》have extremely high reputations, while the small theaters are each full of clever ideas. The imagery of wheat waves runs throughout, making it a phenomenal highlight of Henan cultural tourism. This place is not a traditional attraction, but an immersive cultural experience. My understanding is that you must reserve a whole day, schedule the main show first, and then intersperse the small theaters; book tickets in advance through official channels and check the performance schedule, as popular shows often sell out.

Tips: The canyon water-friendly route is slippery, so be sure to wear anti-slip creek shoes or sports shoes, and protect valuable items like mobile phones from water. Visitors generally feedback that the immersive experience at Theatrical Fantasy City is loved by young people, but tickets are expensive and it is time-consuming; it is advised to choose the core theaters and reserve at least half a day. Depending on your situation, be punctual, gather five to ten minutes ahead, better to let the person wait for the car than the car wait for the person, don’t make everyone wait for you.

Morning visit: see the Main Hall and Pagoda Forest, watching the Shaolin martial arts performance according to the scheduled times; at noon, try local Dengfeng cuisine, and in the afternoon, you may visit Songyang Academy or the Chuzu Temple, understanding Chan and martial arts culture in one day.

Attraction introduction: Today's itinerary includes several attractions. The Main Hall is located at the foot of Wuru Peak on Mount Shaoshi in Dengfeng. It was first built in the 19th year of the Northern Wei Taihe period (AD 495), and it is both the ancestral hall of Chan Buddhism and the birthplace of Shaolin martial arts, with a history of over 1,500 years. The core highlights focus on three areas: the Main Hall along the central axis includes in order the Shanmen (Mountain Gate), Hall of Heavenly Kings, Mahavira Hall, Sutra Library, and Lixue Pavilion, with halls and ancient steles arranged along the way; the Pagoda Forest is the largest existing ancient pagoda complex in China, with more than 200 brick-and-stone pagodas from the Tang, Song, and Qing dynasties of various shapes, each corresponding to a high-ranking monk; the Dharma Cave on Wuru Peak is traditionally considered the place where Bodhidharma meditated facing the wall for nine years. The Martial Arts Hall performs Shaolin martial arts daily at scheduled times, with true skill shown in fists, weapons, and hard qigong. My understanding is that upon entering the temple, first walk along the central axis with a guide before exploring in detail on your own; please stay quiet and walk around the pagodas in the Pagoda Forest; arriving 15 minutes early is necessary to get a good spot for the martial arts performance.

Tips: The temple has many stone steps and thresholds—do not step on thresholds; when worshiping, line up in order and do not push. Visitors generally report that the martial arts performance is most popular with families with children, while the Pagoda Forest and Chuzu Temple are often overlooked; note that the scenic area is quite commercialized, so inquire about prices for vegetarian meals and nearby services. According to actual conditions, when taking photos, pay attention not only to getting good shots but also to the ground and surroundings; always hold steady at viewing platforms and along edges of walkways.

Early in the morning at the park, first watch the opening performance, then check in along Rainbow Bridge and Bian River to experience the Song-style street life; in the afternoon, enjoy free activities, and you can visit nearby night markets.

Attraction Introduction: One of the highlights on the itinerary is the park, located at a certain location. It is a Song culture theme park built based on Zhang Zeduan's 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival' from the Northern Song Dynasty. The Rainbow Bridge, Bian River, streets, and restaurants depicted in the painting are all recreated, showcasing the bustling life of Tokyo Bianliang. There are live performances and folk parades throughout the day, with the most famous being the nighttime water performance 'The Great Song: Dream of Eastern Capital,' which uses lights and shadows to recreate the grandeur of the Northern Song capital. During the day, visitors can watch the opening ceremony, Bao Gong welcoming guests, Wang Yuanwai’s matchmaking, and other immersive folk performances. The park is also a paradise for Hanfu enthusiasts; wearing a Song-style Hanfu while walking between the Rainbow Bridge and Bian River makes every photo look like a traditional Chinese scene. My suggestion is to get the performance schedule first, plan the must-see shows and night performance times, then casually stroll and eat; visiting the market during the day gives the most immersive experience, while the night show is an audio-visual feast worth watching if your budget allows.

Tips: When visiting the park with children, be mindful of the risk of getting separated. Agree on a meeting point in advance and prepare a contact card for your child. Visitors generally feel that the daytime market has the most immersive experience, while reviews of the night show 'The Great Song: Dream of Eastern Capital' are mixed. Note that tickets are relatively expensive, so make budget-conscious choices. Depending on your circumstances, for the best photos, go early or late—the early morning has fewer people and soft light, dusk offers golden light, whereas noon has harsh light and crowded spaces; resting during this time is more worthwhile.