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

Today's deep experience involves reserving a whole day to follow the story-driven route, focusing on the main plays and well-reviewed small plays; dine and rest inside the park, ending in the evening.

Attraction Introduction: One highlight in the itinerary is Only Henan. 'Only Henan·Drama Fantasy City' is located in Zhongmu and is a massive theatrical settlement built with loess. Through more than twenty theaters and nearly a hundred performances, it showcases the hardships, harvests, and resilience of Central Plains civilization. The main theaters feature highly acclaimed plays such as 'Fantasy City,' 'Train Station,' and 'Li Family Village,' while the small theaters are each ingeniously designed, with the imagery of wheat fields running throughout. It is a phenomenally popular cultural tourism landmark of Henan. This is not a traditional attraction, but an immersive cultural experience. My understanding is that it is essential to reserve a whole day, schedule the main plays first, then fit in the small theaters; book tickets in advance through official channels and check the performance schedule carefully, as popular shows often sell out.

Tips: Signal may be weak inside the canyon, so agree on meeting points with the guide in advance and do not go alone. Visitors generally report that the Drama Fantasy City immersive experience appeals to young people, but tickets are expensive and it is time-consuming; it is advised to focus on the main theaters and reserve at least half a day. Considering the actual situation, traveling with a group should avoid rushing through sightseeing; listening to the explanations is the essence, as the cultural stories behind each attraction are often more memorable than photos. Ask the guide on the spot if anything is unclear.

Gather in the morning and depart for the museum. Follow the guide to visit according to the main route, exploring all the key highlights, leaving enough time for taking photos and resting. At noon, enjoy a local specialty meal, then continue exploring in the afternoon. In the evening, check in at the hotel and rest to prepare for the next day's itinerary.

Attractions introduction: One of the highlights arranged in the itinerary is Henan Museum. Henan Museum is a key site of Central Plains civilization, with a collection of over 170,000 cultural relics, systematically presenting "Early China" with the theme of "Prosperous China and the choice of the capital in the center." Among the treasures, the Jiahu bone flute is the earliest playable musical instrument discovered so far, rewriting Chinese music history; the Duling square ding and cloud-patterned bronze vessel are masterpieces of Shang and Zhou bronze casting; the Fu Hao owl-shaped zun is magnificently designed, telling the legendary story of Fu Hao, wife of King Wu Ding of the Shang dynasty; in addition, there are national treasures such as the lotus-and-crane square pot and Emperor Wu Zetian's gold slips. It is recommended to follow the explanation or rent an audio guide; within two hours, you can get a panoramic view of the main line of Chinese civilization. My understanding is that it is most efficient to first rush to a few top treasures to enjoy them, then visit systematically along the timeline, focusing on the main line; crowds in front of the national treasure display cases are common, so knowing the locations in advance will save the most time.

Warm tips: Museums generally require reservations or ticket exchange with an ID, so please confirm opening hours and reservation methods in advance. Most visitors feel that Henan Museum is worth visiting specifically, so it is recommended to slow down, follow the guide, listen to the explanation, and leave time for the details that move you most and the best photo spots. In practice, if you want authentic food, go deeper into the alleys, as lines at the main entrance are long and the taste is average; for local specialties, ask for prices and compare, as local supermarkets often offer more authentic products.

Start early in the morning and, while it's cool, first visit Hongshi Gorge and Tanpu Gorge to experience the spectacular phenomenon of water flowing uphill; in the afternoon, you can take the cable car up to Zhuyu Peak to overlook the Taihang Mountains, and descend in the evening.

Attractions Introduction: Today's itinerary includes several attractions. One of them is located in Xiuwu and is one of the first World Geoparks, known for the red cliffs and green waters of Hongshi Gorge, the cascading waterfalls and streams of Tanpu Gorge, the 'tallest waterfall in Asia' Yuntai Tian Waterfall in Quanpu Gorge, and the sunrise sea of clouds at Zhuyu Peak. It is the most representative scenic area of the southern Taihang Mountains. Hongshi Gorge is the essence among the essence, a red quartz sandstone gorge about two kilometers long, with winding green waters at the valley floor and red cliffs like rosy clouds; Zhuyu Peak is famous because of the Tang dynasty poet Wang Wei's line 'Planting zhuyu everywhere, yet a person is missing.' Taking the cable car to the top offers a panoramic view of the Taihang peaks. Shuttle buses connect various points within the scenic area, and the paths are gentle, suitable for family trips. In my opinion, if one day is not enough, first focus on the core attractions, Hongshi Gorge and Monkey Valley, and be sure to allow enough time for queuing for the shuttle bus. Summer is good for enjoying the cool water, and autumn has forests painted with colors—each season has its own charm.

Tips: The temperature difference between morning and evening in the mountain area is large, and the wind at the top is strong, so a windproof jacket and warm layers are necessary. Tourists generally report that Hongshi Gorge is considered the most photogenic section, and the sea of clouds at Zhuyu Peak is also worth seeing; note that queues for the shuttle bus are long. If you can't see everything in one day, prioritize Hongshi Gorge and Monkey Valley. Based on your actual situation, manage your energy, tackling the main highlights in the morning when you’re fresh, and slowing down in the afternoon to avoid exhausting yourself on the first day, otherwise the rest of the trip will be too tiring.