Luoyang to Kaifeng for the Chrysanthemum Festival 5 Days 4 Nights

Away from Luoyang at half past eight, the Lianhuo expressway, and Kaifeng two hours later. Lunch starts with soup dumplings, thin skinned, bitten at the edge so the broth can be drawn out first. The afternoon goes to Longting, main venue of this year chrysanthemum festival: through the Chao gate, chrysanthemums lining both sides of the imperial walkway, topiary figures and flower arrangements in the side courtyards. In the evening a slow loop between Panjia and Yangjia lakes, water flat and lamps coming on.

Attraction introduction: Longting stands in the northwest of Kaifeng on the site of the Northern Song palace, the present buildings arranged as the Qing era Longevity Palace on a raised terrace, with the two lakes in front. The Kaifeng Chrysanthemum Festival runs each October and November, the 44th edition in 2026, with Longting as its main venue.

Tips: Day one is short on driving, so the garden fits easily into the afternoon. Guests generally find the main gate busiest in the morning and quiet after three. In practice Longting comes after lunch, side courtyards first for the flower arrangements, then the hall, with the light behind you.

Through the gate at nine, 120 yuan. The park is laid out after the Qingming scroll, the Bian River cutting through the middle, the Rainbow Bridge over the water, taverns and tea houses at its ends, boats tied at the wharf. The morning follows the river past grain barge, wedding and kickball shows, lunch inside the park, then acrobatics and drum troupes in the afternoon, and an evening staged show for anyone who stays.

Attraction introduction: Qingming Riverside Park sits west of Longting Lake and reconstructs the Northern Song capital from the handscroll by Zhang Zeduan. The Bian River is the axis, with the Rainbow Bridge, wharves, city gate and market streets arranged after the painting, and folk and craft performances running through the day.

Tips: Shows are spread across the grounds and chasing every one means walking back and forth. Guests generally find the ten o clock and three o clock slots the ones worth holding. In practice the group works one line along the river, each show feeding into the next without doubling back.

The morning goes to the Kaifeng prefecture office, 65 yuan. In through the gate, past the ceremonial door to the main hall, the six administration rooms to either side and the Plum Blossom Hall behind. A judge Bao trial is staged at set times, and the crowd gathers the moment the gong sounds. A rest at the hotel after lunch, then a walk along Bao Zheng Lake where the willows are still green. The Drum Tower night market takes the evening, fried bean jelly, bucket chicken and almond tea one stall apart.

Attraction introduction: The prefecture office stands on the north bank of Bao Zheng Lake and reconstructs the Northern Song city administration, front offices and rear residence in the official layout. It is built around the years Bao Zheng served as prefect, with trial performances and guard ceremonial, and the Plum Blossom Hall at the back.

Tips: Stalls are many, so check the price before ordering. Guests generally find the Drum Tower market packed after seven and seats opening up after half past eight. In practice the market is a walk after dinner rather than the meal itself, since dinner is already covered.

Daxiangguo Temple in the morning, sitting inside the busy quarter, the Heavenly King Hall, the Mahavira Hall and the octagonal glazed hall one after another. The Guanyin in that last hall is carved from a single block of wood, a thousand hands and a thousand eyes facing four directions. Noodles outside the temple at noon, then Shudian Street in the afternoon, old bookshops one after another, second hand volumes sold by weight. Back to the hotel to pack.

Attraction introduction: Daxiangguo Temple stands in the centre of Kaifeng, first built in the Northern Qi and enlarged into a royal temple under the Northern Song. The halls follow a central axis, and the thousand hand Guanyin in the octagonal hall is carved from a single gingko trunk with hands on all four faces. Shudian Street is an old commercial lane lined with Republican era shopfronts.

Tips: Many halls and a mix of worshippers and visitors. Guests generally find the halls quietest after nine, once morning chanting ends. In practice the visit starts after nine to clear the incense rush, and the book street is opening as the group comes out.

Breakfast at an old shop, pepper and gluten soup with fried dough sticks, hot enough to sweat. Away at nine, the expressway, and Luoyang in two hours, arriving before lunch. The road passes Zhongmu, where stalls sell river crab and pomegranates through the autumn.

Attraction introduction: Kaifeng breakfast runs on pepper soup, lamb soup and fried dough, the broth built on white pepper and gluten, and locals are at work after one bowl. The Lianhuo expressway between Kaifeng and Luoyang crosses the flat eastern plain with long open views.

Tips: The return is timed for before lunch so the day is not spent travelling. Guests generally find the Zhengzhou stretch of the Lianhuo expressway heavy on Sunday afternoons and better crossed before noon. In practice departure sits at nine, ahead of that traffic.