Things to do in Suiping

No. 19 of Family-friendly Attractions in Henan

Chayashan Scenic Spot

Chaya Mountain was the inspiration and setting for Wu Cheng'en's novel Journey to the West. CCTV's adaptation of the novel was also filmed here. The area is known for its unusual rock formations and year-round picturesque scenery. Visitors can enjoy the unique natural landscape and explore the setting of Wu Cheng'en's famous novel.

Zhumadian Museum

Zhumadian City Museum is located on the south side of Tianzhong Square in Zhumadian City, Henan Province. It is a comprehensive museum. The museum was invested and built by the municipal government on June 1, 2008, completed in May 2012, and opened for trial in September 2012. It was officially opened on July 1, 2013, with a construction area of ​​12,000 square meters, an exhibition area of ​​7,585 square meters, and an underground warehouse of 2,000 square meters. The museum displays more than 2,000 cultural relics and pictures. They are all cultural relics unearthed in Zhumadian City and treasured and handed down from past dynasties. In September 2018, after the museum's self-evaluation and application, the provincial museum industry organization's evaluation, the National Museum Evaluation Committee organized experts to review, and reported to the State Administration of Cultural Heritage for filing, the China Museum Association decided to agree that Zhumadian City Museum is the third batch of national second-level museums.

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Longmen Grottoes

Longmen Grottoes are located in the southern suburbs of Luoyang, Henan Province, on the cliffs along both banks of the Yi River. As one of China's three major grotto art treasures, they were inscribed on the World Cultural Heritage list in 2000. The grottoes were first carved when Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei moved the capital to Luoyang, and construction continued through the Eastern Wei, Western Wei, Northern Qi, Sui, and Tang dynasties, with the vast majority of niches and statues left from the Northern Wei and Tang periods. Today, more than 2,000 niches and over 100,000 statues remain, along with a large number of inscriptions and steles, making the site an important representative of Chinese stone carving art. The attraction is divided by the Yi River into two parts: West Hill and East Hill. The West Hill Grottoes are the essence of the site, carved from the Northern Dynasties through the Sui and Tang periods. Famous caves include Guyang Cave, Binyang Cave, Lotus Cave, Wanfo Cave, and Fengxian Temple. The Lushena Buddha at Fengxian Temple stands about 17 m tall, making it one of the larger Buddha statues at Longmen Grottoes. Its face is dignified and serene, with a faint smile, and legend holds that it was modeled on the appearance of Wu Zetian, earning it the name "Oriental Mona Lisa." The inner walls of Wanfo Cave are densely covered with about 15,000 small Buddha statues, each only a few cm tall, neatly arranged and finely crafted. Guyang Cave is the earliest cave carved at Longmen, and its inscription calligraphy is exquisite; the selected "Twenty Masterpieces of Longmen" are representative works of Wei stele calligraphy. Binyang Cave consists of the South, Middle, and North caves and took more than twenty years to complete. Its original reliefs depicting emperors and empresses worshipping the Buddha were looted and lost overseas in the 1930s. In Binyang North Cave, a Buddha statue has a distinctive hand gesture, with the right index and middle fingers raised in a shape resembling the modern "scissors hand," though it is actually a Buddhist mudra, and it once sparked heated discussion online. The East Hill Grottoes are mostly Tang dynasty works and are smaller in scale than those on West Hill, but from the opposite bank visitors can enjoy panoramic views of West Hill from different angles, especially distant views of the Lushena Buddha. The attraction also includes Xiangshan Temple and Bai Juyi Memorial Park (Bai Garden). The Tang dynasty poet Bai Juyi lived in Luoyang in his later years and once praised it, saying, "Of the scenic splendors of Luoyang's surrounding mountains and waters, Longmen ranks first." When visiting, simply follow the route West Hill—East Hill—Xiangshan Temple—Bai Garden, proceeding in one direction without backtracking. The West Hill Grottoes are densely packed with content, so it is advisable to set aside ample time for a closer look; East Hill is quieter and more secluded, suitable for a brief visit and gazing across the river when energy is limited.

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Yellow Crane Tower

Yellow Crane Tower is a landmark building of Wuhan. It is located on the bank of the Yangtze River and above Snake Hill in Wuchang. Many celebrities have written famous poems about the tower. Yellow Crane Tower was built during the Three Kingdoms period, but it was destroyed many times. What we see now is the reconstructed version built in 1985. When you climb the Yellow Crane Tower, you can see the spectacular view of the Yangtze River and Wuhan's three districts.

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Millennium City Park

Millennium City Park is located by the shores of Longting Lake in Kaifeng. It is a large-scale historical and cultural theme park of the Song Dynasty, recreated one-to-one based on the famous painting Along the River During the Qingming Festival by Song Dynasty painter Zhang Zeduan. The park is divided into two sections by the Shuangting Bridge: the South Garden recreates the bustling street life of the Bianjing city, with taverns, eateries, teahouses, and pharmacies lined up along the streets; the North Garden is an imperial garden, with waterside halls, the Sifang Courtyard, and other palace buildings standing by the lake. Performers and street vendors in the park mostly wear Song Dynasty costumes, with ancient music lingering and bells and drums sounding, so that after a few steps visitors can easily fall under the illusion of "stepping into a painting in one morning, dreaming back a thousand years in one day." Architecture is the intuitive and tangible highlight here: the Rainbow Bridge spanning the Bian River is a replica of the famous bridge in the painting, shaped like a long rainbow, and standing on the bridge watching the grain boats pass by feels much like being inside the painting; the Fuyun Pavilion towers above all the other pavilions in the garden, with its tiered red towers and golden tiles on all four eaves, inviting one to climb from afar; the Shangshan Gate is rebuilt after the Northern Song dynasty Dongjing city gate, tall and majestic with brilliant painted decorations, making it the most imposing gate tower in the garden; and the Shuixin Xie, Shuangting Bridge, Jiulong Bridge, and other pavilions and waterside structures are scattered among the blue waves. The main attraction of the day is the immersive performances staged throughout the park: "Bao Zheng Inspects the Bian River Grain Transport" unfolds on the water on both sides of the Rainbow Bridge; "Squire Wang Seeks a Son-in-Law" features a decorated tower erected in front of Squire Wang's house where a silk ball is tossed to choose a groom; "Yue Fei Challenges Prince Xiao Liang" raises dust on the Song dynasty parade ground as horses gallop; and folk performances such as cockfighting, stilt walking, and pan drumming are interspersed throughout. To step into the action yourself, head to the Four Directions Courtyard to don traditional costumes and enter the examination cells for a hands-on Song dynasty imperial exam experience; families with children can enjoy carousel rides, roller coasters, and other amusement facilities wrapped in Song dynasty storytelling at the Song Dynasty·Royal Pleasure Ground; and in the entertainment quarters, face-changing, qigong fire-breathing, ancient magic, and other Song dynasty variety acts take turns on stage, with intangible cultural heritage feats ready to break out at any moment right beside you. After nightfall, the park takes on a different face: red lanterns light up one after another, the market streets are brightly illuminated, and it feels like a completely different park from the daytime. The large-scale water-based live performance "The Great Song Dynasty's Eastern Capital: A Dream of Splendor" is staged on the surface of Jinglong Lake. The entire show is woven together from eight classic Song ci poems and the painting Along the River During the Qingming Festival, drawing the audience back to the Northern Song dynasty's Eastern Capital a thousand years ago. The performance runs about 70 minutes, and many visitors deliberately plan their itinerary to stay until the evening to catch this show. Dining in the park is also convenient: the snack street at Dongjing Food Court brings together Kaifeng snacks such as fried liangfen, tongzi chicken, and almond tea, perfect for eating while strolling; if you want to sit down for a proper meal, you can visit the reconstructed Sun Yang Zheng Dian in the park, which was originally one of the seventy-two official restaurants of Bianjing in the Northern Song Dynasty, where you can taste traditional Henan dishes such as soup dumplings and carp with baked noodles.

No. 1 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Henan

Laojun Mountain Scenic Spot

It is said that Laojun Attraction is the place where Li Er (Laozi), the founder of Taoism, practiced in seclusion. During the Northern Wei Dynasty, a temple was built in the mountain to commemorate it. Later, it was named "the famous mountain in the world" and has always been popular. The mountain is lush with trees and picturesque, and mountain springs can be seen everywhere. In the golden autumn, this is the best choice for viewing red leaves in the Souvenir areas. After the rain, Laojun Mountain is surrounded by clouds and mist in each peak, like a fairyland in the sky. The Attraction area is huge and is mainly divided into the main Laojun Mountain Attraction in the center, the Dream Valley Attraction in the west, and the Zhaigou Attraction Area in the east. Generally, tourists will spend a day to visit the main Laojun Mountain Attraction, which is also the most developed area of ​​the entire Attraction. If you go to the top of the mountain, you will also have the opportunity to see the beautiful sea of ​​clouds, sunrise, and sunset. The main Attraction of ​​Laojun Mountain includes Zhongtianmen, Jinding, Laojun Temple, Nantianmen, Yuhuangding and Mazongling. Since its construction in the Northern Wei Dynasty, Laojun Temple has been the center of worship for pilgrims from the Central Plains; the Taoist temple on Yuhuangding enshrines the Jade Emperor and is also a good place to view the scenery in the mountain; Jinding and Mazongling are good places to watch the sunrise and the sea of ​​clouds. Recommended itinerary: Day Trips Most tourists choose to spend a day to visit the main Attraction of ​​Laojun Mountain. Lingguan Hall - the statue of Laojun at the foot of the mountain - Lincu Hall - Zhongtianmen - tree-lined trail - Lying Yunsong - Bodhisattva Hall - Laojun Temple, Jinding - Yuhuangding, and then return along the original route. Tourists can choose to walk the whole way or take a "walk + cable car" tour of Laojun Mountain according to their own conditions. There is the Zhongling Cableway of the Attraction between the Lingguan Temple at the foot of the mountain and the Zhongtian Gate on the mountainside. Take the Zhongling Cableway and then walk from Zhongtian Gate to the top of the mountain, Yuhuang Peak. The road from Zhongtian Gate to the top of the mountain is not very steep and can usually be completed in about an hour. Two-day tour If you have enough time, you can spend two days to visit Laojun Mountain. The general route is: D1: Visit the main Attraction of ​​Laojun Mountain and stay in the mountain that night. D2: From the top of Laojun Mountain, choose to go down the mountain to the Dream Valley in the west or the Zhaigou Attraction in the east, and arrive at the west gate and east gate of the Attraction respectively. In the main Attraction of ​​Laojun Mountain, you can stay near Zhongtianmen on the mountainside and Laojun Temple on the top of the mountain. There are hotels near Zhongtianmen with better accommodation conditions, while the accommodation conditions Souvenir Laojun Temple are relatively poor. If you plan to go to the top of the mountain to watch the sunrise the next morning, you can stay Souvenir Laojun Temple. Compared with the Zhaigou Attraction in the east, the mountain roads in Dream Chasing Valley are smoother, and tourists can choose one of them to go down the mountain according to their preferences. There are many places in the Attraction that can provide Dining services for tourists, but the signboards on some sections of the road in the Attraction are not yet very complete, so tourists need to pay more attention when visiting.

Song Du Huangcheng Cultural Tourism Resort

Song Du Huangcheng Cultural Tourism Resort is located in the northern part of the old city of Kaifeng, precisely on the site of the imperial palace of the Northern Song Dynasty's Dongjing city. The millennium-old central axis of Kaifeng runs through this area, making it the core zone of the royal culture of the Song Dynasty. Here, you can find the Song-style imperial architecture of the Longting attraction, the tales of the Yang Family Generals at Tianbo Yang's residence, and the calligraphic steles of Han Yuan Stele Forest. The Shuanglong Lane historical and cultural block, 960 Cultural and Creative Park, and Qisheng Corner have transformed old streets and courtyards into Song-style blocks perfect for leisurely exploration. The resort also connects a series of Song culture attractions: Wansui Mountain Great Song Martial Arts City stages year-round martial arts live shows and intangible cultural heritage iron fireworks, while historic sites like the Iron Pagoda, Kaifeng city wall, Zhouqiao and Bian River ruins, Shanshangan Guild Hall, Yanqing Taoist Temple, and Fan Pagoda are scattered across the old city, along with niche spots like the underground wartime grain storage. These places are hard to cover in one day, so we recommend focusing on two or three key sites. After dark, a different experience awaits as the attractions light up in unison. Boarding a painted pleasure boat on the Great Song Imperial River to watch the illuminated pavilions and towers sway with the rippling water is a popular nightlife option here.

No. 1 of Family-friendly Attractions in Henan

Wansuishan Martial Arts City

Wansuishan Martial Arts City is located in the northwest of Kaifeng's urban areaWansuishan Martial Arts City, it is a large-scale attraction built with Song Dynasty culture and wuxia culture as its backdrop. Within the attraction, there are quaint and charming Song Dynasty garden streets and alleys, year-round exciting wuxia and period costume performances, as well as a wealth of entertainment facilities, making it a great place for relaxation and entertainment in Kaifeng, Zhengzhou, and surrounding areas. When visiting Wansuishan Martial Arts City, the first thing you will notice is the beautiful scenery of the attraction. Wansuishan Martial Arts City as a whole creates an atmosphere of the Song Dynasty, among which many views are very eye-catching, such as Wansui Temple, which recreates the splendor of a thousand-year-old ancient temple from the Song Dynasty, the Dragon Altar, which embodies the spirit of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, the relatively well-preserved ancient city wall of Kaifeng in China, and the "Nine Dragons Waterfall," one of the large man-made stream and waterfall groups in China. What is rare is that the attraction also has a very large area of forest and green space, with a quiet environment, and flowers bloom in season, making it very suitable for photography. Afterward, visitors will notice the unique wuxia features within the attraction. Year-round, multiple wuxia-themed performances are staged here, with several themed shows such as "Cross Slope," "Wu Song Drunkenly Beats Jiang the Gatekeeper," and "Wild Boar Forest" being quite spectacular—definitely not to be missed when visiting. Interactive performances like the "Wuxia Film and Television Experience Hall," "Martial Arts Champion," and "Li Kui Judges a Case" also allow visitors to participate in wuxia stories, offering plenty of fun. In the architectural design of the attraction, there are also many wuxia elements: the Wuxia Road built with large-scale weapons such as the "Heaven-Reliant Sword" and "Overlord Blade," the "Gallant Heroes Portrait" at the Great Song Martial Arts Hall, the "Sword Altar" at Cross Slope, Juxian Manor, and the Martial Arts Arena—all are uniquely distinctive. Additionally, every year during the Spring Festival periodWansuishanLarge-scale temple fairs are held, featuring grand performances, a rich variety of specialty snacks, a dazzling array of handicrafts, and highly distinctive entertainment activities, creating a lively atmosphere. It has now become one of the most popular temple fairs in the Central Plains region.

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Hubei Provincial Museum

The Hubei Provincial Museum has ten treasures of the museum, including those unearthed from "Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng" the Hubei Provincial Museum's Zenghouyi chime bells; the Yue Wang Goujian sword, a masterpiece of the cold weapon era; the fossilized skull of the Yunxian Man dating back 1 million years; and a treasure of Yuan blue-and-white porcelain: the plum vase with the Four Loves design. The museum's regular exhibitions also feature distinctive characteristics of ancient Chu culture and ancient Yangtze River civilization. The Hubei Provincial Museum consists of the comprehensive exhibition hall,Chu culture hall,Chime bell hallIt is composed of multiple pseudo-classical buildings, and the layout reflects the high-platform architectural layout format of ancient Chu architecture, namely "one terrace, one hall" and "multiple terraces forming a group." Unearthed in 1978 at "Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng" in the Hubei Provincial Museum - the Zenghouyi chime bells have a wide range and their excavation rewrote the history of world music; the sword of Goujian, King of Yue, a masterpiece of the cold weapon era, is still incomparably sharp to this day, and displayed beside it is the "spear of Fuchai, King of Wu"; the geological age of the Yunxian human skull fossil is approx. 1 million years ago, earlier than the Peking Man skull fossil; the Yuan blue-and-white plum vase with four loves design is an extremely rare masterpiece among Yuan dynasty blue-and-white porcelain. Hubei is located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and belonged to the territory of the Chu state during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. The permanent exhibitions at the Hubei Provincial Museum showcase ancient civilizations of southern China that differ from the Yellow River civilization of the north. The museum's current permanent exhibitions include "Yunxian Man: Prehistoric Humans in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River," "Qujialing: Prehistoric Culture in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River," and "Panlongcheng: Bronze Civilization in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River." In addition to viewing cultural relics at the Hubei Provincial Museum, you can also enjoy chime bell performances. In the museum's performance hall, chime bell performances are held from Tuesday to Sunday, and it is closed on Mondays.