Things to do in Suiping

*The Book of Songs, Minor Odes, Crane's Cry* The crane cries in the marsh, its voice heard in the fields. Fish hide in the deep, or lie on the shore. How delightful is that garden, where sandalwood trees grow, and beneath them grow leaves. Stones from other mountains can be used to polish jade. The crane cries in the marsh, its voice heard in the heavens. Fish lie on the shore, or hide in the deep. How delightful is that garden, where sandalwood trees grow, and beneath them grow grains. Stones from other mountains can be used to polish jade. I never imagined that "stones from other mountains can be used to polish jade" originated from here. This crane statue (with a tortoise or black tortoise under its feet? and a herb in its beak, I wonder if it's lingzhi) should be one of the treasures of the Zhumadian Museum. It's truly beautiful! The crane's feathers are so exquisite! And there are still remnants of painted decoration! There's also a Han Dynasty Boshan incense burner, mother-and-child bricks, and various bronze mirrors (the translucent mirror should demonstrate its light-transmitting effect!). There's a fish-shaped basin with cute patterns inside (I wonder if rubbing the edges will produce water droplets). The famous Yuan An Stele (of the Yuan family of Runan, four generations of high-ranking officials, the ancestor of Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu). (Unfortunately, Yi Zhongtian's "The Starry Sky of the Three Kingdoms" is too unrestrained... otherwise, Yuan Shao in it would be quite handsome. Actually, a connection could be made, after all, it's Yuan Shao's hometown...) The character "巳" is very cute! There's also the epitaph of Fu Bi (Fu Han Gong), some characters really look like emojis! Besides the "Six Hundred Years of the State of Cai" special exhibition, the Zhumadian Museum's own collection of artifacts is also very interesting! Worth a visit! Upstairs, there's also a memorial exhibition for General Peng Xuefeng, with some photos and artifacts.

It's very worthwhile, but it's also very crowded, which might slightly detract from the overall experience. However, the people are incredibly welcoming, and there are many beautiful spots for taking photos. The food is also affordable and inexpensive, which kids enjoy. I'll definitely go back when it's less crowded.

The exhibited artifacts were quite good; I've also been to joint exhibitions organized by museums like the Hunan Provincial Museum. The Kremlin artifacts here are well-prepared and thoughtfully designed. However, the souvenir and merchandise section was rather boring. I was thinking of buying a pendant or something, but that saved me some money.

The scenic area is filled with the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms. From the top, you can enjoy panoramic views of the Yangtze River Bridge and the Yellow Crane Tower. At the very top, watching the ships on the Yangtze and the cars and trains on the bridge, with the breeze blowing, is very pleasant, and it's not too crowded. The scenic area isn't large; a leisurely hour is about right to appreciate the scenery. Qingchuan Pavilion and Guishan Scenic Area are directly connected by the Iron Gate Pass, which leads to the West Gate of Guishan. Climbing the mountain and enjoying the breeze and osmanthus fragrance is a wonderful experience.

Our guide at the Luobo Museum, Mr. Pei, was excellent. He was considerate of the artifact display cases, reminding the children in our group and others to keep a safe distance to avoid obstructing photos or leaving handprints. His explanations were engaging and detailed, although latecomers sometimes interrupted him. Overall, it was a good experience, and we saw all the museum's treasures and popular artifacts within the limited time – definitely worth it.

The Henan Museum is very large and has a wide variety of exhibits. The guides are detailed and comprehensive, and they clearly explain the stories behind the artifacts. I highly recommend hiring a guide when you visit, as it's easy to rush through things on your own.

Kaifeng City Museum is located on Zhengkai Avenue, Sixth Street, Kaifeng City, Henan Province, east of Zhongyi Lake. It is a comprehensive local museum integrating cultural relic collection, preservation, scientific research, exhibitions, and public education. It is a unit under the Kaifeng Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism. The museum is a national first-class museum. Admission is free on weekdays. It is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and closed on Mondays (the schedule may be adjusted for public holidays). It is recommended to make a reservation in advance via the official WeChat account or mini-program using your real name. Entry is by presenting the reservation code and your ID card.

Compared to the crowds at Tingtao Pear Garden during holidays, Luoyan Scenic Area is much quieter. There are no tour groups bringing people here, so it's a good place to stroll around East Lake and enjoy the scenery.

The south entrance of Hankou River Beach is very close to Jianghan Road Pedestrian Street. It's a free attraction with excellent greenery, walkways, plenty of benches and trees, and a pleasant environment. You can see ships coming and going on the Yangtze River, and across the river, the skyscrapers of Wuchang stand tall. You can also see the Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge and the Second Yangtze River Bridge, which integrate urban living, green spaces, and exercise facilities. Enjoying the river breeze is very pleasant.

From Yuntaishan, we boarded a bus bound for Luoyang. The journey was long — more than four hours on the road. We left at 2:30 pm and only arrived close to 7:00 pm, which meant our first day in Luoyang was largely consumed by travel. That evening, drained from the ride, I managed only a brief visit to Yingtianmen, illuminated against the night sky.The following day was devoted entirely to two of Luoyang’s most iconic sites: the Longmen Grottoes and the White Horse Temple. After exploring the temple, we caught bus no. 58 directly to Luoyi Ancient City. By then, the hours of walking through grottoes and temple grounds had left us physically exhausted. Still, the ancient city welcomed us with free admission and a promise of cultural immersion.Dinner was taken at a basement food court along Minzhu Street. By the time we finished, night had fallen, and Luoyi Ancient City had transformed. The streets glittered with lanterns, music pulsed through the air, and the atmosphere was electric. Crowds gathered near the lake to watch 天女散花 — the “Fairy Scattering Flowers” dance performance — though we chose not to linger.Luoyi Ancient City (洛邑古城) remains one of China’s most authentic living historic districts. Here, 3,000 years of dynastic history — from the Zhou to the Ming — can still be felt in its preserved city walls, pagodas, canals, and performances. It is not simply a relic of the past, but a vibrant cultural stage where history and daily life coexist.