Things to do in Xuchang

2026 Asia 100 - Best Things to Do

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.

Tianbao Palace

Tianbao Palace is located in the northern part of Aizhuang Hui Ethnic Township, Xuchang County, Henan Province. It borders Shigu Town, Changge City to the north, is 25 km southeast of downtown Xuchang, and 12 km northeast of downtown Changge. In the 6th year of the Zhiyuan reign of Emperor Shizu of the Yuan Dynasty (1269), it was converted from a Taoist temple into a palace. Tianbao Palace covers an area of 20,000 m² and faces south. The original buildings along the central axis were, in order: the Mountain Gate, Worship Pavilion, Yue Wang Hall, Guan Sheng Hall, Lao Jun Hall, Jade Emperor Hall, Lei Zu Hall, Three Sovereigns Hall, and Zhenwu Hall. Today, the Lao Jun Hall and Three Sovereigns Hall no longer exist, and there are verandas and side gates on both sides. The Mountain Gate consists of three green brick arched doorways; the middle doorway is larger, 7 m high and 6 m deep, with a flat roof.

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.

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.

Huatuo Tomb

No. 2 of Night Attractions in Zhengzhou

Enjoy International Resort

Enjoy international resort is a large-scale cultural tourism and vacation complex invested and constructed by the Enjoy group. Located in the southwest of Zhengzhou, it is 37 km from Zhengzhou high-speed rail station and 25 km from Zhengzhou Xinzheng international airport, with the Zhengyao expressway passing through, offering extremely convenient transportation. As a comprehensive cultural tourism project in the central plains, Enjoy international resort strives to create a top-tier international vacation destination with distinctive central plains cultural characteristics. The resort is nestled by the Yunyan reservoir and Wuding lake, built around the "Yellow Emperor palace known as the first palace under heaven". It paints a grand masterpiece with the vast landscape as its canvas and millennia as its brush, inheriting and carrying forward the great achievements of the Yellow Emperor, the ancestor of Chinese civilization. The blessings of heaven, the virtues of earth, the grace of Leizu, and the fortune of Dahong will surely take root, be passed down, flourish, and grow in this world-class future-oriented creative city. Enjoy Animal Kingdom is an internationally-standard animal theme park built with significant investment by Enjoy International Resort, officially opened on August 18, 2020. Located in Xinmi City, the cultural new district of Zhengzhou (capital of Henan Province), it is a key cultural tourism project in Henan. With a total investment of 5 billion CNY and covering 570,000 square meters, the park features areas like Jiabao Town, Animal Kingdom, Fantasy World, Life Island, Emerald Sea, and Grand Mountains, along with 10 large amusement rides. Showcasing over 200 species and more than 3,000 rare wild animals, it integrates animal viewing, science education, behavioral displays, rides, theater performances, and 3D cinemas into a comprehensive interactive wildlife-themed destination. Zhengzhou Yinji Ice & Snow World was planned and designed by the world-renowned design firm OKE. It is a comprehensive indoor ice and snow theme park operating year-round, integrating an ice lake, snow play area, and amusement rides. Covering an area of 60 mu with an investment of 500 million yuan, it offers full-day, year-round operation. Visitors can not only enjoy winter fun but also thrilling amusement experiences. The park features a unique 3,000 m² dreamlike ice lake, a 360 m dazzling ice loop, and four themed zones: Christmas World, White Castle, Snow Cat Town, and Emerald Valley, along with eight amusement rides and twelve play attractions. Enjoy Lehai Myth World is a Chinese mythology-themed immersive experience park developed by Enjoy Cultural Tourism Group with significant investment, targeting Gen Z as the core demographic while also catering to Gen Y young adults and family-friendly visitors. Through "all-scenario performances," it integrates deity-themed photo spots, interactive immortal shows, and mythological scene-based consumption. Located within Enjoy International Resort in Zhengzhou, Henan province, this project pioneers a new exploration of Chinese mythological universes. It combines Zhengzhou's internet-famous landmark "Enjoy Ferris Wheel" with the summer water fun of Lehai Water World, offering visitors extraordinary mythological experiences—visually stunning, incredibly fun, deliciously satisfying, and perfect for photography. Zhengzhou Yinchiji Huangdigong Royal Hot Spring consists of five sections: Chinese wellness culture zone, Southeast Asian style zone, Japanese onsen therapy zone, hot spring villa zone, and functional leisure zone. It features 108 distinctive indoor and outdoor hot spring pools, along with 34 exquisite villas and courtyards. The outdoor hot spring area covers 48,000 m², while the indoor hot spring pavilion spans 4,000 m² with 2,901 lockers. Comprehensive facilities cater to diverse needs. Meticulously designed with beautiful views and comfortable hot spring experiences, it harmonizes mind and nature through scenic immersion, offering relaxation and premium enjoyment. Zhengzhou Yinchiji Huangdigong Royal Hot Spring Hotel (Animal Kingdom Branch) offers various room types in its main building, including deluxe rooms, luxury suites, family-friendly rooms, and presidential suites. The hot spring villas and luxury villas, located in separate areas, are a highlight featuring private courtyards, exclusive hot spring pools, and standalone accommodations for travelers seeking privacy. Zhengzhou Yinji Ice & Snow Hotel (Animal Kingdom Branch) is a polar ecology-themed hotel designed by the world-renowned architectural firm WATG from the United States. Covering an area of 390 mu, the hotel features various luxury suites and cozy family rooms with premium lake views. Its diverse restaurants and bars offer Chinese, Western, and Asian specialty cuisines. Banquet halls, conference venues, and multifunctional rooms cater to business and wedding needs. A 1,000 m scenic moat surrounds the hotel, creating a dreamlike private castle. The hotel boasts 1,314 themed guest rooms, distinctive specialty restaurants, a Chinese restaurant, a vibrant leisure commercial street, an outdoor wedding pavilion, a unique barbecue camping park, an outdoor slide amusement park, a 9-hole mini golf course, a fitness center, a foot spa, a children's driving school, and indoor/outdoor heated pools. Additionally, its large and small banquet halls along with 19 multifunctional meeting rooms serve as ideal venues for various events and dream weddings.

Xuchang Aquarium

Xuchang Oceanarium has a total construction area of ​​about 13,000 square meters, with more than 300 species and 15,000 marine creatures, and a total water volume of about 3,000 tons. It will become the Xuchang Ocean Science Education Base and the main venue for youth activities. The museum covers tropical rainforests, coral reef ecological museums, deep-sea exhibition areas, mermaid performance venues, jellyfish museums, polar museums, interactive touch museums, pool waterfalls, Amazon basins, sea lion performance venues, ocean science museums, submarine tunnels and other venues. The museum has four floors, twelve theme exhibition areas, four theaters, and more than a dozen interactive entertainment experiences. It gives full play to the viewing, entertainment, experience, education, and interactivity, and integrates the display of rare marine creatures, large marine animal performances, parent-child interactive entertainment, marine science education, marine creative experience, marine theme business and other elements to create a new landmark in Xuchang.

China Enamel Culture Park

jian an wen hua guang chang ( pang dong lai tian shi cheng dian )