Zhengzhou to Kaifeng Day Trip 2026: Itinerary, Transport & Night Market Tips

Zhengzhou to Kaifeng Day Trip 2026

Kaifeng, an ancient capital of eight dynasties, is only a 30‑minute high‑speed train ride from Zhengzhou. As the capital of the Northern Song dynasty, called “Dongjing Bianliang”, Kaifeng holds the lively memories shown in the famous painting Along the River During the Qingming Festival. For travelers staying in Zhengzhou, a day trip to Kaifeng is an excellent way to experience ancient Chinese culture and taste authentic local food. This guide provides the most practical transport options, a detailed schedule, must‑see attractions, and food recommendations to help you make this journey through time efficiently and easily.

Why Choose a Day Trip from Zhengzhou to Kaifeng?

Kaifeng is very close to Zhengzhou – only 20 to 30 minutes by high‑speed train. Unlike Luoyang or Dengfeng, Kaifeng’s main attractions are quite concentrated, making it perfect for a day trip. In one day, you can enjoy a Song dynasty theme park, climb a thousand‑year‑old glazed brick pagoda, walk through the ruins of a royal palace, and taste soup dumplings at China’s oldest night market. The city offers a mix of rebuilt spectacular sights, real ancient monuments, and lively local life. Starting from Zhengzhou in the morning and returning in the evening is completely doable.

Best Time to Visit

Best seasons: Spring (April–May) and Autumn (September–October). The temperatures are comfortable for outdoor sightseeing. In late October, Kaifeng holds the Chrysanthemum Culture Festival – the whole city is decorated with chrysanthemums, and the scenery is beautiful.
Summer (June–August): Hot and rainy, but the night market atmosphere is at its most lively. Go out early and return late, and protect yourself from the heat.
Winter (November–February): Cold and dry, with few tourists. A good time for quiet visits to historical sites.
Avoid: Chinese public holidays (National Day Golden Week Oct 1–7, May Day). During these times, attractions like Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden become extremely crowded and the experience is much less enjoyable.

How to Get from Zhengzhou to Kaifeng

High‑Speed Train (Most Recommended)

Departure stations: Zhengzhou East Station (main high‑speed station) or Zhengzhou Station.
Arrival stations: Kaifeng North Station (high‑speed station, a bit far from the city center) or Songchenglu Station (intercity rail station, closer to Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden).
Travel time: 20–30 minutes.
Ticket price: Second class about 25–35 RMB.
Frequency: Very frequent – dozens of trains daily from around 6 AM to 9 PM.
Suggestion: For the outbound trip, choose a train arriving at Songchenglu Station, as it is closer to Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden and Longting area. For the return, you can leave from Kaifeng North Station or still from Songchenglu Station. Book tickets in advance on 12306 or Trip.com.

Regular Train

Departure station: Zhengzhou Station.
Arrival station: Kaifeng Station (located in the old city, very close to Gulou Night Market).
Travel time: About 40–50 minutes.
Ticket price: Hard seat about 12–15 RMB.
Advantage: The arrival location is excellent – you are right in the main city area.
Disadvantage: Slower and less comfortable than high‑speed trains.

Long‑Distance Bus

Departure station: Zhengzhou Central Bus Station (next to Zhengzhou Railway Station).
Arrival station: Kaifeng Bus Center (next to Kaifeng Station).
Travel time: About 1.5 hours, depending on traffic.
Ticket price: About 25 RMB.
Recommendation: Not recommended. It is slower than the high‑speed train and may get stuck in traffic.

Private Car / Day Tour Group

Suitable for families or small groups. You can book a private car with hotel pickup from Zhengzhou (about 400–600 RMB per day) or join an English‑speaking day tour (about 300–500 RMB per person, including tickets and lunch).

Detailed Itinerary for a Kaifeng Day Trip (Efficient Version)

Morning: Depart from Zhengzhou, Go Directly to Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden

7:30 – 8:00: Leave your hotel in Zhengzhou and go to Zhengzhou East Station or Zhengzhou Station. Take a high‑speed train – choose a departure between 7:30 and 8:00 AM.
8:30 – 9:00: Arrive in Kaifeng. If you arrive at Songchenglu Station, take a taxi to Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden (about 15 minutes, 15 RMB). If you arrive at Kaifeng Station, take a taxi (about 10 minutes, 10 RMB).
9:00 – 13:00: Visit Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden (4 hours). This is a large theme park rebuilt based on the famous painting Along the River During the Qingming Festival by Zhang Zeduan. Upon entering, pick up an English map and performance schedule. Must‑see performances include “Yue Fei Defeats the Little Prince with a Spear” (morning show around 10:30) and “Water Battle”. The park also has Song dynasty folk performances and craft demonstrations. You can stroll through the ancient‑style streets and taste Song‑era snacks. If you want to rest, take a boat ride along the canal.
Tip: The park is large. Focus on the core areas: Shangshan Gate, Rainbow Bridge, and Sunyang Zhengdian Restaurant. Mornings are relatively less crowded.

Lunch

13:00 – 14:00: Eat near Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden or go to the Gulou area. Recommended: Kaifeng soup dumplings.
Huangjia Old Shop (Longting Branch) – Very close to the park, authentic soup dumplings, reasonable prices.
Diyilou (Sihou Street Main Store) – A century‑old famous restaurant. You can also try other dishes like Yellow River carp with baked noodles.

Afternoon: Iron Pagoda, Longting Park, and Kaifeng Mansion

14:00 – 15:00: Visit Iron Pagoda Park (1 hour). The Iron Pagoda is actually a glazed brick pagoda. It got its name because the color looks like iron. It was built in 1049 AD during the Northern Song dynasty and is 55.88 meters tall. This is a real thousand‑year‑old monument in Kaifeng. You can climb the pagoda (the stairs are narrow) and admire the fine carvings on its surface. The park is small, but the pagoda itself is very impressive.
15:00 – 16:15: Visit Longting Park (1 hour 15 minutes). Longting is where the back garden of the Song dynasty imperial palace was located. It is built on a tall blue‑brick platform. Climb to the top of Longting to overlook Pan Lake and Yang Lake (local legend says these were the estates of the corrupt official Pan Renmei and the loyal official Yang Jiye). If you are short on time, you can just take photos from outside.
16:15 – 17:15: Visit Kaifeng Mansion (1 hour). This is a rebuilt government office of the Northern Song dynasty, where the legendary judge Bao Zheng once worked. Every day there are live performances such as “Judge Bao Sends the Unfaithful Husband to Execution”. There is usually an afternoon show (check the time on the day). The mansion also exhibits Song dynasty torture devices and imperial examination culture.
Note: If you are short on time, choose either Longting Park or Kaifeng Mansion. Longting focuses more on the royal garden, while Kaifeng Mansion has more storytelling.

Evening: Gulou Night Market and Return to Zhengzhou

17:30 – 18:30: Explore Gulou Night Market or Shujie Street. Gulou Square is the center of Kaifeng. In the evening, food stalls start to appear. Must‑try snacks: fried jelly, almond tea, mutton pancake, braised fish, and bucket chicken. You can also walk on Shujie Street to buy Kaifeng specialties like peanut cake.
18:30 – 19:00: Depending on your return high‑speed train time, take a taxi to Kaifeng North Station or Songchenglu Station. It is recommended to book a train after 7:30 PM to avoid being rushed.
19:30 – 20:00: Take the high‑speed train back to Zhengzhou, ending your day trip.

If You Cannot Wake Up Early: Half‑Day Essential Tour

If you do not want to get up too early, or you only want to see the most core attractions, here is a shorter version:

Morning: Take a high‑speed train from Zhengzhou, arriving in Kaifeng around 10 AM.
Go directly to Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden (3 hours – only the main performances and core area).
After lunch, choose either Iron Pagoda + Gulou Night Market or Longting Park + Kaifeng Mansion (choose one pair).
Go to the night market in the evening, then return.

Must‑Eat Food in Kaifeng for a Day Trip

Kaifeng is a food paradise. Even if you only have one day, do not miss these dishes:

Soup dumplings: Very thin skin, meat filling with hot soup inside. The eating rule: “Lift gently, move slowly, open a window first, then drink the soup.” Recommended restaurants: Diyilou, Huangjia Old Shop.
Fried jelly: Mung bean jelly fried on a hot iron plate – crispy on the outside, soft inside, with strong garlic flavor. Recommended: Gulou Night Market.
Almond tea: A sweet paste made from almond powder, topped with sesame, peanuts, raisins, and hawthorn cake. Recommended: Gulou Night Market.
Mutton pancake: Thin flatbread filled with minced mutton and cumin, grilled on an iron plate until crispy. Recommended: Xisi Night Market or Gulou Night Market.
Bucket chicken: Salty, chewy braised chicken – good for eating while walking. Recommended: Ma Yuxing Bucket Chicken.
Peanut cake: Crispy, sweet traditional pastry – a good souvenir. Recommended: “Bai Ji Peanut Cake” on Shujie Street.

Practical Tips

Ticket Prices

Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden: 120 RMB (some performances require extra fee; the night show “Dream of Dongjing” requires a separate ticket)
Iron Pagoda Park: 30 RMB
Longting Park: 35 RMB
Kaifeng Mansion: 60 RMB
Recommendation: Buy tickets in advance on Trip.com, Meituan, or the official attraction platforms to avoid waiting in line.

Payment & Language

Mobile payment (WeChat Pay, Alipay) is accepted everywhere. Carry a small amount of cash (less than 100 RMB) for small stalls.
Attractions have English signs, but most local restaurants and taxi drivers speak only Chinese. Download a translation app.

Clothing & Gear

Wear comfortable walking shoes – you will walk a lot during the day.
In summer, bring a sun hat and drinking water. In winter, wear a down jacket.

Time Management

The most important rule: Start early. Arriving in Kaifeng before 8:30 AM allows you to enjoy the day more leisurely.
Pay attention to the last high‑speed train times. The last train from Kaifeng North Station to Zhengzhou East Station is usually after 9:00 PM, but still book your ticket in advance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is a day trip to Kaifeng too rushed?
A: Following this itinerary, you leave around 7 AM and return around 7 PM. You can cover Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden, Iron Pagoda, Longting / Kaifeng Mansion, and the night market. It is full but not exhausting. If you want a more relaxed pace, you can skip Kaifeng Mansion and spend more time at the theme park or the night market.

Q: Can I skip Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden?
A: That garden is the most popular theme park in Kaifeng. If you are not interested in rebuilt attractions, you can replace it with: morning – Iron Pagoda + Longting Park, afternoon – Kaifeng Mansion + Daxiangguo Temple + Shaanxi‑Gansu‑Shaanxi Guildhall, evening – night market. This option focuses more on real historical sites.

Q: What is there to do in Kaifeng in the evening?
A: The Gulou Night Market is the best choice. If you have more time, you can also watch the live performance “Dream of Dongjing” at Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden (starts around 7:30 PM, lasts about 70 minutes). That would require staying overnight in Kaifeng.

Q: Do I need to book high‑speed train tickets in advance for the day trip?
A: Strongly recommended, especially on weekends and holidays – tickets may sell out. For the outbound trip, choose trains between 7:30 and 8:30 AM. For the return, choose trains after 7:30 PM.

Q: What are good souvenirs to bring home from Kaifeng?
A: Peanut cake (recommended “Bai Ji”), bucket chicken (vacuum‑packed), Kaifeng pickled vegetables, and Bian embroidery (small ornaments).

A day trip from Zhengzhou to Kaifeng is an efficient and rich journey of culture and food. You can travel back to the Song dynasty at Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden, touch a thousand years of history at the foot of the Iron Pagoda, and enjoy delicious food at the Gulou Night Market. The high‑speed train takes only half an hour each way, so leaving early and returning late is no problem. With good planning and avoiding holidays, you will have an unforgettable experience in this ancient capital.

Start planning your Kaifeng day trip now – a feast for both your eyes and your taste buds!

Zhengzhou to Kaifeng Day Trip 2026: Itinerary, Transport & Night Market Tips

Zhengzhou to Kaifeng Day Trip 2026