Five days, four cities, one rail line

A first-timer's route from Zhengzhou to Kaifeng, with the timing that actually works.

Landing at Zhengzhou in the late afternoon is the easiest start. The airport train reaches the east station in half an hour, and every city on this list is a direct ride from there.

Day one stays in Zhengzhou: the Henan Museum in the morning, the theatre city after lunch and into the evening. Day two is Luoyang by high-speed rail, forty minutes door to door. Day three continues in Luoyang for the White Horse Temple. Day four moves to Dengfeng for the Shaolin courtyards, and day five ends in Kaifeng with an evening on the night-market streets.

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