01 · In depth
Luoyang洛阳
Thirteen dynasties on the Yi River: cliff Buddhas, palace gates and peonies.
40 min from Zhengzhou by rail
HeritageMuseumsFood streets
Five cities, then the rest of the province
We write five cities in depth — the ones that repay three days rather than three hours. Five more work as add-ons. The remaining county towns are listed at the bottom, because a mountain or a temple is often the reason to leave the rail line.
02 · In depth
Kaifeng开封
The Song capital that invented the night market and never stopped eating late.
20 min from Zhengzhou by rail
HeritageFolk lifeFood streets
03 · In depth
Zhengzhou郑州
The rail hub that puts every other city here within a morning's ride.
Provincial rail hub · airport
MuseumsLive showsFood streets
04 · In depth
Dengfeng登封
Foot of Mount Song: Shaolin kung fu, pagoda forests and the Centre of Heaven and Earth.
40 min from Zhengzhou East
HeritageMountains & water
05 · In depth
Anyang安阳
Where Chinese writing begins — oracle bones and bronze from the Shang capital.
1h 30 from Zhengzhou by rail
HeritageMuseums
Five more, one day each
Short breaks off the main line; these pages carry the essentials only.
Jiaozuo
焦作
Gateway to the red-rock gorges and waterfall chains of the Taihang range.
Xinxiang
新乡
South Taihang trailheads, cliff villages and reservoirs within an hour of town.
Sanmenxia
三门峡
Yellow River gorges, sunken courtyards and the pass where the old road entered the plains.
Nanyang
南阳
Han-history museums, herb markets and the back door to the Funiu mountains.
Xinyang
信阳
Tea hills, rice paddies and a southern-China rhythm at the top of the Dabie range.
6 more places
Not sure which five?
Send us your dates and we will suggest an order with rail times.