The index

Every place worth the detour

Eighteen prefecture-level cities, plus the county towns that actually hold the mountains and kilns. Filter by what you want to see, then add cities to your trip.

28 destinations match

Luoyang — Thirteen dynasties on the Yi River: cliff Buddhas, palace gates and peonies.
Prefecture

Luoyang

洛阳

Thirteen dynasties on the Yi River: cliff Buddhas, palace gates and peonies.

Luoyang Longmen railway3 days
Kaifeng — The Song capital that invented the night market and never stopped eating late.
Prefecture

Kaifeng

开封

The Song capital that invented the night market and never stopped eating late.

Kaifeng North railway2 days
Anyang — Where Chinese writing begins — oracle bones and bronze from the Shang capital.
Prefecture

Anyang

安阳

Where Chinese writing begins — oracle bones and bronze from the Shang capital.

Anyang East railway1 days
Hebi — Quiet Taihang foothills, cave temples and the old lane of Jun County.
Prefecture

Hebi

鹤壁

Quiet Taihang foothills, cave temples and the old lane of Jun County.

Hebi East railway1 days
Xuchang — Three Kingdoms storytelling, a revived old city and late-night riverside snacks.
Prefecture

Xuchang

许昌

Three Kingdoms storytelling, a revived old city and late-night riverside snacks.

Xuchang East railway1 days

Greater Henan

County towns that hold the mountains

Dengfeng for Shaolin, Xiuwu for the Yuntai gorge, Linzhou for the cliff canal — the county-level cities carry the scenery.