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Capital of Henan, China
Photo: User:Rmoretto, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Zhengzhou (郑州 Zhèngzhōu) is a city on the south bank of Yellow River (Huang He) in China. It is the capital of Henan Province. Zhengzhou is a convenient starting point to explore a series of Chinese cultural sites, like Kaifeng, Luoyang and Shaolin Temple.
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商城遗址, 商都遗址公园 Shang Capital Ruins Park
You can see remnants of the wall in the east side of town. Be warned: these mounds are not terribly impressive.
郑州文庙
The Zhengzhou Confucius Temple is a historical building complex dedicated to Confucius. The first temple was built here in the first century AD, and it has been rebuilt several times after being damaged or destroyed by wars and fires. The Dacheng Hall, dating from the Qing Dynasty, is the main historic building in the complex, while many of the other buildings are modern reconstructions. The Dacheng Hall, which dates from the Qing Dynasty, is the main building of historical value. The other buildings that make up the complex are largely modern reconstructions.
二七纪念塔
Museum inside a rather garish double pagoda that looms over February 7 Square. Inside there are exhibits explaining the city's development.
如意湖; Ruyi Hu
The centrepiece of the Zhengzhou New Area, surrounded by an impressive ring of modern apartments, malls and office towers, including the Henan Arts Centre, and crowned by a JW Marriott designed like a Chinese lantern. The area is lit up in a charmingly tacky fashion at night.
Fu Tower, 中原福塔
This 388-metre high tower is the 10th tallest tower in the world and has great views of the city. On the third and fourth floors of the observation deck, you can see the largest panoramic painting in the world.
只有河南·戏剧幻城
The park is built with 56 blocks, featuring yellow earthen walls as the main architectural style. It includes three large theaters and 18 small theaters. Through immersive theater, it tells stories about land, grain, and cultural heritage, while the three main theaters showcase Henan’s history and local culture, offering visitors an engaging, first-hand experience.
河南省地质博物馆
Contains rock specimens, and many fossils, including dinosaur fossils. Visitors are required to show their ID.
河南博物院
This monolithic pyramid-shaped museum is worth a visit (the main building is under renovation as of August 2019, but the museum is still open). Learn about ancient civilizations in the area (most of which were not based in Zhengzhou, but nearby cities such as Kaifeng and Luoyang), and even see a dinosaur bone or two in the area. The museum is one of the three key museums in China along with one in Beijing. If you are into modern art, this is not the place for you. It generally has acceptable squat toilets on the first floor. There is an English audio tour you can rent, and there are cheapish lockers to store your stuff. Come to see old pottery from the Song dynasty, old bells, bronzes, things like that, but anything more recent does not have English captions. Don't miss the Ivory cabbage. Across the street is a coffee house that makes ok tea and coffee for about ¥30 and has comfortable chairs.
河南省科学技术馆
One of the largest science and technology museums in China. Before visiting the museum, visitors are expected to make a booking on the museum's WeChat account, which can be found by searching '河南省科技馆' on WeChat. The booking must be done at least two days before the day you intend to visit.
黄河博物馆
A natural history museum focused on the Yellow River.
郑州美术馆
郑州博物馆
郑州科学技术官
人民公园; Rénmín Gōngyuán, Renmin Park
Has a theme park inside with a quaint Ferris Wheel that is worth riding.
黄河风景区, 黄河风景名胜区
Scenic area consisting of five scenic spots, Five Dragons Peak, Camel Mountain Range, Yueshan Temple, Stone Figures, and the Ancient City of Liubang and Xiangyu.
郑州市动物园
More depressing than it is impressive in any way. Some of their imported animals include turkeys and coyotes which might be interesting for a local but hardly for a foreigner. If you generally enjoy zoos, you may very well walk away sad at how the animals are cared for, or not in this case.
黄帝宫, 云岩宫, Yunyan Palace, Yunyan Temple
The Yellow Emperor is the mythological ancestor of all Chinese people and is traditionally believed to have ruled over China between 2698 and 2598 BC. The 'palace' is essentially a temple dedicated to the worship of the Yellow Emperor. It was first built during the 10th century AD and has been renovated several times over the centuries. Today, the site is part of the tourist resort known as Enjoyland. You will find it on the north side of the Yunyangong Reservoir, a few hundred metres southwest of Lehai Water World.
One thing worth knowing about is that the museum area is also the area of the 2 branches of government - federal and communist - so the area is much nicer. We are talking trees and some flowers along with a more neighborhood feel that might remind you of Shanghai. Do not expect wild nightclubs, but it is a more pleasant place to be if you are looking for a walk. Erqilou is fine, but a bit dirty, so see this other side of Zhengzhou if you get a chance. Also, some nice places to eat are in this area.
郑州世纪欢乐园
It is quite a huge amusement park. Be aware most rides have a 90-kg limit for anyone using them, sometimes staff can be strict and refuse to let you ride even after you have paid to get in.
This is a cultural and technological theme park featuring science fiction and interactive experience.
Enjoyland, Yinji Animal Kingdom, 銀基國際旅遊度假區
Hui Ji Huimian / Hui Ji Restaurant
Hui Ji Mutton Noodles is one of the well-known places to try traditional Henan food in Zhengzhou. The restaurant was established in 1950 and has become famous for its Huimian, a local noodle dish served with a rich mutton broth. The noodles are handmade and usually served with mutton, tofu skin, vegetables and other ingredients. The soup is rich and flavorful, while the noodles are soft but chewy. Visitors can also order mutton skewers, cold dishes and other local specialties. For travelers who want to experience a classic taste of Zhengzhou, Hui Ji is a good choice.
合记
A good place for a snack and scenery.
小南国
Excellent restaurant featuring regional dishes from all over China.
Korean-style restaurant and bar. If you have an affinity for soju, this is the place for you.
A good place for Western cuisine with an Italian restaurant and a Western-style pub. It offers a buffet during dinner including Brazilian Rodizio and a dessert bar. There is also a smattering of pizza and pasta joints called Cappuccino around the city.
Serves a plethora of dishes including waffles and fajita-style meat plate alongside a smattering of coffee and desserts and has several locations throughout Zhengzhou.
Among the best Western restaurants in the city. You can order Chinese food by the plate or Western food like steak in set meals with many courses. Each plate is a small portion but overall the set meals are a great deal, for ¥75-200 you get many plates of very good food. Make sure to ask for the dishes to come one at a time for the best dining experience.
A very good Italian-style restaurant in North-eastern Zhengzhou. Considering the owner and staff have never been outside of Zhengzhou or China, it is pretty decent food, and not badly priced. Lasagna noodles are made in house and they have an American chef to try to help them become "more authentic". He updated the Caesar Salad dressing, and it is well worth a try!
Old ex-pat favorite. Lao Wang, who speaks great English, is the proprietor of this staple Zhengzhou dive bar.
¥6 Tsingtao for foreigners, popular
A lively new bar opened near the corner Jinshui Lu and Jing Qi Lu.
A small bar on Jing qi Lu. Laid-back mood, fooseball, etc.
For an unusual drinking experience, consider this pub, located in a bunker-like concrete building. This place features a cabaret-style show with a mix of song, dance, and jokes. Unless you understand Chinese, it will be mostly incomprehensible, yet the experience will give you insight into Chinese drinking culture. The place is noisy, smoky, crowded, and occasionally bizarre. You can order half-a-dozen or so bottles of beer by the bucket. Try to get there early, around 19:00, as the show ends around 22:00 or 23:00. This building also houses one of Zhengzhou's movie theaters.
This is your best bet on a budget hotel. It is a relatively new chain with several locations around town. This listing is the most centrally located. Another good location is on Zhengyi Street (政一街) near Jinshui Road (金水路). The rooms are super-clean with tile and laminate floors and a fresh coat of paint. Complimentary high-speed Internet hookups are installed in all the rooms.
郑州白鸽宾馆
Chain of business hotels scattered about the city. Their rooms are clean and have a style that invokes a SoHo loft more than a Chinese hotel.
Double rooms have one large and one standard bed. There is another branch on 46 Zhonghanghailu.
Caters to business travelers.
This hotel might be a little loud at night.
Massive Chinese-style business hotel with well-worn carpets and paper-thin walls, but otherwise functional.
New hotel. The rooms are well appointed, and the buffet breakfast spread has good reports.
A glitzy joint around Ruyi Lake and near facilities such as an exhibition centre, art museum and shopping mall.
Dennis David
Retail business is located in Tower A 1F-9F, luxury goods, domestic boutique, boutique home furnishing and accessories are available. Shopping mall is located in 1F-6F. Catering and leisure: B1-9F scattered catering and leisure on each floor, 10-12F focus on local specialties, chain restaurants to enjoy the feast of gluttony. The boutique supermarket is located in B1F, and the hotel is located in 7F-24F of Tower B. The international five-star standard hotel is luxurious, elegant, comfortable and fresh. The club is located in 14F. David City Ice Park is located on the 5F of David City and is the most luxurious indoor ice skating rink in Zhengzhou. The Korean CGV cinema is located on the 6th floor.
郑州熙地港购物中心
郑州正弘城
Combining shopping, dining, entertainment, and cultural activities, it is a popular destination for tourists and locals.
郑东万象城
The complex is Zhengzhou's newest large-scale commercial complex and opened on June 28, 2025.
By plane
An airport shuttle bus leaves from Zhengzhou Hotel, centrally located and costs ¥15.
By train
Zhengzhou is China's biggest train hub; you can get here from nearly every major metropolitian area in China.
By bus
Across from the train station, you will find a long-distance bus station. Buses arrive regularly from almost anywhere in Henan province.
By taxi
Taxi fares begin at ¥8 in the day, and ¥10 late at night (after 22:00), with each kilometer after the second costing ¥1.5. All taxis are metered but sometimes the drivers will try to cheat foreigners.
By metro
The Metro system has seven lines in operation:
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Zhengzhou · International · CGO
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