Henan Attractions

Henan Province (河南省) occupies the heart of China’s Central Plains and contains one of the country’s densest concentrations of archaeological sites, ancient capitals, Buddhist monuments, imperial ruins, museums, sacred mountains and traditional cultural landscapes. Its tourism appeal can be understood through four central themes: Chinese civilisation, ancient capitals, Chinese martial arts and mountain scenery.

Four of China’s recognised ancient capitals—Zhengzhou (郑州), Kaifeng (开封), Luoyang (洛阳) and Anyang (安阳)—are located in Henan. Together, they preserve important remains from early dynastic civilisation, the Shang Dynasty, the Eastern Han and Northern Wei periods, the Sui and Tang dynasties and the Northern Song Dynasty. Henan’s official cultural profile also identifies five UNESCO World Heritage properties or component groups within the province.

The province’s natural attractions are concentrated around the Taihang Mountains (太行山) in the north, the Funiu Mountains (伏牛山) in the west and southwest and the Dabie Mountains (大别山) in the south. Yuntai Mountain (云台山), Mount Laojun (老君山), Baiyun Mountain (白云山), Jigong Mountain (鸡公山), Chaya Mountain (嵖岈山) and the mountains around Xinxiang form the core of Henan’s mountain-tourism system.

Modern cultural tourism has added a new layer to Henan’s historic resources. Only Henan · Drama Fantasy City (只有河南·戏剧幻城), Wansui Mountain Wuxia City (万岁山武侠城), Luoyi Ancient City (洛邑古城), the Sui–Tang Luoyang City heritage area and the newly developed museum corridor have made performances, night tours, traditional costumes and immersive storytelling central parts of the visitor experience.

UNESCO World Heritage in Henan

Henan has five UNESCO World Cultural Heritage properties or component groups: Longmen Grottoes, Yinxu, the Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in “The Centre of Heaven and Earth,” the Henan components of the Silk Roads and the Henan components of the Grand Canal.

UNESCO describes Longmen as an outstanding collection of Northern Wei and Tang Buddhist art and a high point of Chinese stone carving. Yinxu preserves the late Shang capital and invaluable evidence of early Chinese writing, while the Dengfeng property contains major buildings associated with ritual, astronomy, education and religion.

National 5A Tourist Attractions in Henan

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s current national tourism-service database lists 17 national 5A tourist attractions in Henan. Taihao Fuxi Mausoleum Cultural Tourism Area was added in February 2024, and Baoquan Tourist Area was formally added in December 2024.

The official list treats several large tourism areas as combined scenic properties. For example, Yuntai Mountain, Shennong Mountain and Qingtian River share one 5A designation, while Mount Laojun and Jiguan Cave form another combined tourism area.

Recommended Ranking of Henan Tourist Attractions

The following is a Yaso Trip editorial ranking for first-time international travellers, not an official government ranking. It considers historical importance, uniqueness, visitor experience, accessibility and value within a wider Henan itinerary.

How to Choose Henan Attractions

For a First Visit

A first-time journey should focus on the Zhengzhou–Kaifeng–Luoyang–Anyang ancient-capital corridor. Seven to nine days allows travellers to experience Shaolin Temple, Longmen Grottoes, Henan Museum, Kaifeng’s Song Dynasty attractions and Yinxu without excessive road travel.

For Archaeology and Early Chinese Civilisation

Choose Henan Museum, Zhengzhou Shang City, Dahe Village, Erlitou, Longmen Grottoes, Yinxu, the Chinese Writing Museum, Miaodigou Museum, Yangshao Village and Pingliangtai Ancient City.

For Chinese Martial Arts

Combine Shaolin Temple and Mount Song with Chenjiagou (陈家沟), the birthplace of Chen-style Tai Chi, and martial-arts performances in Kaifeng.

For Mountain Scenery

Choose Yuntai Mountain, Mount Laojun, Baiyun Mountain, Baoquan, Baligou, Taihang Grand Canyon, Jigong Mountain, Chaya Mountain and Wangwu Mountain.

For Immersive Night Tourism

Choose Only Henan · Drama Fantasy City, Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden, Wansui Mountain Wuxia City, Sui–Tang Luoyang City, Luoyi Ancient City and Cao Wei Ancient City.

Major Tourist Attractions in Zhengzhou

Zhengzhou is both the provincial capital and an important centre of early Chinese civilisation. Its tourism region includes central museums, Shang Dynasty remains, the Yellow River, Xinzheng’s ancestral heritage, Gongyi’s grottoes and manor houses and the World Heritage monuments of Dengfeng. Contemporary attractions around Zhongmu have added theatre, cinema and theme-park experiences.

Major Tourist Attractions in Kaifeng

Kaifeng was the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty and is now Henan’s strongest destination for Song-themed performances, historic gardens, temples, pagodas and night tourism. Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden and Wansui Mountain Wuxia City are the city’s principal immersive attractions, while Longting, the Iron Pagoda and Daxiangguo Temple preserve older architectural and religious traditions.

Major Tourist Attractions in Luoyang

Luoyang has Henan’s largest concentration of 5A attractions and one of China’s richest combinations of ancient-capital archaeology, Buddhist heritage, museums, mountain scenery and night tourism. The city’s core attractions extend from Longmen Grottoes and White Horse Temple to the Sui–Tang imperial city, Erlitou and the Funiu Mountain counties.

Major Tourist Attractions in Pingdingshan

Pingdingshan combines Funiu Mountain scenery, Buddhist culture, Ru porcelain, Song literary heritage and historic county architecture. The Yaoshan–Zhongyuan Buddha area is the city’s national 5A attraction.

Major Tourist Attractions in Anyang

Anyang’s tourism is organised around Shang civilisation, Chinese writing, Three Kingdoms history and the Taihang Mountains. The opening of the expanded Yinxu Museum strengthened the city’s role as the principal destination for understanding late Shang culture and oracle-bone writing.

Major Tourist Attractions in Hebi

Hebi’s strongest tourism resources are the Grand Canal, Xunxian Ancient City, ancient Buddhist mountains, the culture of the Wei State and the landscapes along the Qi River. Xunxian preserves a walled old city, canal heritage and the monumental Buddha of Dapi Mountain.

Major Tourist Attractions in Xinxiang

Xinxiang’s principal natural attractions lie along the southern Taihang Mountains. Baligou and Baoquan hold national 5A status, while Wanxian Mountain, Guoliang Village and Tianjie Mountain are known for cliffs, canyons and mountain roads.

Major Tourist Attractions in Jiaozuo

Jiaozuo combines Taihang Mountain geology, Yellow River culture and Tai Chi heritage. The large combined 5A property includes Yuntai Mountain, Shennong Mountain and Qingtian River, while Chenjiagou is internationally associated with Chen-style Tai Chi.

Major Tourist Attractions in Puyang

Puyang promotes itself through early civilisation, dragon culture, the ancient states of the Central Plains and its strong acrobatics tradition. Its attractions are more specialised and are best combined with Anyang, Kaifeng or the Grand Canal corridor.

Major Tourist Attractions in Xuchang

Xuchang is associated with the Three Kingdoms, Cao Wei culture, Jun porcelain and horticultural tourism. The central historic area contains the Spring and Autumn Tower, Baling Bridge and Cao Wei Ancient City, while Yuzhou is the centre of Jun-ware culture.

Major Tourist Attractions in Luohe

Luohe is known for Chinese writing, the prehistoric Jiahu culture, riverfront parks and food-industry tourism. Xu Shen Cultural Park commemorates the compiler of the Shuowen Jiezi, while Jiahu is internationally important for early music, fermented beverages and Neolithic culture.

Major Tourist Attractions in Sanmenxia

Sanmenxia lies along the Yellow River and preserves major evidence of Yangshao and Miaodigou cultures, ancient passes, underground courtyard villages and Guo State archaeology. It is also one of China’s best-known winter destinations for viewing whooper swans.

Major Tourist Attractions in Nanyang

Nanyang combines Han Dynasty culture, Three Kingdoms heritage, traditional Chinese medicine, the Funiu Mountains and the headwaters of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project. Its leading attractions extend from Wolonggang and the Medical Sage Cultural Park to Xixia, Neixiang and the Danjiang Reservoir region.

Major Tourist Attractions in Shangqiu

Shangqiu is associated with the origins of commerce, fire worship, the ancient city of Guide, Northern Song education and the Han tombs of Mangdang Mountain. Its Grand Canal components and traditional walled city make it an important stop on eastern Henan heritage routes.

Major Tourist Attractions in Xinyang

Xinyang lies in the Dabie Mountains and has a greener, more humid landscape than most of northern Henan. Its attractions combine mountain resorts, reservoirs, tea culture, wetlands and important revolutionary sites.

Major Tourist Attractions in Zhoukou

Zhoukou is a major destination for ancestral culture, Fuxi traditions, Laozi heritage and prehistoric archaeology. Taihao Fuxi Mausoleum became a national 5A attraction in 2024, while the surrounding Longhu Lake and Huaiyang Ancient City support a wider cultural-tourism area.

Major Tourist Attractions in Zhumadian

Zhumadian occupies the transition between the Central Plains and the Dabie–Tongbai mountain systems. Chaya Mountain is the city’s national 5A attraction, while other major destinations combine reservoirs, Buddhist temples, red heritage and modern cultural tourism.

Major Tourist Attractions in Jiyuan

Jiyuan is a provincial-level demonstration area rather than one of Henan’s 17 prefecture-level cities, but it forms a distinct tourism region between the Yellow River and Taihang–Wangwu Mountains. Its leading attractions are Wangwu Mountain, Wulongkou, Xiaolangdi and the Yellow River Three Gorges.

Major Attractions by Tourism Theme