We choose Zhengzhou simply because Scoot has the direct flight to Zhengzhou from Singapore. It was a midnight flight and arriving in the early morning in Zhengzhou China.
This time our trip covered Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, Louyang and Xian. From Xian we catch a direct flight back to Singapore.
If you are thinking of seeing the old cities of China, Luoyang and Kaifeng and Xian are best cities to explore.
Now, Zhengzhou is located in Henan province. China has 23 provinces, 5 autonomous regions (Inner Mongolia, Guangxi, Tibet, Ningxia, Xinjiang), 4 municipalities (Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Chongqing)
The subway and high speed train station is link in the Zhengzhou Xinzheng airport so it is very convenient. We booked our high speed train ticket online, the high speed train depart from Zhengzhou Kong Gang “郑州空港”站 to Zhengzhou East “郑州东”站 because our hotel is located near Zhengzhou East station.
We thought that Zhengzhou Kong Gang is link to the airport but we wanted to check in to the high speed train, we were told that the high speed train station in the airport is called 新郑 and 空港站 is just 3 stops away by subway.
If you are buying high speed train ticket online, you will use passport ID to key in all the details. Before entering the high speed train station, you need your passport ID to enter. If your train is not the right one, they will not allow you to enter. So this happen to us. We were told that the high speed train we booked is from Zhengzhou Kong Gang “郑州空港”站 and the high speed train station that linked to airport is 新郑. Luckily it was still early, we have a good 3 hours before our high speed train depart. So we went to the subway station which is just next to the high speed train station, just within 1 min walking, took the subway to Zhengzhou Kong Gang “郑州空港”站. Then from there, we took the high speed train to Zhengzhou East “郑州东”站.
Now, please check the high speed train station properly when you book your ticket. The high speed train station in the airport is called XinZheng 新郑.
Day 1 – 3 Itinerary Zhengzhou
Where we stay : Atour Hotel Zhengzhou East Railway Station
Atour Hotel is near Zhengzhou East Station but we took a taxi which cost us about RMB10, SGD2 dollar to reach our hotel. Glad that we could check in early at around 11 am, most hotel in Japan and Korea only allow after 2 or 3pm check in. The hotel is pretty new and belong to Ali Baba group.
Top Food to eat in Zhengzhou
- 烩面 Huimian – Typically, hui mian is made with lamb bones and a range of Chinese herbs, kelp, tofu, coriander, quail eggs, chili oil, sugar, garlic, and minced peppers are also common ingredients. The taste of hui mian is soft, delicate, and very chewy. The hui mian recipe is widespread and originated in the Tang dynasty, in Henan province, it is famous for it huimian.
- 胡辣湯 pepper hot soup -Similar to Sichuan hot and sour soup 酸辣汤, the broth is thicker as it commonly includes corn starch and contains ingredients such as day lily buds, wood ear fungus, bamboo shoots, and tofu.
- Zhengzhou Wanton
- Meng bing 焖饼 Stew Chinese Pancake
Top places to visit
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二七广场 Zhengzhou Erqi Plaza
This is the shopping street, best to come in the evening for dinner and there is a pagoda which will light up at night. Lot of restaurant and street food. Food are very afforadable, we had hot sour fish and malatang with pork only cost RMB39 about SGD 8. It comes with free flow or rice and drinks. This is what we have:
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Henan museum
this is one of the popular attraction, entry is free. Foreigners can use their passport to enter.
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Zhengzhou Movie town – Jianye & Huayi Brothers Movie Town
The movie town is located a bit far from where we stay Zhengzhou East, it took about 40 mins by didi taxi. Didi is like our Singapore Grab taxi. It cost about Rmb45, about SGD9. You need about a day to explore the movie town.
There are lots of eateries with lot of choices in the movie town so you can have your lunch and dinner here. Ticket to enter the park isRMB160 per person, including a major musical show. You can choose not to watch the main musical show and it only cost RMB 100. Anyway, there are various performances here and there, on the street and outdoor tsges. At the entrance, there are rental shops for costume. You can wear qipao or hanfu. But I would recommend you to wear aqipao to match the movie town theme. Please wait for the light up at night before you leave.
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黄河风景区 Yellow River Scenic Area
You can spend about half a day here, the park is big to explore by foot. You can pay for the tram service, RMB20 so it will take you round the park and stop at 4 places. There is a geological museum where you will see a big dinasour with skeletons. There is a white statue of a mother and son which symbolizes the feeding of mother Yellow River, and also represents the great mutual affection that the river and the people of China hold. Most prominent of the statues has to be the 100 meters tall statue of the emperor’s Yan and Huang, who were both believed to be of Henan origin.
How long should I stay?
- 2 nights
Next stop is Kaifeng city! We will depart from Zhengzhou East 郑州东 to Kaifeng North 开封北.
Final thoughts
What I love about Zhengzhou is everything is pretty affordable as compared to other big cities. The weather in early mid October is still pretty warm in the day, short sleeves and morning and night turn chill. You still need a layer of jacket when you are out. Where we stayed in Zhengzhou East is like a CBD area, streets and buildings look new. It is convenient because it is located near the high speed train station as we will be departing the next morning to Kaifeng.