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Things to Do in Kaiyuan (2026)
Kaiyuan's old town is anchored by the well-preserved Drum Tower, a Ming dynasty structure that once marked the center of the city. Climb to the top for a panoramic viewβ¦ π― Explore Ancient Kaiyuan
Kaiyuan's old town is anchored by the well-preserved Drum Tower, a Ming dynasty structure that once marked the center of the city. Climb to the top for a panoramic view of the surrounding hutong-style alleys, where you can still see traditional courtyard homes. The tower is open daily from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM, with a modest entry fee of 20 yuan. Nearby, the Kaiyuan Museum (No. 12, Xinhua Street) offers context on the region's history as a frontier trading post.
π³ Relax in Qinglong Park
Qinglong Park, located on the north side of the city along Qinglong Road, is a favorite spot for locals to stroll, tai chi, and boat on the small lake. The park is free to enter and opens at 6:00 AM, closing at 9:00 PM in summer and 8:00 PM in winter. Rent a paddle boat for 30 yuan per hour, or join the early morning exercise groups near the east gate. In spring, the cherry blossom avenue draws crowds, so arrive before 9:00 AM to avoid the rush.
π Taste Local Street Food
Kaiyuan's street food scene centers around the night market on Renmin Road, which kicks off around 5:30 PM and runs until midnight. Don't miss the grilled lamb skewers (3 yuan each) and the hearty beef noodle soup (12 yuan) at the stalls near the north entrance. For a sit-down experience, try Lao Wang's Dumplings (No. 45, Hongqi Street), a family-run spot that has been serving pork and chive dumplings for over 30 years. A meal for two with beer usually costs under 80 yuan.
π΄ Cycle the Riverside Trail
The Liao River runs along the eastern edge of Kaiyuan, and a paved cycling path follows the bank for about 15 kilometers. Rent a bike from the kiosk near the south gate of Qinglong Park for 20 yuan per hour, or 80 yuan for the full day. The trail passes through wetlands and small fishing villages, with several rest stops that have benches and water fountains. Early morning or late afternoon rides offer the best light and cooler temperatures.
ποΈ Visit the Confucian Temple
The Kaiyuan Confucian Temple, first built in the Yuan dynasty, is one of the best-preserved in northeastern China. It sits on Wenmiao Street, a short walk from the Drum Tower, and is open from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM (closed Mondays). Entry is 30 yuan, and an audio guide in English is available for an extra 20 yuan. The annual Confucius memorial ceremony in late September is a colorful event worth planning around.
ποΈ Shop at Dongfeng Market
For a taste of everyday Kaiyuan life, head to Dongfeng Market, a sprawling indoor and outdoor bazaar on Dongfeng Road. It's busiest on weekend mornings, when farmers from nearby villages sell fresh produce, homemade pickles, and handicrafts. The market is open daily from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and it's a great place to buy local specialties like dried mushrooms and wild honey. Bring cash, as many vendors don't accept mobile payments.
π Catch a Cultural Show
The Kaiyuan Grand Theater on Wenhua Road hosts regular performances of traditional opera, folk music, and dance. Tickets range from 50 to 150 yuan, and shows typically start at 7:30 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. Check the schedule at the box office or ask your hotel to call ahead, as performances are not always advertised online. Even if you don't understand the dialect, the elaborate costumes and live orchestra make it a memorable evening.
β¨οΈ Soak in Hot Springs
About 20 kilometers north of the city, the Kaiyuan Hot Springs Resort offers natural mineral baths in a wooded setting. A day pass costs 120 yuan and includes access to indoor and outdoor pools, plus a simple lunch. Buses leave from the Kaiyuan Bus Station every hour from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and the ride takes about 40 minutes. The resort also has private rooms with hot spring tubs if you prefer more privacy.
the confucian temple tip is a good one but nobody ever mentions the stone steles in the side courtyard, some date back to the Qing and the inscriptions are still legible if you squint. i spent like 40 min there just reading them, way more interesting than the main hall honestly.
also on dongfeng market, cash is right but bring small bills. i tried to pay for a jar of wild honey with a 100 and the auntie spent five minutes digging through her apron for change. half the fun is just standing there watching the morning chaos anyway, go around 7 before the tour buses from Shenyang even wake up.
one thing missing from the food section, the breakfast scene. kaiyuan does a proper zaocan, you want the little places around the drum tower before 8am, doufunao and shaobing for like 6 yuan total. by 9 its gone.
Good write-up, covers most of what a first-timer needs. One thing I'd add: the Drum Tower area is genuinely best on weekday mornings, since tour groups from Shenyang tend to hit it around 10 AM on weekends and the stairway up gets cramped. Also worth knowing that the alley behind the tower has a few small breakfast stalls selling doujiang and youtiao from about 6:30, which the guide doesn't mention and it's a nice way to start before the crowds show.
On the hot springs, I'd push back slightly on the day pass. The 120 yuan option is fine but the private rooms run about 380 for four hours and split well between two people if you want quiet. Last bus back is at 4 PM sharp, they don't wait, so don't cut it close.
solid list, the cycling trail one is spot on. i'd add that the path gets pretty exposed around the 8km mark near the wetlands so bring water, the fountains there are hit or miss, half of them were dry when i rode it last may. also the bike kiosk by qinglong park sometimes runs out by 10am on weekends so go early or you'll be waiting.
one thing the guide doesnt mention is the old railway workers' quarter west of the drum tower, around Tiedong street. not a tourist site at all, just lived-in 1950s brick housing, but its a nice quiet walk if you want to see how people actually live here rather than another restored temple. no entry fee obviously.
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Getting around Kaiyuan without a car?
Kaiyuan's bus system is fine for the city itself, but honestly the train station area and the so-called center are only about 2 km apart, so it doesn't matter much where you sleep. The useful buses for sights are the ones heading out to the Longtan Temple area and toward the old section near the Liaohai River, and they leave from a few different stops, not one hub. For anything further out like the surrounding hills, I'd just grab a taxi or a didi, drivers are cheap here and they'll wait if you ask. Basing near the station makes sense only if you're doing day trips by rail to places like Tieling or Shenyang.
The station area is fine but I'd lean toward the streets around Xinhua Road instead, there's more food within walking distance and you're still only a 15 minute walk from the platforms. One thing nobody's mentioned is the 3 and 6 buses, they both pass near the old town and run until around 8pm which is later than most routes here. For the surrounding sights, the practical move is to pick one base and hire a car for two or three days rather than cobbling together buses each time, a driver out to the Longtan area and back runs maybe 150 to 200 kuai and saves you a lot of waiting.
honestly the bus situation is fine but nobody mentions the shared taxis (heiche) that run fixed routes around town for like 5 kuai, they're everywhere near the market. for the surrounding sights i'd skip buses entirely and just hire a driver for the day, way easier than figuring out schedules.