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Best Food in Shangqiu (2026)
Shangqiu is famous for its savory Hu spicy soup (θ‘θΎ£ζ±€) and crispy sesame seed cakes (η§ι₯Ό). For a true local breakfast, pair a bowl of steaming hu la tang with a freshlyβ¦ π Must-Try Local Dishes
Shangqiu is famous for its savory Hu spicy soup (θ‘θΎ£ζ±€) and crispy sesame seed cakes (η§ι₯Ό). For a true local breakfast, pair a bowl of steaming hu la tang with a freshly baked sesame cake from the morning stalls near the train station. Another specialty is the Shangqiu-style braised chicken (ιε£η§ιΈ‘), which is tender and flavorful, best enjoyed at a dedicated restaurant.
π₯ Best Dumpling Spots
For handmade dumplings, head to Lao Beijing Dumpling House (θεδΊ¬ι₯Ίει¦) at 123 Minzhu Road, where a plate of 20 pork-and-chive dumplings costs around 18 RMB. Another excellent choice is Xianghe Dumpling King (η₯₯ει₯Ίεη) on Shenli Avenue, known for its juicy shrimp dumplings at 25 RMB per serving. Both are open from 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM daily.
π’ Street Food Hotspots
The night market on Huayuan Street (θ±εθ‘ε€εΈ) is the epicenter of Shangqiu street food, with dozens of stalls selling grilled skewers, stinky tofu, and fried dough sticks. Try the lamb skewers at stall #17, which are seasoned with cumin and chili, costing 2 RMB each. The market is busiest from 6:00 PM to midnight, and most vendors accept cash or mobile payments.
π² Top Noodle Houses
For a hearty bowl of hand-pulled noodles, visit Lanzhou Lamian (ε °ε·ζι’) at 88 Kaixuan Road, where a beef noodle soup costs 12 RMB. Another local favorite is Shaxian Snacks (ζ²εΏε°ε) on Yingbin Avenue, offering a variety of noodle soups and steamed dumplings for under 20 RMB. Both are clean, fast, and popular with locals.
π° Sweet Treats and Bakeries
Don't miss the traditional osmanthus cake (ζ‘θ±η³) from the old town bakery at 45 Zhongshan Street, selling for 5 RMB per piece. For modern desserts, Sweet Dream Bakery (ηθζ’¦ηη) on Changjiang Road offers excellent egg tarts and cream puffs, with prices ranging from 8 to 15 RMB. They open at 8:00 AM and close at 9:00 PM.
πΊ Evening Dining and Bars
For a sit-down dinner, try the Shangqiu Grand Hotel Restaurant (εδΈε€§ι εΊι€ε ) at 1 Shenli Avenue, serving local classics like braised fish and stir-fried vegetables, with mains averaging 40-60 RMB. After dinner, head to the Beer Street (ε€ι θ‘) on Wenhua Road, where outdoor stalls offer draft beer for 10 RMB per glass and grilled seafood until late. It's a lively spot to mingle with locals.
π΅ Budget and Price Tips
Most street food items cost between 2 and 15 RMB, while a full meal at a mid-range restaurant runs 30 to 60 RMB per person. Always carry small bills for street vendors, as many do not accept cards. Mobile payment apps like WeChat Pay and Alipay are widely accepted at established restaurants and shops.
π Getting to Food Areas
The city center and night markets are easily reachable by bus routes 1, 2, and 3, which all pass through the main dining districts. Taxis are also affordable, with most trips within the city costing under 15 RMB. For the Huayuan Street night market, take bus 2 to the Huayuan Street stop and walk two blocks east.
solid write-up, i'd add that the sesame seed cakes at the morning stalls are best eaten within 10 minutes of coming out of the oven, they go stale fast. if you're near the old north gate around 7am there's a cart that does them with a thin layer of sugar inside, 2 rmb each, pairs way better with the hu spicy soup than the plain ones. also the braised chicken at daokou is good but the real move is the smoked tofu skewers at the beer street on wenhua road, 1 rmb each and they soak up the draft beer perfectly
the hu spicy soup at the morning stalls near the train station is legit, but if you want a less crowded spot try the one on jiefang road just past the old theater - same guy's been making it for 15 years and he adds extra pepper flakes if you ask nice. also worth mentioning the fried dough sticks at stall #17 on huayuan street are actually better than the lamb skewers imo, they're lighter and crispier than most places, 1 rmb each and they sell out by 8pm. for a quick lunch the shaxian snacks on yingbin avenue does a mean fried rice noodle with egg for 10 rmb that beats their noodle soups
nice list, one thing i'd add is the liangpi (cold skin noodles) at a little stall on shenli avenue just past the xianghe dumpling king. it's not on any map but there's a woman in a yellow apron who makes it fresh, 6 rmb a bowl with cucumber and bean sprouts, perfect for hot afternoons. also if you're doing the beer street thing, skip the draft beer and grab a bottle of laoshan cola instead, it's a local soda that cuts through the grease way better and costs 3 rmb
3 Days in Shangqiu: Itinerary 2026
Begin your trip at the Shangqiu Railway Station, which connects to major cities like Zhengzhou (1.5 hours by high-speed train). From there, take bus 1 or a taxi to the city centeβ¦ πΊοΈ Where to Start
Begin your trip at the Shangqiu Railway Station, which connects to major cities like Zhengzhou (1.5 hours by high-speed train). From there, take bus 1 or a taxi to the city center, where most attractions are clustered. The central area around Huayuan Road is walkable and has many budget hotels.
ποΈ Day 1: Ancient Sites
Start at the Shangqiu Ancient City (εδΈε€ε), a Ming-era walled city with free entry. Spend the morning exploring the South Gate and the Confucian Temple (open 8:00-17:30). For lunch, try local dishes like shaobing at a restaurant near the North Gate, where prices average 20-30 CNY per person.
π³ Day 1 Afternoon: Parks
After lunch, walk to the nearby Yingtian Academy (εΊε€©δΉ¦ι’), a historic Song dynasty school with a peaceful garden (admission 30 CNY). Then head to the Shangqiu People's Park (δΊΊζ°ε ¬ε) for a relaxing stroll among locals. Both sites are within a 15-minute walk of each other.
π Day 1 Evening: Night Market
End the day at the Huayuan Night Market (θ±εε€εΈ), open from 18:00 to 23:00. Try grilled skewers and spicy noodles, with most items costing 5-15 CNY. The market is a 10-minute taxi ride from the city center, or you can take bus 2.
π― Day 2: Cultural Highlights
Start at the Shangqiu Museum (εδΈεη©ι¦), located at 1 Huayuan Road, free entry and open 9:00-17:00 (closed Mondays). It houses artifacts from the Shang dynasty. Then take bus 3 (20 minutes) to the Zhuangzi's Hometown (εΊεζ ι), a temple complex dedicated to the philosopher, with a 40 CNY entrance fee.
ποΈ Day 2 Afternoon: Shopping
Return to the city center and explore the Pedestrian Street (ζ₯θ‘θ‘) on Kaixuan Road, lined with shops and snack stalls. Bargaining is common at the nearby Yuhua Market (ηεεΈεΊ) for souvenirs like local paper-cuttings. Allow 2 hours for browsing.
π Day 3: Day Trip Options
Take a 40-minute bus (line 5, 5 CNY) to the Mangdang Mountain Scenic Area (θη ε±±ζ―εΊ), which features Han dynasty tombs and a 50-meter-tall statue of Liu Bang. Entry is 60 CNY, and the site opens at 8:00. Return by 16:00 to catch a high-speed train if you're leaving that evening.
π‘ Local Tips
Most attractions close by 17:30, so plan your mornings well. Taxis start at 7 CNY, and buses cost 1-2 CNY. Carry cash as some small vendors don't accept cards. Download a translation app for menus, as English is not widely spoken outside hotels.
Nice work, this covers the essentials well. If you're around on a Sunday morning, there's a small antique market that sets up along the eastern wall of the ancient city, just past the South Gate. It's mostly old coins, Mao memorabilia, and random porcelain bits, but it's interesting to walk through and you'll see hardly any other tourists there. Also, for the Yingtian Academy, the garden in the back has a small pavilion where they sometimes have calligraphy demonstrations on weekends, no extra charge.
youve got a great base here, i've lived in shangqiu for two years and this covers most of it well. one thing that always trips people up is the ancient city wall itself, you can actually walk along the top of it for about 2 kilometers starting from the south gate, it's free and gives you a killer view of the old rooftops and the moat, most tourists just take photos from the bottom and move on. also for day 1 lunch, skip the restaurants right by the north gate, theyre overpriced, walk one block east to minzhu street where theres a hole-in-the-wall place with a faded red sign that does an incredible liangpi (cold noodles) for 8 CNY, theyve been there since the 90s. and if you end up at the night market, the grilled skewers are fine but the real move is the boiled dumplings from the cart near the entrance with the blue umbrella, they do a chive and egg filling that's way better than the meat ones
this is a nice itinerary, captures the main spots well. if you're there on a weekend, the morning market near the south gate of the ancient city is worth waking up for, it's mostly locals selling produce and snacks and there's a guy who does these sesame flatbreads with a thin layer of sugar inside, like 1.5 CNY each. also for day 2, the pedestrian street is fine but the Yuhua Market is mostly knockoffs and tourist stuff, i'd skip it unless you're desperate for a souvenir and stick to the museum and zhuangzi's hometown, that temple complex has a really quiet courtyard in the back that nobody mentions