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Things to Do in Shangqiu (2026)
Start at the Shangqiu Ancient City, a well-preserved Ming and Qing dynasty walled city. The South Gate and North Gate are the main entry points, and you can walk the entβ¦ ποΈ Explore Ancient History
Start at the Shangqiu Ancient City, a well-preserved Ming and Qing dynasty walled city. The South Gate and North Gate are the main entry points, and you can walk the entire 4-kilometer wall for free. Inside, visit the Huaiyang Confucian Temple, which dates back to the Song dynasty and offers a peaceful courtyard.
ποΈ Shop at Local Markets
Head to the Shangqiu Antique Market on Shengli Road, open daily from 8 AM to 6 PM, for vintage ceramics and calligraphy. For fresh produce and street food, the Dongguan Morning Market (5 AM to 10 AM) is a must. Bargaining is expected, so start at half the asking price.
π Taste Local Cuisine
Try the famous Shangqiu Roast Duck at Laozhang Roast Duck Restaurant on Minzhu Street, where a whole duck costs around 80 RMB. For a quick snack, sample the crispy Huimian noodles at Wangji Noodle House on Zhongshan Road, open from 11 AM to 9 PM. Don't miss the local specialty, spicy tofu pudding, sold by street vendors near the ancient city.
π³ Relax in Parks
Shangqiu People's Park on Yingbin Road is a large green space with a lake and walking paths, perfect for a morning stroll. Entry is free, and the park is open from 6 AM to 10 PM. For a quieter escape, visit the Shangqiu Forest Park, 10 kilometers south of the city center, which has shaded trails and picnic areas.
π Getting Around
Public buses cost 1-2 RMB per ride and cover most attractions, but they can be crowded. Taxis start at 7 RMB and are easy to hail in the city center. For a more local experience, rent a bicycle from shops near the train station for about 20 RMB per day.
π Best Evening Spots
As dusk falls, the ancient city walls are illuminated, creating a magical atmosphere for an evening walk. Head to the Shangqiu Night Market on Kaixuan Road, open from 6 PM to midnight, for grilled skewers and live music. For a quieter night, the rooftop bar at the Shangqiu International Hotel offers views of the city skyline.
π Cultural Performances
Catch a traditional Henan Opera performance at the Shangqiu Grand Theater on Shenli Road, with tickets starting at 50 RMB. Shows typically run on weekends at 7:30 PM. For a more intimate experience, visit the local teahouse on Minzhu Street, where folk musicians perform nightly from 8 PM.
π‘ Insider Tips
Visit the ancient city early in the morning (before 9 AM) to avoid crowds and see locals practicing tai chi. Many attractions offer half-price admission for students with a valid ID. Download the Didi app for convenient ride-hailing, as English is not widely spoken outside major hotels.
the guide nails it for the most part. one thing i'd add is that if you're into photography, the east gate of the ancient city has the best light around 4pm in winter, the shadows on the old brick walls are incredible. also, the forest park is nice but it's a bit of a trek, i'd skip it if you only have a day and just do the ancient city and the night market instead. the spicy tofu pudding vendors near the south gate are my favorite, the old lady with the cart has been there for years and her chili oil is homemade, ask for extra on top
honestly this is a really thorough guide, good work. one thing i'd add is the little dumpling place on Wenming Road just east of the ancient city, no english sign but they do these amazing pan-fried pork buns for like 6 RMB a basket. they're only open for breakfast though, 6 to 9 AM, and the line moves fast
also for the night market on Kaixuan, my move is to grab a seat at the stall with the red lanterns near the south end, the guy does lamb skewers with cumin and chili that are way better than the ones closer to the street. bring cash though, most of those stalls don't take WeChat
This is a solid guide. I'd add that the Shangqiu Museum near the south gate of the ancient city is worth an hour and it's free, just bring your ID. They have a good collection of Han dynasty artifacts that most visitors skip. The roast duck at Laozhang is legit, but I'd call ahead around 11 AM to reserve one because they sell out by 1 PM most days.
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