Kaifeng, You Feel Like a Stranger to Me. Must-Visit Spots in Kaifeng

Budget Travel Guide for Girls: A Trip to Kaifeng | Travel Through the Millennial Bianliang City, Dreaming of the Grandeur of the Song Dynasty**

---

### **🏯 Must-Visit Attractions**

**1. Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden (5A Scenic Spot)**
- **Highlights**: An immersive Song Dynasty cultural theme park based on the *Along the River During the Qingming Festival* painting, featuring all-day live performances!
- **Must-See Shows**:
✅ **"Yue Fei Defeats Prince Xiao Liang"** (Epic horse battle with stunning special effects)
✅ **"Dream of the Prosperous Song Dynasty"** (Nighttime water-based live show, highly recommended!)
- **Experiences**: Stroll in Hanfu costumes, savor Song Dynasty delicacies at "Sun Yang Zheng Dian," and take a canal boat ride.

**2. Kaifeng Prefecture (4A Scenic Spot)**
- **Highlights**: The foremost government office of the Northern Song Dynasty, where Judge Bao served. Daily "Opening Ceremony" performance at 9:00 AM.
- **Activities**:
📜 Watch the *Judge Bao Hears a Case* reenactment
🏛️ Snap a photo under the "Upright and Honest" plaque and experience ancient judicial culture

**3. Daxiangguo Temple**
- **History**: One of China's top ten famous temples, where Lu Zhishen once became a monk!
- **Attractions**: Thousand-Hand and Thousand-Eye Guanyin wooden carving, Buddhist music performances (on the 1st and 15th of the lunar month)

**4. Longting Park**
- **Highlights**: Ruins of six dynasties' imperial palaces. Climb the Longting Hall for a panoramic view of Pan and Yang Lakes.
- **Best Time to Visit**: During the October Chrysanthemum Festival, when the city is bathed in golden blooms!

**5. Iron Pagoda Park (Kaibao Temple Pagoda)**
- **Legend**: The 900-year-old "First Pagoda Under Heaven," standing strong through wars and floods.
- **Night Tour**: The pagoda under the light show is magical—perfect for photos!

---

### **🍜 Kaifeng Food Guide**
- **Must-Try Snacks**:
1️⃣ **Soup Dumplings** (Try "Huang Family Old Shop"—first poke a hole, then sip the soup)
2️⃣ **Carp with Noodles** (Sweet and sour Yellow River carp + dragon beard noodles, a Song Dynasty royal dish)
3️⃣ **Mutton Pancake** (Crispy and fragrant, a must-buy at Gulou Night Market)
4️⃣ **Almond Tea** (Lotus root starch + almonds + nuts, sweet and warming)
- **Night Market Picks**:
🌃 **Gulou Night Market** (Iconic but slightly pricier)
🌃 **Xisi Night Market** (Locals' favorite—try "Zhou’s Almond Tea" and "Zhang’s Stir-Fried Liangfen")

---

### **📅 Itinerary Suggestions**
- **One-Day Highlights**:
Morning: Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden → Lunch: Soup dumplings
Afternoon: Kaifeng Prefecture → Daxiangguo Temple → Evening: Gulou Night Market
- **Two-Day In-Depth Tour**:
Day 2: Longting Park → Iron Pagoda Park → Shan-Shaan-Gan Guild Hall → Xisi Night Market

---

### **💡 Travel Tips**
- **Transportation**: Attractions are concentrated downtown—taxis or shared e-bikes are convenient.
- **Accommodation**: Stay in Longting or Gulou District for easy night exploration.
- **Best Season**: Spring and autumn (April-May, September-November)—avoid summer heat.
- **Hidden Gems**:
🔥 Night tour of Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden (lights + shows, less crowded)
🎭 Catch a Yu Opera performance (*Judge Bao* plays are classics)

---

**✨ Kaifeng: A City Living in *The Eastern Capital: A Dream of Splendor***
When night falls and the lanterns light up Gulou Night Market, it feels like stepping back into the golden age of "Bianjing, the unrivaled splendor under heaven."

---

**Need more Song Dynasty cultural experiences/family-friendly activities/day trips? Let me know how to tailor this guide!**