A Stroll Through Shangqiu｜Picking Up Fragments of a Thousand Years in the Folds of Time

A Stroll Through Shangqiu｜Picking Up Fragments of a Thousand Years in the Folds of Time

"One city witnessing five thousand years"—in the morning light of Shangqiu, stories more vivid than history books are hidden. This ancient city, gently embraced by the old course of the Yellow River, is like an open thread-bound book, each page filled with the secret whispers of time.

🌿 Must-Walk Time Paths

- Shangqiu Ancient City: Free to walk the city walls, 10 yuan to climb the tower. Wild grass growing between the bricks is the most vivid ring of the Ming city wall. Standing at Gongchen Gate, the grid-like streets are outlined like ink lines, and the gray tiles of the courtyard houses glow softly in the sunlight.
- Yingtian Academy: 30 yuan admission. One of the four great academies of the Northern Song Dynasty, the wind under the corridor sounds like the teacher lecturing, and the ginkgo leaves falling in the courtyard resemble the pages dropped by students back then.
- Mangdangshan Han Culture Scenic Area: Combined ticket 100 yuan. Enter the tomb of King Liang Xiao, where the chisel marks on the stone wall still carry the warmth of two thousand years ago. Climb Bao’an Mountain at dusk to see the sunset gild the Han tomb cluster, as if the carriages and guards are coming from the depths of history.
- Suihuang Mausoleum: 20 yuan admission. The birthplace of China’s first fire seed, the sacred fire altar in front of the statue of Suiren, where the flame flickers all year round, as if continuing to write the prologue of civilization.

🍲 Ancient City Flavors on the Tip of Your Tongue

- Shuijimo: The outer crust is crispy like amber, the inside soft with a honey fragrance. It is said to have been a royal tribute during the Ming and Qing dynasties. When bitten, you can hear the "crack" of time shattering.
- Zao Fish: Slow-cooked crucian carp from the old course of the Yellow River, with bones so tender they crumble, and fish meat carrying a slight drunkenness from the wine lees. Paired with a bowl of mixed grain porridge, it’s an authentic breakfast.
- Duozi Lamb: Thinly sliced as paper, rolled in a hot baked flatbread. The aroma of the meat mixed with sesame is the warmest comfort while wandering the streets.

🏡 Stay Inside the Story

- Choose a courtyard homestay inside the ancient city, such as "Guidefu Inn." At night, lying on the carved big bed, you can hear the bell of the Drum Tower shattering the moonlight.
- For a panoramic view, choose "Nanhu Hotel." Open the window to see the shimmering waves of Nanhu Lake reflecting the silhouette of the ancient city. When the morning mist rises, it looks like a living ink painting.

💡 Small but Important Tips

- Tricycles in the ancient city start at 5 yuan. The drivers tell old stories as they take you through the streets and alleys, warmer than navigation.
- It’s best to visit Mangdangshan in the morning to avoid the midday sun. When the hawthorn trees on the mountainside bear fruit, the red berries hang like little lanterns.
- Autumn is the best season to come. The reeds by the moat turn white, contrasting with the ancient city walls. Every snapshot is a moody masterpiece.

The romance of Shangqiu is that as you walk, you suddenly collide with history. Perhaps at some corner, you will encounter an old teahouse, where the sunlight on the bamboo chairs is no different from a thousand years ago☀️