Henan

I spent a week in Henan and was blown away by how much history is packed into one province. Zhengzhou was my base and it's a no-nonsense city with great museums. The Henan Museum alone is worth the trip—the bronze vessels and jade burial suit are incredible. I also hired a driver to take me out to the Yellow River embankment and it was humbling to stand there. The people I met were incredibly welcoming, and the food, especially the braised noodles in Zhengzhou, was hearty and unforgettable. Five stars, absolutely.

Kaifeng stole my heart. I honestly didn't know much about it before going, but the old city walls and narrow lanes are so atmospheric. The night market at the Drum Tower is insane—steaming dumplings, candied hawthorns, spicy grilled squid, and this crispy pancake thing I still think about. Everyone was so friendly, and watching the morning tai chi by the city moat was peaceful. If you want a more laid-back and authentic Henan experience, skip the big sights for a day and wander Kaifeng.

I came to Luoyang in April mainly for the peony festival and it did not disappoint. The peonies in the national peony garden are absolutely unreal—huge blossoms, every color, and the smell was subtle and sweet. I also visited the Longmen Grottoes at sunset and it was magical with fewer crowds. The city itself is easy to navigate and the local noodle soup at a little shop near my hotel was one of the best bowls I've ever had. Henan surprised me and I would definitely come back.

Shaolin Temple was the reason I came to Henan and I'm glad I did. The monastery grounds are beautiful and the mountains behind it are stunning. Watching the monks practice martial arts right there in the courtyard felt surreal. The only thing keeping this from a 5 is how touristy it has become—endless souvenir stalls and tour groups pushing through. Also, the kung fu show felt a little too choreographed for tourists. Still, the history and energy of the place are worth it.

Longmen Grottoes is undeniably impressive, but honestly I left a bit underwhelmed. The sheer scale of the Buddha carvings is amazing, but the site was so packed that you could barely move on the walkways. There were also several sections fenced off for restoration, so I couldn't see some of the caves up close. I came in July and the heat plus humidity made it exhausting. Wish there were more shaded rest areas and clearer signage. Maybe I expected too much, but the experience didn't match the hype for me.

I really wanted to love the Shang Dynasty ruins in Zhengzhou, but honestly, there's not much to see. The site is basically a large empty field with a few replica walls and some informational boards that are badly weathered. The museum next door has interesting artifacts, but the overall experience felt underwhelming given the historical importance. If you're short on time, I'd skip this and head straight to Luoyang or Kaifeng instead.