China (Kaifeng, Henan) May 2017

Kaifeng, Henan - an ancient capital of 3,000 years old ! Get ready CNY300-400 to budget for entrance fees as the popular tourist sites cost CNY30 - 120 per entry should you decide to enter all the sites ! However, senior citizens aged over 65+ are entitled for a 50% discount if you are able to present your passport to validate your birth year to the ticketing counter. 

Transport: The distance between Xi'an & Kaifeng is approx. 534km, so we opted for a high speed train (2nd class CNY260) departing Xi'an at 09.29 arriving Kaifeng at 11.30. The high speed trains travel at a speed of slightly over 300km per hr, the seat is pretty comfortable like sitting in a plane ! For our return journey, again we bought a high speed train ticket departing in the early afternoon so this gave us the entire morning to see a bit more on this ancient Kaifeng city !

1) Lord Bao Memorial (entrance fee CNY30, Seniors CNY15), Kaifeng. 

2) Lord Bao Lake, Kaifeng, Henan

3) Imperial River of Song Dynasty, Kaifeng, Henan

4) Daxiangguo Temple (Greater Xiangguo Temple), Kaifeng, Henan - a magnificent Buddhist temple built in the North Qi Dynasty (550-577) & rebuilt in 1992, entrance fee CNY45)

5) Ancient City Hall of Kaifengfu (entrance fee CNY64, Seniors CNY32), Henan

6) Tien Po Men, Kaifeng, Henan

7) Riverside Town, Kaifeng, Henan 

8) At the City Snack Street, Kaifeng, Henan

9) Song Temple Street, Kaifeng, Henan

10) Drum Tower, Kaifeng, Henan

11) China Garden, Kaifeng, Henan

12) Millennium City Park (Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden), Kaifeng (entrance fee CNY120, Seniors CNY60) - a large park themed on the history & culture of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), situated in the west bank of the Dragon Pavilion Lake; my visit just focused on the outer ring area as both of us decided not to buy the admission tickets ! 

13) Kaifeng Huaihuang International Youth Hostel, 51 Binjiang Road, Kaifeng - CNY150 for a double bunk bed room with bathroom attached. Online booking via Booking.com

13) Kai Feng Train Station, Henan

14) Kaifeng (High Speed) North Train Station