Things to do in Yanling

We visited the hot springs in Huadu with our family over the weekend and had a great experience in all aspects. The advertised area included a children's play area, which I highly recommend. The staff were very attentive, especially Aunt Xiaoli and Aunt Kenan, who helped us get water and tidy up our things. I'll definitely come back to try it next time. A brand new children's play area will be opening in mid-July; you should definitely bring your kids to experience it!

曹魏古城是在汉末曹魏都城许昌的基础上复建的古城景区，其中有各类吃喝玩乐的店铺，以及曹丞相府和春秋楼等景点，临近还有胖东来商业中心。总的来说，是许昌市区内的核心景区，大概可以花费一两天的时间进行游玩

Aside from inclement weather, there are some short shows in the evenings, with the program changing daily. When I went, it was raining, so there were no shows that evening. Day and night tickets are valid for multiple entries within a day.

Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden, a 5A-level scenic area, is located in Kaifeng, the ancient capital of eight dynasties. It is a large-scale historical and cultural theme park based on the famous Chinese painting "Along the River During the Qingming Festival," recreated at a 1:1 scale. It is the largest Song Dynasty-style architectural complex in the Central Plains region. Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden consists of eight functional areas and four cultural areas. The North Garden depicts the imperial gardens and court entertainment of the Song Dynasty (Figure 1). The palace landscape buildings within the garden are magnificent, with representative examples including Fuyun Pavilion (Figure 2), Mingchun Pavilion (Figure 3), and Shuangting Bridge (Figure 4). The South Garden recreates the daily life and folk customs of Bianjing (Kaifeng) during the Northern Song Dynasty. There are staff members dressed in Song Dynasty costumes traversing a main street that evokes a thousand years of history (Figure 5), a Tokyo Food Street showcasing local traditional cuisine (Figure 6), entertainment venues featuring Song Dynasty plays (Figure 7), and a Song-style courtyard with a traditional wall (Figure 8). Kaifeng is also a famous chrysanthemum viewing spot at home and abroad. Every autumn, thousands of chrysanthemums bloom in competition, vying for beauty (Figure 9).

It's very worthwhile, but it's also very crowded, which might slightly detract from the overall experience. However, the people are incredibly welcoming, and there are many beautiful spots for taking photos. The food is also affordable and inexpensive, which kids enjoy. I'll definitely go back when it's less crowded.

Overall, it's alright. It's mostly artificially renovated. We went on the first day of the Lunar New Year, and it started snowing shortly after we entered the scenic area, which made it a beautiful sight. In Xuchang, it's worth visiting historical sites. Although it lacks the hustle and bustle of a modern city, it has a low-key and understated historical weight, making it very suitable for family travel.

The price is quite reasonable. The main attractions are the performances and the interactive games with NPCs in the park where you can win silver tickets. I wouldn't recommend it when it's crowded. The "Three Attacks on Zhu Family Village" and "Iron Flower Show" require reservations after entering the park, which are quite difficult to book. Overall, it's okay.

It truly lives up to its reputation as a world-class tourist attraction; even in the off-season, it was packed with visitors. We spent 5-6 hours admiring the Buddha statues and enjoying the river views. The Xishan Grottoes, though not numerous, have their own unique charm. We didn't see much of the Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling villas at Xiangshan Temple, as we've seen plenty before 😓. Bai Juyi's tomb was serene, but unfortunately, the calligraphy was all done by Japanese people, so we didn't want to look at it. Longmen Ancient Street has many reputable brands, so it's worth a stroll.

I bought a 230 RMB Laojun Mountain package ticket, which was advertised to include a free beer, but the experience was significantly disappointing. The free gift had to be redeemed at a designated cultural and creative store, which was hard to find, the staff were unfriendly, and the redemption process was very cumbersome. I originally ordered the package because of the benefits, but the poor experience with the free gift made the overall value for money lower. I wouldn't recommend buying the package ticket just for the free gift.

YYDS is a less-visited attraction with good sightseeing potential. While it can't compare to Qingming Festival or Wansui Mountain, it's still a good place to spend half a day strolling and eating. It would be even better if more performances were added. The best time to visit is from 4 pm to evening for a night tour, where you can climb Qingxin Tower for a panoramic view of the entire scenic area! Come to Kaifeng and visit Kaifeng Prefecture! 🫶