1. Go Way, Way Back To The Birth Of China
A fascinating attraction for ancient history fans, Zhengzhou contains the ruins of the ancient Shang capital. The Shang dominated the Yellow River valley around 4,000 years ago, so we're dealing with some seriously old structures and, given their antiquity, there's plenty to see. Head to the eastern part of modern Zhengzhou to see the Shang walls in all of their glory, and what remains of probably the largest city in the world during its heyday. Then muse on the passing of time. There's no better place to do so.
2. An Invaluable Primer For Henan's History
Definitely the number one museum in Zhengzhou, the Henan Provincial Museum is famed for its distinctive pyramid structure, and is home to a vast collection of relics and artifacts, ranging from the Shang (and earlier) to the Chinese Revolution, much of which unfolded in the Henan region. If you're into handcrafted Chinese pots, golden flutes, and intricate Warring States period jewelry, the collections are exquisite. As of late 2017 most of the museum was in the middle of a brief refit, but was scheduled to reopen in 2018. Even so, the building and the open halls are worth exploring.
3. Get Happy At This Daoist Delight
Translated into English as the "City of God" temple, this is Zhengzhou's undisputed religious highlight. From the moment you set eyes on the Mountain Gate, this Daoist complex never ceases to delight, with its appropriately named "Happy Building", impressive main temple building, and galleries showing folk art by the people of Henan. It's also very much a living temple, hosting raucous popular festivals and markets on a regular basis, so you might get a lot more than a standard tour.
4. Zhengzhou's Buzzing Commercial Nexus
The heart of Zhengzhou, Erqi Square is the place to head for shopping and recreation. Getting there is easy. You can't miss the Erqi Memorial Tower, which commemorates a labor strike during the Chinese Revolution. When you get downtown, you'll be in the thick of Zhengzhou's commercial hub. Head down Renmin Road towards the Grand Shanghai City Mall, and you'll pass by plenty of electronics stores (after all, you're in the world's iPhone manufacturing capital). But there are plenty of noodle bars and dumpling kitchens around as well.
5. Observatories, Kick-Ass Monks, And Daoist Peace
Located around 40 miles southwest of Zhengzhou, Mount Song is out of the way, but definitely worth making the effort to visit. In the Daoist faith, Song is seen as one of the "five sacred peaks" in Daoism, but it's also home to some famous Zen Buddhists: the Kung Fu fighting Shaolin order of monks. You can visit their HQ to see them in action, but don't dally too long. The Zhongyue Temple is just as interesting, maybe more so, with its 1,300 year-old astronomical observatory, while the Songyang Academy and Songyuesi Pagoda are also must-sees.
