More about hotels in Henan
Henan isn't the province most travellers picture first when they think of China, but it's one of the most historically loaded. This is the birthplace of Shaolin Kung Fu, home to a mountainside covered in centuries-old carved statues at the Longmen Grottoes, and the site of an ancient capital whose night markets have been feeding hungry crowds for over a thousand years. Zhengzhou, Luoyang, Kaifeng and Anyang each hold a different slice of that story, and each makes sense as a base depending on what you're here to see.
You don't need to pick just one city and stick with it. Henan's high-speed rail links Zhengzhou, Luoyang and Kaifeng in well under an hour each way, so plenty of visitors base themselves in one spot and day-trip to the rest. Here's where to look and what each city actually offers.
Bring an appetite too. Henan cuisine gets less attention than the coastal styles, but it's worth seeking out. Start the day the local way with a bowl of hu la tang, a thick, peppery breakfast soup sold from carts across the province. In Kaifeng, work through the Drum Tower night market for guantangbao, delicate soup dumplings served with a straw so you can drink the broth first. Luoyang goes further with its water banquet, a run of twenty-four courses that are almost all soup-based or braised, a Tang-dynasty tradition still served at a handful of old-town restaurants today.
Where to stay in Henan
Each of Henan's main cities suits a different kind of trip. Here's the quick version.
- Zhengzhou - the provincial capital and Henan's main transport hub, with the airport and the high-speed rail interchange. It's the easiest base if you're planning day trips out to Shaolin Temple. The monastery's training halls, its centuries-old carved stone tablets, and the kung fu academies training students in the surrounding hills are the real draw. See hotels in Zhengzhou.
- Luoyang - one of China's oldest capitals, and the closest city to the Longmen Grottoes. Over a thousand years of stone carvers worked this cliff face, and it's one of the country's great sculptural sites. Stay here if that's the main reason you're in Henan. See hotels in Luoyang.
- Kaifeng - the walkable, old-town pick. Former capital of the Northern Song dynasty, and still home to a night market scene that's been running for centuries. Come hungry. See hotels in Kaifeng.
- Anyang - the quieter option, built around the Yin ruins and Henan's oracle-bone script history. Good value if you'd rather skip the crowds. See hotels in Anyang.
How much is Henan accommodation?
Henan is genuinely affordable by Australian standards. Most travellers pay somewhere between AU$25 and AU$150 a night, depending on the city and the star rating. Zhengzhou carries the biggest range of international hotel chains, so it also carries the highest ceiling on price.
- Budget/Guesthouses - from around AU$25 a night. Basic, clean rooms, usually a short walk from a train or bus station.
- Mid-range/Business hotels - from around AU$55 a night. Reliable 3-star chains, common near the CBDs in Zhengzhou and Kaifeng.
- Boutique/4-star - from around AU$90 a night. More design-led properties, often in Zhengzhou's Jinshui district or close to Luoyang's Longmen area.
- Luxury/International chains - from around AU$150 a night. Think Hilton, Marriott and Sheraton-branded hotels with the full amenity list.
Top-rated hotels in Henan
- Le Méridien Zhengzhou - a design-forward five-star in the Jinshui business district, an easy taxi ride from Zhengzhou East high-speed rail station.
- JW Marriott Hotel Zhengzhou - a high-rise five-star also in Jinshui, right among the CBD's towers and malls.
- Luoyang Marriott Hotel - in Luolong district, the closest big international hotel to the Longmen Grottoes.
- DoubleTree by Hilton Kaifeng - in Longting, right in the old town near the Iron Pagoda and the Drum Tower night market stalls.
- Mercure Anyang Downtown - in Wenfeng, central Anyang and close to the Yin ruins museum.
Tips for finding the perfect accommodation in Henan
- Base yourself in Zhengzhou if Shaolin Temple and its kung fu schools are the priority. It's the transport hub, and Dengfeng and the Songshan mountains are a straightforward drive away.
- Staying in Luoyang means the Longmen Grottoes are a short trip rather than a full day excursion. Worth it if you want to get there early, before the coach groups arrive.
- If you're chasing Kaifeng's night markets, book something inside the old town rather than out in the newer suburbs. You want to be able to walk home after dinner, not queue for a taxi.
- Henan's high-speed rail makes single-city-per-night stays genuinely easy, so don't feel locked into one hotel for the whole trip.
- Spring is peak season around Luoyang, thanks to the city's long-running peony festival. Book that leg of the trip earlier than the rest.
