Skip to main content

Henan Province Attractions

Iron Pagoda Park

Erected strikingly in the Iron Pagoda Park, the Iron Pagoda in northeast of Kaifeng in Henan Province has attracted renown as the best pagoda in China for its superb construction and elegance. Built in 1094 in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the pagoda is the most eye-catching element of the park....

Erected strikingly in the Iron Pagoda Park, the Iron Pagoda in northeast of Kaifeng in Henan Province has attracted renown as the best pagoda in China for its superb construction and elegance. Built in 1094 in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the pagoda is the most eye-catching element of the park.

From the name one might assume that the pagoda was made of iron. In fact it is built completely of glazed bricks. However, from a distance the pagoda appears to be made of iron due to the color of the bricks.

The thirteen-layered, octagonal pagoda is over 55 meters (180.4 feet) high. The unique construction uses bricks but follows a design of wooden pagodas. Apertures, tenons, gouges and slots on the bricks are assured different parts to be joined securely. These firm joints have enabled the pagoda to survive earthquakes, flood and destructive human efforts for over 900 years.

The glazed-bricks on the surface layer are exquisitely engraved. More than 50 distinct patterns are used, such as figures of Buddha and Bodhisattva, different flowers, and lions and kylins, to name just a few. Each pattern is of a high artistic standard show excellent craftsmanship. The steps of the brick stair spiral to the top from where you can enjoy a view of the whole city.

This pagoda has intrigued visitors from home and overseas for a long time. It was placed on the list of major historic and cultural sites under state protection in 1961.

Henan Province Articles

Top Henan Province Tours

$300 Per Day

Luoyang Day Tour

Details:
Pick up from your hotel or train station in Luoyang. Have one day excursion tour to the Shaolin Temple. Shaolin Temple is located in the Songshan Mountains, 80 km south-east of Luoyang.

Shaolin Temple was established in 495AD by Emperor Xiaowen in Beiwei Dynasty for the purpose of housing the famous Indian monk, Batuo, who came to Luoyang, the ancient capital for spreading Buddhism at that period. Emperor Xiaowen was a dedicated believer of Buddhism so he decided to construct the temple at the foot of the Songshan Mountains to welcome Batuo, who translated many Buddhist documents and had several hundred followers there.ir capital from Datong to Luoyang at the end of the 5th century. Now Shaolin Temple is reputed as the Number One Temple under Heaven which was listed as UNESCO’s World Cultural & Natural Heritage List in 2010 as part of the "Historic Monuments of Dengfeng.

 

Outside the temple and move on to the next big attraction – Pagoda Forest, a graveyard for the monks through the ages.

 

The Kung Fu Show is performed by the professinal performance team from Shaolin Tagou Kung Fu School. Shaolin Kung fu is the most influential martial arts schools in China. In the less than half performance, you will see “Shaolin Boxing” and “Shaolin Stick” typical of Shaolin Kungfu.End of service, transferred back to Luoyang.

$300 Per Day

11-day Silk Road Adventure Tour

Day 1 Arrive in Xi`an
Morning:Arrive in Xi`an.After accomodating at your hotel,have a city tour to the Ancient City Wall,which is the best-kept and biggest city walls in China.
Day 2 Xi`an
Morning:The highlight of your tour today is the 'Eighth Wonder' of the world, Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, which is a huge underground military museum constructed as an accessory pit of Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum.A English-speaking guide is necessary for you to understand the greatness of the Terracotta Warriors.
Afternoon:In the afternoon, visit the Bell Tower and one of the landmarks of Xi`an, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Originally built to collect Buddhist scriptures, now the pagoda has been a symbol of this ancient capital city.
Evening:Enjoy a marvelous Tang Dynasty Dinner Show at the Tang Dynasty Palace.
Day 3 Lanzhou,Xiahe
Take a flight in the morning from Xi`an to Lanzhou,which takes only one hour.After arriving in Lanzhou,drive to Xiahe County (the county is very beautiful and is nicknamed the "small Tibet"), where you will visit the Songke Grasslands (aka Sanke Grasslands) and theLabrang Lamasery. It takes about three and half hours from Lanzhou to Xiahe.

The Mogao Grottoes
Day 4 Dunhuang
Return to Lanzhou and take a flight from Lanzhou to Dunhuang at around 1:40 pm,after one and 40 mins you will arrive in Dunhuang.In the afternoon,pay a visit to the Mogao Grottoes.There are about 30 caves open to the public, and a English-speaking guide is quite necessary for you to understand the history behind the murals.
Day 5 Dunhuang
Ride camel to the Echoing-Sand Mountain and the Crescent Lake.Crescent Spring (Yueya Quan) is in theEchoing-Sand Mountain (Mingsha Shan), 6 km (4 mi) south of Dunhuang. It is an oasis in the desert. Riding a camel on the desert of the Echoing-Sand Mountain is a great experience. You can enjoy the beautiful wavy shapes of the smooth yellow dunes against the deep blue sky, and imagine you are traveling the ancient Silk Road.
After the day sightseeing, be transferred to the Liuyuan Railway Station for the overnight train to Turpan.The train from Dunhuang to Turpan takes around 11 hours.(Train No. 1043 Dep 20:15 - Arr 04:46)
Day 6 Turpan
Explore the unique irrigation project -Karez Wells.This irrigation system of wells connected by underground channels is considered to be one of the three great ancient projects in China.
Then come to visit the Ruins of the Ancient City of Jiaohe, which is a good vantage point for seeing the surrounding landscape of vineyards and orchards followed by desert and mountains.Later come to the Grape Valley. Lastly, pass through the Flaming Mountain, the temperature of the surface of the mountain can reach as high as 70 degree celsius.

The Heavenly Lake (Tian Chi)
Day 7 Urumqi
Take a train from Turpan to Urumqi,which takes about 2 and half hours.Take a bus from the People`s Park to the  Heavenly Lake (Tian Chi),a beautiful blue mountain lake finely contrasted with steep forested hills, high meadows and snowy Heavenly Mountain peaks behind.There you can walk, take electric carts, cable cars and a boat cruise on the lake.

Day 8 Urumqi
Visit the beautiful Nanshan Pasture (aka the Nanshan Grassland),
Return to the downtown of Urumqi in the afternoon and go shopping in the International Grand Bazaar.There are a mind-boggling array of international and Chinese goods including Uyghur hand-made carpets,Russian woodcarvings,silverware from the United Arab Emirates, various dried fruits and nuts,etc.
Day 9 Kashgar
Morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Kashgar. Be met and checked into the hotel. Then visit the Sunday Bazaar and the Id Kah Mosque( (艾提尕尔 or aiti gaer in Chinese),which is regarded as the biggest mosque in China. Then visit the Apak Hoja Tomb - a tomb of the descendants of an Islamic sage

The Id Kah Mosque  (艾提尕尔 or aiti gaer in Chinese)
Day 10 Kashgar
After breakfast, take a visit to the beautiful Lake Karakuli,a sparking glacial lake located at the foot of "the Father of Glaciers" – Muztagata Mountains. A railway connnecting China with Pakistan goes by the lake. The lake is famous for its beautiful scenery and clarity. Colors of its water range from light to dark under reflection.
Return to the downtown of Kashgar and visit the old town of the city.
Day 11 Urumqi Departure
Take a train from Kashgar to Urumqi and take a flight from Urumqi to your next destination.

$75 Per Day

Luoyang Shaolin One Day Private Tour

Pick up from your hotel or train station in Luoyang. Have one day excursion tour to the Shaolin Temple. Shaolin Temple is located in the Songshan Mountains, 80 km south-east of Luoyang.

Shaolin Temple was established in 495AD by Emperor Xiaowen in Beiwei Dynasty for the purpose of housing the famous Indian monk, Batuo, who came to Luoyang, the ancient capital for spreading Buddhism at that period. 

Emperor Xiaowen was a dedicated believer of Buddhism so he decided to construct the temple at the foot of the Songshan Mountains to welcome Batuo, who translated many Buddhist documents and had several hundred followers there capital from Datong to Luoyang at the end of the 5th century. 

Now Shaolin Temple is reputed as the Number One Temple under Heaven which was listed as UNESCO’s World Cultural & Natural Heritage List in 2010 as part of the "Historic Monuments of Dengfeng. Outside the temple and move on to the next big attraction – Pagoda Forest, a graveyard for the monks through the ages.

The Kung Fu Show is performed by the professinal performance team from Shaolin Tagou Kung Fu School. Shaolin Kung fu is the most influential martial arts schools in China. In the less than half performance, you will see “Shaolin Boxing” and “Shaolin Stick” typical of Shaolin Kungfu. End of service, transferred back to Luoyang.