How to Get to & Get around Henan

Located in the central plains of China, close to Beijing and Shanxi in the north, Xian in the west, Shanghai and Shandong in the east, Henan has always been an important transportation hub to connect most cities of China and even abroad.

Within Henan province, you can easily get to some top destinations like Luoyang (Longmen Grottoes), Dengfeng (Shaolin Temple), Zhengzhou and more other cities as well. Here we have provided you with detailed information about how to get to Henan and how to get to the main cities and attractions in Henan.

Henan Transportation Henan Location Map

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Get to Henan by Flight

If you are visiting Henan from relatively far-away cities like Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu, it is most recommended to travel by flight. There are five airports in Henan, among them Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport and Luoyang Beijiao Airport are most chosen because they have frequent flight schedules and close to main attractions in Henan.

Take Flight to Zhengzhou

Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport 郑州新郑国际机场 (IATA: CGO)

Location: Yingbin Avenue, Airport Economy Zone, Zhengzhou City, Henna Province, China 河南省郑州市航空港区迎宾大道; about 160 km from Luoyang, about 100 km from Dengfeng Shaolin Temple

Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport, located about 40 km from downtown Zhengzhou, is the only international airport in Henan and the most important air gateway to Henan and the central plains of China. It is one of the busiest hub airports that well links with Beijing (2h), Shanghai (2h) Guangzhou (2.5h), Shenzhen (2.5h), Chengdu (2h) and other major destinations of China and Tokyo, Seoul, Bangkok and some Asian cities. Zhengzhou Airport and Flights>>

Take Flight to Luoyang

Luoyang Beijiao Airport 洛阳北郊机场 (IATA: DAT)

Location: Mangshan, Laocheng District, Luoyang City (河南省洛阳市老城区邙山), about 12 km, 30 minutes’ drive to Luoyang downtown (Wangcheng Park); 26 km, 45 minutes’ drive to Longmen Grottoes; and 21 km, 40 minutes’ drive to Luoyang Longmen Railway Station.

Luoyang Beijiao Airport is built in 1985 and put into operation in 1987. As the only airport in Luoyang, it plays a significant role in connecting Luoyang with other cities in China such as Beijing (2h), Shanghai (2-2.5h), Chengdu (2h), Chongqing (1.5h), Guangzhou (2.5h), Shenzhen (2.5h), etc. Luoyang Airport and Flights>>

Other Airports in Henan

Xinyang Minggang Airport 信阳明港机场 (IATA: XAI) is in Xinyang City, about 275 km from Zhengzhou and 345 km from Luoyang. As of October 2020, it operates flights to/from 14 cities in China: Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing, Qingdao, Kunming, etc. Zhoukou Airport is still under construction and Shangqiu Airport is not for civil use.

Henan Transportation

Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport

Henan Transportation

Luoyang Beijiao Airport

Get to Henan by Train

With the increasingly complete railway network in China and the construction of high speed railways, it becomes very convenient to travel by train. Both Zhengzhou and Luoyang have high speed train stations and it saves a lot of time for tourists to travel to and around Henan.

Get to Zhengzhou by Train

Currently, Zhengzhou has 5 train stations already in use, including Zhengzhou Railway Station, Zhengzhou East Railway Station, Zhengzhou Xinzheng Airport Railway Station, Zhengzhou West Railway Station and Nanyangzhai Railway Station. The former two stations are frequently-used for travelers to/off Zhengzhou. By a high speed train of speed of 300-350 km/h, you can get to Zhengzhou from Luoyang (40 minutes), Beijing (2.5-3.5 hours), Shanghai (4-7 hours) or get from Zhengzhou to Kaifeng (20 minutes) and Jiaozuo (40 minutes) fast and conveniently.

Zhengzhou East Railway Station 郑州东站
Location: No.199, Xinyi Road, Jinshui District, Zhengzhou City 郑州市金水区心怡路199号, about 15 km/30 minutes’ drive to the downtown; 34 km/40 minutes’ drive to Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport; 150 km/2 hours’ drive to Luoyang Longmen Grottoes; 100 km/2.5 hours’ drive to Shaolin Temple; 100 km/1.5 hours’ drive to Yuntai Mountain in Jiaozuo.

Zhengzhou Railway Station 郑州站
Location: No.82, Erma Road, Erqi District, Zhengzhou City 郑州市二七区二马路82号, about 4 km/15 minutes’ drive to Zhengzhou city center; 140 km/2 hours’ drive to Luoyang Longmen Grottoes; nearly 100 km/2 hours’ drive to Shaolin Temple; 94 km/1 hour 20 minutes’ drive to Yuntai Mountain (Jiaozuo).

Useful Links: How to Get to Zhengzhou | Zhengzhou Railway Stations

Henan Transportation

Zhengzhou East Railway Station

Zhengzhou Train Schedules:

Get to Luoyang by Train

There are 5 train stations in Luoyang. Among them, Luoyang Longmen Railway Station for high speed train and Luoyang Railway Station for normal train are the main passenger railway stations.

Luoyang Longmen Railway Station (洛阳龙门站)
Location: NO.19 Tongqu Road, Luolong District, Luoyang City (河南省洛阳市洛龙区通衢路19号), about 11 km, 20 minutes’ drive to Luoyang downtown (Wangcheng Park), 5 km (15 minutes’ drive) to Longmen Grottoes, 21 km (35 minutes’ drive) to Luoyang Beijiao Airport.

Luoyang Longmen Railway Station mainly serves Luoyang high-speed trains on Xuzhou-Lanzhou High-speed Railway. Its construction has brought much convenience for tourists to Longmen Grottoes. It also has shortened the travel time greatly between Luoyang and main cities in China such as Beijing (4-4.5h), Xian (1.5-2h), Zhengzhou (40 min), etc.

Luoyang Railway Station (洛阳站)
Location: NO.1 Daonan Road, Xigong District, Luoyang City (河南省洛阳市西工区道南路1号). It’s in downtown area, about 20 km (35 minutes’ drive) from Longmen Grottoes, 9.5 km (30 minutes’ drive) from Luoyang Beijiao Airport.

Useful Links: How to Get to Luoyang | Luoyang Railway Stations

Henan Transportation

Luoyang Longmen Railway Station

Luoyang Train Schedules:

Get Around Zhengzhou

As the capital of Henan, Zhengzhou is equipped with five metro lines at present (October 2020) and more are under construction. It is quite convenient to get to Erqi Square, Wuyi Park, Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport and other sites or transportation hubs by metro. Buses cover a wider range in Zhengzhou but are time-consuming. Taxis are easy to find in Zhengzhou city and can save a lot of time for you.

Henan Transportation

Zhengzhou Metro

Get Around Luoyang

For independent travellers, the most common way to travel around Luoyang is by taxi or bus. More about How to get around Luoyang>>

Get to Longmen Grottoes: Longmen Grottoes is located in Longmen Town, Luolong District, about 15 km (30 minutes’ drive) to the south of Luoyang downtown, 5 km (15 minutes’ drive) to Luoyang Longmen Railway Station and 26 km (45 minutes’ drive) to Luoyang Beijiao Airport. Many buses in the city can take you to this famous site, but it is a little time-consuming. So you are more recommended to charter a car or take a taxi to Longmen Grottoes. More about How to Get to Longmen Grottoes>>

Henan Transportation

Longmen Grottoes Location Map

Get to Dengfeng (Shaolin Temple)

Shaolin Temple (少林寺) lies in Shaoshi Mountain of Mount Song Scenic Area, about 15 km northwest of Dengfeng City, Zhengzhou City, central Henan Province. It is located approximately 55 km from Luoyang, 90 km from Zhengzhou, and 425 km from Xian and 800 km from Beijing. Currently, there is no airport and train station near Shaolin Temple, therefore, the most convenient and cost-effective way to get to Shaolin Temple is taking bus from the Luoyang, Zhengzhou and Dengfeng. Travelers coming from destinations outside Henan can take flight or train (high speed bullet train is more recommended) to Luoyang and Zhengzhou first, and then transfer from the two popular gateways to Shaolin Temple easily. More about How to Get to Shaolin Temple>>

Henan Transportation

Shaolin Temple Location Map

Get to Kaifeng

Kaifeng, an ancient capital city of 4100 years old, has traditional Chinese culture. You can take a walk in the Millennium City Park, watch a Yu Opera, or attend a chrysanthemum exhibition here. At present, there is no airport in Kaifeng and most tourists get to Kaifeng from Zhengzhou and other places in Henan Province by bus, train, or by private driving. If you want to take flight to Kaifeng, you’re suggested to fly to Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport in Zhengzhou first, and then take a bus or fast intercity train (for 1 hour) from the airport to Kaifeng directly.

Henan Transportation

Zhengzhou to Kaifeng Intercity Train

Get to Yuntai Mountain

Yuntai Mountain is a UNESCO World Geopark in Henan Province. It shows its unique natural beauty with virgin forest and various waterscape to appreciate. It is located in Xiuwu County, Jiaozuo City, Henan Province (河南省焦作市修武县), about 95 km away from Zhengzhou City, 175 km away from Luoyang City, and 35 km away from Jiaozuo City. Most tourists choose to travel from Zhengzhou and Luoyang City because of their better-equipped transportation and worthy-visiting attractions. You can take long-distance buses or charter a car to Yuntai Mountain from Zhengzhou (2h) or Luoyang (2.5h). More about How to Get to Yuntai Mountain>>

Henan Transportation

Zhengzhou to Yuntai Mountain Map

Get to Guoliang Village

Guoliang Village is an ancient village nested in the cliffs of Taihang Mountains. It always gives the tourists a shock with its rugged terrain, beautiful scenery, fantastic waterscape, and most attractive tunnel which was honored as the Pearl in Taihang Mountains. Guoliang Village is located in the Wanxianshan Scenic Area, about 54 km to northwest Huixian City, 82 km to Xinxiang City and 172 km to Zhengzhou City. You can take a bus from Zhengzhou to Guoliang Village, which is about 2 hours, or take a high speed train (30 minutes) to Xinxiang and then transfer to a bus (30 minutes) to the village.

Henan Transportation

Great View from Guoliang Tunnel

How to Plan Your Henan Tour

Top Places to Visit in Henan: Shaolin Temple (Dengfeng), Longmen Grottoes & White Horse Temple (Luoyang), Yuntai Mountain (Jiaozuo), Guoliang Village (Xinxiang)…

Best Time to Visit Henan: April ~ May & September ~ November for most places; March ~ October for Shaolin Temple

How to Get to Henan: Take flight to Zhengzhou or high speed train to Zhengzhou and Luoyang from Beijing, Xian, etc.

As a cradle of Chinese civilization, Henan is a splendid land with innumerable cultural and historical legacies and natural sights. According to your time and personal interest and budget, your Henan tour can be flexibly arranged, from 2 days’ best highlights tour of Shaolin Temple and Luoyang to essence-packed trip within 1 week.

Usually, tourists spend 2 days visiting Luoyang and Shaolin Temple together and spending 1 day each, excluding the arrival day. This classic and popular travel route will bring you to visit Longmen Grottoes and White Horse Temple in Luoyang. And then transfer to Shaolin Temple directly; use 1 full day to realize your Chinese Kung Fu dream by visiting the birthplace of Shaolin Kung Fu and watching a Kung Fu show. (Kung Fu training class are available in some martial arts schools near Shaolin Temple, please contact us to get more reliable recommendations.) If you want to travel at a leisurely pace in Luoyang or Shaolin Temple, it’s suggested to have 1 to 2 more days to visit Luoyang Museum and other cultural relics in Luoyang, or try a short-term Shaolin Kung Fu training class around Shaolin Temple.

✔ 3 Days Shaolin Temple Longmen Grottoes Tour from Zhengzhou
✔ 3 Days Essence of Luoyang Tour

With 5 to 6 days and strong interests in Henan’s history, you can extend trip further from Zhengzhou to Kaifeng and Anyang - two famous Chinese ancient capitals. Making a day trip is the most common schedule for each place. If you would like to see gorgeous scenic spots in Henan, maybe you can have a day tour to Yuntai Mountain or Guoliang Village which both show amazing landform, green mountains and refreshing nature.

✔ 6 Days Henan Highlights Tour (Zhengzhou/Anyang/Kaifeng/Dengfeng/Luoyang)
✔ 5 Days Henan Cultural Tour to Luoyang and Kaifeng

Close distance, convenient transportation and inherited history make Beijing and Xian perfect matches of Henan. So you can capture more brilliant cultural heritages, like the Great Wall in Beijing, Terracotta Army in Xian. A popular Beijing tour needs 3 days while 2 days is suitable for Xian. To make your China trip more meaningful, interesting and memorable, you may travel Henan with more fabulous destinations, like Shanghai (the Bund, Yuyuan Bazzar…), Chengdu (Giant Panda, Jiuzhaigou, Mount Emei, Leshan Giant Buddha), Guilin (Li River, Longsheng Rice Terrace…) and so on.

✔ 5 Days Luoyang Shaolin Temple Tour from Xian
✔ 8 Days China Ancient Capitals Tour (Beijing/Luoyang/Xian)
✔ 12 Days Unforgettable Kung Fu Panda Tour
✔ 15 Days China Kung Fu Panda Family Tour

Dengfeng Shaolin Temple Tour Our Customers visited Pagoda Forest of Shaolin Temple Luoyang Longmen Grottoes Tour China Discovery Customized Luoyang Longmen Grottoes Tour Beijing Great Wall Tour Our American Tour Group Enjoyed Mutianyu Great Wall Tour in Beijing

Travel with China Discovery

China Discovery is an experienced, professional and a reliable travel companion devoted to offering high-quality and the best tour services for all travelers to China. In order to have a hassle-free travel and focus on the trip itself, it’s highly recommended travelling with China Discovery. So, you can enjoy convenient airport pick-up and drop-off service and transportation to all scenic spots in a safe, clean, comfortable, air-conditioned and non-smoking vehicle. Also, we will arrange knowledgeable local tour guide, excellent accommodation and dining arrangements to ensure you rest well and get better understanding of Buddhism, Shaolin Zen and Kung Fu culture of Henan. You may select a favorite from our most popular Henan tours or contact us to design a unique itinerary according to your personal time and preference.

We have helped many global travelers enjoy their memorable wonderful trips to Henan for the past few years. Among them, a couple from the UK traveled with us and spent 21 Happy Days in Luoyang, Dengfeng, Beijing, Xi'an and 5 Other Cities in Northern China, and shared us their special travel story!

Moreover, we got more than 1,820+ good reviews on TripAdvisor.com, and over 3,610+ China travel reviews from our customers. Travel with China Discovery to create your great China trip memories!

Recommended Henan Tours

Top 3 Henan tours chosen by most customers to explore Henan in the best way. Check the detailed itinerary, or tailor your own trip now with us.

Fabao Pavilion at White Horse Temple

3 Days Essence of Luoyang Tour

Luoyang / Dengfeng / Zhengzhou

 Our Client Mr. Pasquale visited Fengxian Temple, Longmen Grottoes

3 Days Shaolin Temple Longmen Grottoes Tour from Zhengzhou

Zhengzhou / Shaolin Temple / Luoyang

Grandiose ancient temples in Shaolin Temple

6 Days Henan Highlights Tour

Zhengzhou / Anyang / Kaifeng / Dengfeng / Luoyang

Start planning your tailor-made holiday to China by contacting one of our specialists. Once inquired, you’ll get a response within 0.5~23.5 hours.

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