10 Days in Bozhou

Settle in, then an evening loop of the Beiguan merchant lanes — courtyards, old shopfronts and street snacks close to the river side of town.

1. bozhou beiguan old street

The passage network under the old town is recorded at over 6,000 m, parts about 1,800 years old; walk the restored loop, then climb back up to the street-level exhibition.

1. bozhou caocao underground tunnel

The merchants' stage begun in 1656 — brick and wood carving across the façade, protected since 1988 — then an evening walk along the Guo River.

1. bozhou huaxilou
2. bozhou guohe riverfront

An early start among the herb sacks — more than 2,000 varieties trade here and the annual fair has run since 1985 — then the halls and herb garden of Huazu An.

1. bozhou herbal market
2. bozhou huazu temple

A quiet museum morning, paths under the park trees in the afternoon, and a medicinal-cuisine dinner in the market district.

1. bozhou city museum
2. bozhou caocao park

An honest cross-city day — HSR north about half an hour to Shangqiu, a neighboring city in Henan some 90 km away, for the walled town laid out in 1511 and a Northern Song great academy.

1. shangqiu ancient city
2. shangqiu yingtian academy

Back in town — a late market browse, a foot bath shop if the legs ask, and Beiguan teahouse time; the wholesale session winds down by late morning.

1. bozhou beiguan old street
2. bozhou herbal market

Two and a half hours south by road into neighboring Fuyang's Yingshang county for the 5A lake park of Balihe; start early and plan the return by evening.

1. fuyang balihe scenic area

One last wholesale morning — go before nine for the full trade floor — then the museum galleries you skipped and a packing afternoon.

1. bozhou herbal market
2. bozhou city museum

If the tunnel ticket allows a second entry, a short morning loop, then Bozhou South — the December 2019 HSR section runs to Hefei in under two hours.

1. bozhou caocao underground tunnel