5 Days in Kaifeng
Five days of the stacked capital: the 1998 scroll park, the 555 temple and Bao Zheng's 999-1062 court, the 1049 Iron Pagoda beside the 974 Po Pagoda, a lantern river cruise, and print-making Zhuxian.
Quick Answer
Is 5 days enough for Kaifeng?
5 days is the sweet spot for Kaifeng: enough time for the must-sees plus one day trip or food/rest day.
Source: NihaoVisit Kaifeng guide
5-day Kaifeng itinerary at a glance
Use our full Kaifeng travel guide as the base and adapt it to 5 days. Keep the city's three signature attractions as the backbone; fill the rest with neighborhood walks, food markets, and an easy day trip.
Longting lakes & the scroll in 3D
The Pan and Yang lakes over the buried 960-1127 palace, then the 1998 park where Zhang Zeduan's 5.28-metre scroll is staged with costumed parades and a lake show.
- kaifeng longting park
- kaifeng millennium city park
Temple, site & night market
The 555-founded temple with its 7-metre wooden Guanyin, the 2022-excavated Zhou Bridge with Song-to-Ming strata, and soup dumplings under the Drum Tower lights.
- kaifeng daxiangguo temple
- kaifeng zhouqiao site
- kaifeng drum tower night market
The magistrate & the lantern river
Morning case re-enactments at Bao Zheng's (999-1062) rebuilt court, the 1990s Yang-family residence, then an evening cruise on the lantern-lit canal that links the city's lakes.
- kaifeng fu
- kaifeng tianbo yang mansion
- kaifeng imperial river cruise
Two pagodas & a Yuan pavilion
The 55.88-metre glazed pagoda of 1049 over 13 storeys, the squat hexagonal Po Pagoda of 974 — the city's oldest building — and the Yuan-era Jade Emperor Pavilion in its courtyard temple.
- kaifeng iron pagoda
- kaifeng po pagoda
- kaifeng yanqing temple
Zhuxian Town & departure
A day trip south inside the prefecture: one of China's four famed ancient towns, workshops still pulling Song-style New Year prints, and the temple to Yue Fei's 1140 victory before the HSR home.
- kaifeng zhuxian town
- kaifeng yuefei temple
Budget for 5 days in Kaifeng
| Tier | Per day | 5 days total |
|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | USD $50–$80 | USD $250–$400 |
| Mid-range | USD $100–$200 | USD $500–$1,000 |
| Luxury | USD $300+ | USD $1,500+ |
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Frequently asked questions
What is the daily budget for Kaifeng?
Do I need a visa to visit Kaifeng?
How do I get from the airport to the center of Kaifeng?
Can I use 5 days for both Kaifeng and a side trip?
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See also: Kaifeng travel guide, China visa 2026, China trip cost.