Henan-Itinerary 2012
Hi, I skipped all my former plans and will visit some sights in Henan together with some of the sights along the route coming from Beijing. My plan is now quite clear, I wonder, wether this is the right way to minimize the times on trains and busses. The numbers mean the days I have. The travelling-days (usually every second day) are also kind of a buffer because sometimes I probably will need only half day for travelling.1. Beijing to Tai'an by train or bus
2. Climb Taishan (probably only during the day, I never was very overwhelmed by the sunrises on mountains I have seen until now)
3. Continue to Kaifeng by train or bus
4. Kaifeng, especially the night market
5. Continue to Dengfeng by train or bus
6. Songshan roundtrekk
7. Shaolin Monastery
8. Continue to Luoyang by train or bus
9. Longmen caves
10. Continue to Guoliangcun (via Zhengzhou - Xinxiang - Hui Xian) by train/bus
11. Guoliangcun
12. Continue to Shijiazhuang by train or bus
13. Cangyan Shan (eventually together with the Stone village)
14. Continue to Wutaishan (Taihuai), don't know how, but according to the distance on the map it must be easily possible in one day on train/bus, any ideas?
15. Wutaishan
16. Wutaishan
17. Back to Beijing by train or bus
I still have two more buffer-days, which I probably will use for a trip to the Hukou-Falls (from Luoyang) or for another day at Guoliangcun or Shijiazhuang (trip to Zhengding).
Another possibility is, to use one day for a trip to Qufu.
To catch a train to Kaifeng, is it better from Tai'an or from Qufu? Right now I want to get one from Tai'an, but if Qufu is better I will not skip it and go there.
Thanks
1
I enjoyed a day in Qufu after climbing Taishan, but I'm interested in China's history and in the life and times of Confucius. If you aren't keen on such things, it might not be worth it to go there. Also Qufu wasn't physically demanding, so it gave my Taishan legs a rest.As you know, the two places are pretty close to each other.
2
I enjoyed climbing Mt Tai Shan (a very attractive walk with temples and pilgrims nearly all the way up). Overnighted at one of the hotels at the top and happily slumbered in bed whilst everybody dashed out for the sunrise. Yes - I've probably had more than enough disappointing sun rise experiences to last me a life time. Actually there was one sunrise that was fantastic and that was at the top of Kilimanjaro.I went to Kaifeng primarily for the night food market. It was quite good and there were interesting regional delicacies. However Kaifeng itself was the least interesting place I visited on a one month circuit that was very similar to yours.
Shaolin was more fun and interesting than I thought it would be. Thoroughly enjoyed the Longman Caves.
Wutai Shan was the absolute highlight of this particular trip that I did with husband a couple of years ago.
If you'd like to see my trip notes email me at renevandyk1@bigpond.com
