Planning a Trip

Getting There

The nearest major airport (tel. 0371/6851-9955) is at Zhengzhou. Frequent trains serve Kaifeng from Zhengzhou (40 min.), Xi'an (5 daily; 6 hr.), and Shanghai (6 daily; 11 hr.). Kaifeng's railway station is in the south part of town.

Buses run to Zhengzhou (every 20 min. 6am-7pm; 1 hr. 20 min.; ¥17/$2.20/£1.10) from the Keyun Xi Zhan (West Bus Station) on Yingbin Lu; but as this bus station seems to have some unscrupulous and dodgy drivers, go to the long-distance bus station (Qiche Zhongxin Zhan) across from the railway station. Private taxi rental between Zhengzhou and Kaifeng costs around ¥300 ($39/£20) round-trip.

Getting Around

Taxis cost ¥5 (65¢/35p) for 3km (2 miles), then ¥1 (15¢/10p) per kilometer. Between 11pm and 6am, the rate increases to ¥5.60 (75¢/35p) for 3km (2 miles), then ¥1.20 (15¢/10p) per kilometer. All buses cost ¥1 (15¢/10p) per ride. Tricycle taxis cost ¥2 (25¢/15p) for most places within the city walls.

Bus no. 1 runs from the railway station through the center of town to the Dragon Pavilion and Iron Pagoda. Bus no. 15 connects Po Pagoda in the southeast to the Dragon Pavilion in the northwest. Kaifeng is also an easy city to get around by bike, which you can rent at a small stand just north of the CITS office on Yingbin Lu for ¥10 ($1.30/65p) per day (¥100/$13/£6.50 deposit).

Visitor Information

Kaifeng's Tourism Bureau (Luyouju; tel. 0378/398-8488) can answer basic questions about accommodations and sights. For information on Kaifeng's Jewish history or to see the Jewish stelae in the museum, contact CITS (Yingbin Lu 98; tel. 0378/393-9032), actually a subsidiary of the Tourism Bureau. Tourism Complaints can be reported by calling tel. 0378/397-2220.

Fast Facts

Banks, Foreign Exchange and ATMs -- There's a Bank of China (open Mar-May and Sept-Nov 8am-6pm; Dec-Feb 8am-5pm; June-Aug 8am-6:30pm), equipped with ATMs, at Zhongshan Lu 32.

Post Office -- The main post office (open 8am-6:30pm) is at Ziyou Lu 33.

Visa Extensions -- The PSB is at Zhongshan Lu Zhongduan 86 (tel. 0378/315-5561; Mon-Thurs 8:30am-noon and 3-6pm, Fri 8:30am-noon).