Planning a Trip

Getting There

Zhengzhou is connected by air to many major Chinese cities, including Beijing (1 hr. 30 min.), Guangzhou (2 hr. 10 min.), Hong Kong (2 1/2 hr.), and Shanghai (1 hr. 20 min.). Tickets can be purchased at the CAAC office at Airport Hotel (Minhang Dajiudian) Jinshui Lu 3 (tel. 0371/6599-1111). The airport is about 35km (21 miles) southeast of the city. Sofitel and Crowne Plaza have booths at the airport and can arrange transportation into the city if you contact them ahead of time. Taxis make the run for around ¥100 ($13/£6.50). CAAC airport shuttles (40 min.; ¥15/$1.95/£1; 6am-7pm) depart every hour for the airport from the Airport Hotel (Minhang Dajiudian) (tel. 0371/6578-1111, ext. 6528) and also meet incoming flights.

Trains run from Zhengzhou's railway station (tel. 0371/6835-6666) to Luoyang (2 hr.), Kaifeng (1 hr.), Xi'an (10 hr.), Beijing (12 hr.), Shanghai (14 hr.), Guangzhou (36 hr.), and a host of other cities in between. From the long-distance bus station (changtu qichezhan; tel. 0371/6698-3995) opposite the railway station, Iveco buses depart for Luoyang (every 25 min. 5:30am-9:20pm, public buses depart every 40 min. 6:50am-7:30pm; 2-2 1/2 hr.; ¥40/$5.20/£2.60), Kaifeng (every 20 min. 6:20am-7pm; 1 1/2 hr.; ¥12/$1.60/80p), Dengfeng (every 30 min. 6am-7:40pm; 30 min.; ¥12/$1.55/80p), and Gongyi (every half-hour 6:40am-8pm; 1 1/2 hr.; ¥23/$3/£1.50). If you're heading to Kaifeng (every 20 min. 6:20am-8pm; 1 hr.; ¥12/$1.55/80p) it's highly recommended that you leave from the East Bus Station (Keyun Dong Zhan) on Jichang Lu; it will cut down your travel time significantly. If you're traveling in the summer, make sure to ask if your bus has air-conditioning (you mei you kongtiao?). For guaranteed air-conditioning, a private bus service, Henan Yu An Kuaiyun (tel. 0371/6638-3055), runs air-conditioned buses to Luoyang (every hour 7:30am-7pm; 2 hr. 30 min.; ¥37/$4.80/£2.40), Beijing (9:30am, 11:30am, 1:30m, and 9:30pm; 9 hr.; ¥172-¥196/$22-$26/£12-£13).

Getting Around

Taxis charge ¥6 (80¢/40p) for 2km (1 1/4 miles), then ¥1.50 (20¢/10p) per additional kilometer until 12km (7 1/2 miles), after which the price rises to ¥2.25 (30¢/15p) per kilometer. From 11pm to 5am, prices rise to ¥8 ($1.05/50p) per 2km (1 1/4 miles). City buses cost ¥1 (15¢/10p) flat fare. Bus no. 26 runs from the railway station to Jinshui Lu via Renmin Lu, while bus no. 16 runs from Erma Lu to the Yellow River.

Fast Facts

Banks, Foreign Exchange and ATMs -- A convenient Bank of China branch (tel. 0371/6597-7640; open Mon-Fri 9am-noon and 1-5pm) is across from the Crowne Plaza Hotel at Jinshui Lu 5. Counters 5 through 7 are for foreign exchange. There is an ATM at this location.

Internet Access -- If you have your own computer, most hotels have in-room high-speed Internet access. Free Wi-Fi is available in the public areas of the Sofitel and the Crowne Plaza. For those without computers, Crowne Plaza's business center charges ¥1 (15¢/10p) per minute (daily 6am-11pm).

Post Office -- The post office (open 8am-6:30pm) is just south of the railway station.

Visa Extensions -- The Gonganju (PSB) is located at Erqi Lu 70 (tel. 0371/6962-0359; open Sept-Nov Mon-Fri 8:30am-noon and 2-6pm, Dec-Feb Mon-Fri 8:30am-noon and 2-5:30pm, Mar-May Mon-Fri 8:30am-noon and 2-5:30pm, and June-Aug daily 8:30am-noon and 3-6:30pm). Allow 5 business days, though emergency 3-day visas can also be processed.