Nanyang Travel Guide: An underrated gem of an ancient city, a place to explore and eat your way through three days without repeating a single experience.
Nanyang, formerly known as "Wan," is an ancient capital with a history spanning thousands of years, nestled in southwestern Henan. It's the place where Zhuge Liang farmed, the hometown of Zhang Zhongjing, and the birthplace of Zhang Heng, where the ancient charm of the Han Dynasty and the scenic beauty of the Funiu Mountains converge. Even better, the city's affordability is surprisingly down-to-earth—you can eat your fill at the night market for just 50 yuan per person, and a bowl of Fangcheng braised noodles costs less than 15 yuan. Nanyang isn't for a whirlwind tour; it's best enjoyed at a slower pace, taking three days to savor its history and everyday life.
Must-see attractions: From the "Eight Old Scenic Spots" to the Funiu Mountains
Nanyang has long been known for its "Eight Old Scenic Spots"—the Hidden Traces of Wolong, the Fragrant Deeds of the Medical Sage, the Han Dynasty Charm of Lingshi, the High Tomb of Hengxing, the Ancient Attire of the Prefectural Government, the Solitary Peak, the Flowing Water of Yuping Lake, and the Dawn Moon over Fushan. These names evoke vivid images; let's explore a few of the most worthwhile ones.
Wolonggang Wuhou Temple (entrance fee approximately 50-60 yuan), also known as "Wolong Yinji" (Hidden Site of Wolong) among the "Eight Old Scenic Spots," is where Zhuge Liang lived in seclusion. The temple grounds are filled with ancient trees and weathered red walls. Originally built during the Wei and Jin Dynasties, it is over 1800 years old and was designated by the Ming Dynasty court as a place for worshipping Zhuge Liang. Stepping inside creates a unique sense of time travel—the bluestone slabs beneath your feet may be older than the history of most countries. A guided tour is highly recommended, otherwise it's easy to rush through; Three Kingdoms enthusiasts will likely find themselves captivated.
Nanyang Prefectural Government Office (entrance fee approximately 30-40 yuan), also known as "Ancient Prefectural Government Office," is one of the best-preserved prefectural-level government offices in China. Built during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties, its rigorous layout and grand scale have earned it the nickname "a miniature of the Forbidden City in Beijing." In the main hall, you can experience "beating the drum to appeal for justice," and taking photos in traditional Hanfu on the bluestone slabs is incredibly photogenic. At night, the red lanterns illuminate the area, creating a truly immersive atmosphere.
The Temple of the Medical Sage (entrance fee approximately 25 yuan), also known as "The Fragrance of the Medical Sage," is located on the banks of the Wenliang River. It is the ancestral temple and memorial site of Zhang Zhongjing, the "Medical Sage," and a medical and cultural site integrating cultural relic protection, collection of traditional Chinese medicine literature, and sacrificial commemoration. Inside, the temple features blue bricks and gray tiles, ancient cypress trees, and displays ancient books, documents, and medicinal specimens. If you are interested in traditional Chinese medicine culture, this place is worth exploring at a leisurely pace.
The Nanyang Han Dynasty Stone Carving Museum (free admission), also known as "Lingshi Hanyun," is China's first art museum dedicated to the collection, display, and research of Han Dynasty stone carvings. It is situated north of Wolonggang and south of the Baihe River. The stone carvings depict chariots and horses, banquets and dances, and mythological stories, all vividly portrayed—a scene of life in Nanyang two thousand years ago, frozen in stone. A guided tour is recommended to gain a deeper understanding of the details.
The Xixia Dinosaur Relics Park (entrance fee 75 yuan) is a national 5A-level scenic spot, hailed as the "Ninth Wonder of the World." This is the world's largest dinosaur egg fossil site, and the Dinosaur Egg Site Museum is the "TOP 1" must-see. Mostly indoor exhibits, it's unaffected by rain or heat, making it perfect for educational trips with children. From Nanyang, you can take a bus to Xixia Old Bus Station, then transfer to a direct bus to the scenic area; the journey takes about 30 minutes.
Laojieling Tourist Resort (entrance fee 60 yuan, package ticket 180 yuan including scenic area shuttle and cable car), the core of the Funiu Mountain World Geopark, is also the dividing line between the northern and southern climates of China. The average summer temperature is only around 18℃, making it a popular summer resort in Central China. Must-see attractions include the watershed and the glass suspension bridge; the peak season for sea of clouds is from June to October. It takes about 2 hours to drive there from the city, or you can take a bus to Xixia and then transfer to the scenic area shuttle.
Neixiang County Government Office (entrance fee 75 yuan), built in the eighth year of the Dade reign of the Yuan Dynasty, is the first government office museum in China. Unlike the Nanyang Prefectural Government Office, the Neixiang County Government Office is more "down-to-earth," offering an immersive understanding of the ancient grassroots judicial system. The recommended tour route is: View the auspicious beast against greed at the screen wall → Beat the grievance drum at the main gate → Ceremonial Gate → Watch the court hearing performance in the main hall → Second Hall → Three Provinces Hall → Six Offices Area → Former Prison Site → Back Garden. The back garden offers excellent views in Hanfu (traditional Han clothing). It's about 60 kilometers from Nanyang city center, and driving is the most convenient option.
Food: Nanyang's stomach is bigger than you imagine.
Nanyang cuisine blends the richness of Central Plains noodles, the spiciness of Han River flavors, and the simplicity of mountain steamed vegetables, emphasizing a "simple yet addictive" style.
Breakfast: A basket of shumai and a bowl of soup.
Nanyang people's mornings begin at "Xin Yichu Handmade Shaomai and Freshly Poached Meatball Soup" on Jianshe East Road. This shop is a Wancheng District intangible cultural heritage craftsmanship inheritance store, where the traditional techniques of shumai making and freshly poached meatball soup preparation have been passed down through generations. The shumai (steamed dumplings) are made with fresh beef and mutton filling, rolled, wrapped, and steamed to order. The dough is thin, chewy, and translucent, while the filling is plump and juicy. The meatball soup is made entirely by hand, kneading the meatballs until firm, and then poaching them in boiling water. The meatballs are firm and bouncy, and the soup is clear, rich, and flavorful without being greasy. A basket of shumai paired with a bowl of meatball soup is a breakfast staple ingrained in the hearts of Nanyang locals. It costs around 20 yuan per person. It's recommended to go before 11 am, as they may close after noon.
Three must-try noodle dishes: stewed noodles, flat noodles, and minced meat sauce. Fangcheng stewed noodles are the top choice for Nanyang noodles. There's a 30-year-old shop on the main road in Fangcheng's old town. The storefront is unassuming, and the decor is still in the style of over a decade ago, but the tables are always full from morning till night. The secret lies in the mutton soup pot that's been simmering for decades—every day at 3 am, the owner puts fresh lamb bones into the pot and simmers it for six hours, the aroma of which can be smelled throughout the entire street. The noodles are chewy and the broth is rich and flavorful. Add a touch of chili oil, and a bowl of this warms you from stomach to toe.
Xinye Banmian, also known as "Zhang Fei Banmian," is a Henan Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage. Legend has it that it originated in the late Eastern Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period, when Zhang Fei, stationed in Xinye, invented this wide and chewy noodle dish. Banmian comes in two varieties: with soup and dry-mixed. The dry-mixed version is even chewier, coated in a thick beef sauce, with each noodle evenly soaked in the gravy, offering a satisfyingly chewy texture. There's a Banmian shop in Xinye that has been passed down for five generations, selling over a thousand bowls a day, yet only charging 9 yuan for a large portion.
Xinye Saozi, also known as "Three Kingdoms Saozi," is another iconic traditional snack of Xinye County. In 2026, it was featured as an intangible cultural heritage item at the local "Intangible Cultural Heritage New Year's Shopping Festival." The saozi is stir-fried until dry and fragrant, and it goes perfectly with noodles, steamed buns, or rice.
Featured Dishes: Roast Chicken, Yellow Beef Feast, Braised Goose
Zhenping Roast Chicken is worth a special trip. In the old town of Zhenping, on the South Gate Old Street, there's a roast chicken shop that's been open for almost eighty years. They use locally raised free-range chickens, over a year old, first coated in honey and deep-fried until golden brown, then slow-cooked in a century-old broth with over twenty kinds of spices for more than ten hours. The finished chicken is so tender that the meat easily separates from the bone with a gentle shake; every strand is infused with the aroma of the braising sauce, even the bones are fragrant. There's also an authentic Zhenping Roast Chicken shop near the Railway Club close to Nanyang Railway Station, open for over twenty years. It's small, but the taste is excellent.
Nanyang Yellow Beef Feast and Shiqiao Braised Goose are recommended featured dishes on the Nanyang Rose Tour themed itinerary. Nanyang Yellow Beef is one of the five major breeds of yellow cattle in China, known for its firm meat and rich aroma. A Yellow Beef Feast includes everything from braised beef to beef bone soup. Shiqiao Braised Goose is a traditional local Nanyang dish; the goose meat is braised until flavorful and tender.
Night Markets and Snacks
Nanyang's nights are more exciting than you imagine. The Fuya Night Market and Shierlihe Snack Street are two treasure troves of culinary delights, offering everything from street food to satisfying main dishes, from youthful flavors to night market revelry – a one-stop shop for Nanyang's gastronomic feast. Grilled gluten skewers are 5 yuan a skewer, sesame jelly is 8 yuan a bowl, and fried skewers and glutinous rice cakes average 5 to 10 yuan. With an average budget of 50 yuan, you can eat until you're stuffed.
Cheng Jifu Spicy Soup (Wancheng Old Town Branch) is the benchmark for Nanyang's local spicy soup, having been open for over twenty years. Its flavor is completely different from Zhoukou spicy soup – the broth is slow-cooked with beef bones and over ten kinds of spices, resulting in a bright red color and a spicy, savory aroma. A bowl in the morning will energize you completely.
Practical Tips
Transportation: High-speed rail directly connects to Nanyang East Station. From Zhengzhou, it takes about 1.5 hours; from Wuhan, about 2 hours; and from Xi'an, about 3 hours. Note that regular trains stop at Nanyang Station, which is not the same as the high-speed rail station. In the city center, public transportation and taxis are readily available to attractions, while rural buses are available for more remote areas. For nearby attractions like Lao Jie Ling and Xixia Dinosaur Park, driving is the most convenient option.
Accommodation: I recommend staying near Xinhua Square or the Prefectural Government Office area. Guesthouses cost around 100 yuan per night, and there's a food street right outside, making it very convenient to find food.
Pace: Nanyang isn't a place for rushing. You can allocate one and a half to two days for the city's cultural attractions, and another day for the surrounding mountains and rivers. Wear comfortable shoes; walking an average of 20,000 steps a day is no joke.
The beauty of Nanyang lies in its unhurried pace. It doesn't compete or vie for attention, quietly displaying its two-thousand-year-old story in its streets, ancestral halls, and dining tables, waiting for you to discover it. Come with an empty stomach, leave with a roast chicken – this is perhaps Nanyang's most genuine way of hospitality.