IF YOU GO

Getting there: International tourists can fly to Zhengzhou, the provincial capital, and then take high-speed trains to travel within Henan province. Luoyang and Anyang also have airports, though their flight options are limited.

High-speed trains connect Henan's cities with other major cities across the country. The train ticket from Zhengzhou to Luoyang costs 65.5 yuan ($9.3).

Tickets: The Erlitou site and museum are open to the public for free.

The Dingdingmen Site Museum is also free, as is the Luoyang Museum of Ancient Tombs; however, the latter requires advance booking through its WeChat official account. Please note that these sites are closed on Mondays. The ticket for Yingtian Gate is 60 yuan per person.

The Iron Pagoda Park in Kaifeng has a 30-yuan entry fee, which allows unlimited visits on the day of purchase and the following two days.

Cuisine: Try the spicy soup, or hulatang, in Henan. Its flavors might be unfamiliar at first, but the soup is rich in local character. In Luoyang, a bowl of beef soup makes for an ideal breakfast to start your day, and the soup dumplings in Kaifeng are delicious.