Hotels in Kaifeng
Kaifeng is a former Song Dynasty capital in Henan province, built around Dragon Pavilion, the old city wall and the Yellow River just north of town. Hotel choice here favors quality over quantity, with the pool lineup currently down to one indoor option.
Hotels in Kaifeng cluster around a compact old city built during its centuries as the Northern Song Dynasty capital, where Dragon Pavilion, the reconstructed Song-era streets of Millennium City Park and the old city wall sit within a short taxi ride of each other. Summers turn hot and humid enough that shade and air conditioning stop being optional, while winters bring a dry Henan cold that keeps travelers indoors after dark. Most visitors base themselves inside the old wall for walking access to the Drum Tower night market, or near Kaifeng North Railway Station if the half-hour high-speed link to Zhengzhou matters more than a central address. The current hotel lineup is small but capable, running from budget inns to one five-star tower with an indoor pool.
Kaifeng in numbers
What to expect
- Dragon Pavilion and the old Song Dynasty palace grounds
- Millennium City Park's recreated Song-era streets
- The old city wall circling the historic center
- Drum Tower night market for street food
- Kaifeng North Railway Station, 30 minutes from Zhengzhou by high-speed rail
- Hot, humid summers and dry, cold winters
Local tips
- Base yourself inside the old city wall if you want to walk to the Drum Tower night market after dinner instead of taking a taxi back each evening.
- Book the five-star tower near Dragon Pavilion if a pool matters to your stay, since Kaifeng's indoor-pool lineup is still just one property.
- Use Kaifeng North Railway Station for the half-hour high-speed train to Zhengzhou rather than driving, especially during Golden Week crowds.
- Plan on roughly ninety minutes by taxi to reach Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport, since Kaifeng has no major airport of its own.
- Visit Millennium City Park in the morning before tour groups arrive, since the Song-era streets get crowded by early afternoon.
- Pack for humidity from June through August and bring a warm coat for the dry cold that settles in by December.
Where to stay
FAQ
Which neighborhoods are best for staying in Kaifeng?
The area inside the old city wall near Dragon Pavilion puts travelers within walking distance of Millennium City Park and the Drum Tower night market, while newer blocks closer to Kaifeng North Railway Station suit anyone prioritizing the fast train connection to Zhengzhou over a central address.
What kinds of hotels does Kaifeng have?
Kaifeng's hotel lineup runs from budget inns and mid-range business hotels clustered near the railway station to a small number of four- and five-star towers, including the city's current five-star option with an indoor pool near Dragon Pavilion.
When should you visit Kaifeng?
Spring and autumn bring the mildest weather for walking the old city wall and Millennium City Park, while summer turns hot enough and humid enough that an indoor pool stops being a bonus and becomes a real reason to pick one hotel over another.
How do you get from Kaifeng to the nearest airport?
Kaifeng has no major airport of its own, so most travelers take a taxi of roughly ninety minutes to Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport, or ride the high-speed train to Zhengzhou first and arrange a shorter transfer from there instead.
Is there a hotel with a pool in Kaifeng?
Yes, though the choice is still narrow: the current standout is a five-star tower two minutes from the historic Yang family mansion grounds near Dragon Pavilion, with an indoor pool that matters most during Kaifeng's hot, humid summer months.
What is Kaifeng known for?
Kaifeng served as capital of the Northern Song Dynasty and keeps that history visible today through Dragon Pavilion, the old city wall and Millennium City Park, a recreation of the street life shown in the famous Song-era riverside scroll painting.