Three tour plans

Plan A: Downtown tour

Swan Lake National Urban Wetland Park – Yellow River – Sanmenxia Dam – rafting at Snow Valley – Guo State Museum – Ganshan National Forest Park (winter skiing) – Tianjing Kiln Courtyard (autumn harvest tour) – Sanmenxia Spa and Health Resort

The tour route covers Sanmenxia’s downtown area and major scenic spots within a 50-kilometer radius. Visitors can eat and live in the city and need only 40 minutes to reach the farthest scenic spots. The route is perfect for most tourists or those who plan on staying for only 1-2 days. The route features blue water and yellow waves, paddling swans, a bird’s eye view of the “mainstay” stone (a famous symbol of persistence) nearby the dam, Guo State wagons and horses, valley rafting, hot spring spas, and folk customs of the Tianjing Kiln Courtyard.

Day 1: Sightseeing at Swan Lake National Urban Wetland Park (AAAA) after breakfast, then boating down the Yellow River to see the dam (AAA) and the “mainstay” stone. Rafting at Snow Valley after lunch before returning to the hotel at night.

Day 2: Sightseeing at the Guo State Museum (AAAA) and Ganshan National Forest Park (AAA) after breakfast; eating at the Tianjing kiln underground courtyard and watching folklore performances; hot spring spa at the Sanmenxia Healthcare Resort.

Plan B: East tour

Kongxiang Temple → Yangshao Culture Relic → Mianchi Museum → Liu Shaoqi’s former residence → Yangshao Grand Canyon → Huanghedanxia

The route runs east along the Lianyungang–Khorgas Expressway from downtown to Shanxian and Mianchi county, focusing on history and culture. It covers two newly-developed scenic spots and will take visitors down a historic path. Travelers will walk through a landscape painting filled with green hills, quiet valleys and wild flower clusters.

Day 1: After breakfast, visit the Kongxiang Temple where Bodhidharma passed away, then the Yangshao Culture Relic, Mianchi Museum and Liu Shaoqi’s former residence; sleep at the Yangshao Grand Canyon.

Day 2: Sightsee at Yangshao Grand Canyon after breakfast, then a distinctive farm household lunch at the scenic spot; sleep at Yangshao Grand Canyon or Mianchi county.

Day 3: Visit Huanghedanxia scenic spot after breakfast and a distinctive farm household lunch at the scenic spot.

Plan C: Southwest tour

Hangu Pass → Yellow Emperor Tomb → Dinghu Bay → Western-Henan Grand Canyon → Dragon Bay

This route runs southwest off the downtown area to show the beautiful landscape in southwest Henan. In addition, the tour is laced with famous local legends, such as the cooking vessel used by the Yellow Emperor to produce elixirs for his people and the location where Laozi wrote the Tao Te Ching (Taoism). The hot spring will take all your stress away and recharge your batteries. You can let your hair down and have a great rest.

Day 1: Visit Hangu Pass (AAAA) and the Yellow Emperor’s Tomb (AA) after breakfast, then have local small black fish for lunch in the reed marshes of the Yellow River’s wetland and boat around Dinghu Bay (AA) afterwards. Sleep at a farm-style hotel in the Western-Henan Great Canyon.

Day 2: Visit the therapeutic Western-Henan Great Canyon (AAAA) after breakfast and have a nutritious local farm household lunch there; enjoy a rafting adventure in the afternoon and watch folk sideshows, shadow plays and a monkey show. Sleep at Dragon Bay.

Day 3: Visit Dragon Bay after breakfast and have a local farm household lunch there.