Stand on the west section of Xuji Avenue in Weidu District and you are a short walk from a stone bridge over a canal, with a bus stop just outside the gate and the water sliding past below. That bridge, Baling Bridge, is one of the anchors of a day in Xuchang, and it sits in a city where the late Eastern Han and Three Kingdoms story is still the main draw.
Xuchang suits travellers who are already interested in that period and want to see where Cao Cao based his court after Luoyang was left in ruins, as well as those who prefer a compact, walkable downtown of temples, towers and museums over a long checklist of sights. Most of the places below sit in Weidu District and are reachable by city bus, with a couple of stops in Jian'an District.
This guide covers the sights and experiences the sources describe, with practical notes on timing, transport and what to pair with what. It also gives you a single-day route built only from the places named here.
Top things to do in Xuchang
1. Baling Bridge
Baling Bridge is at 2781 West Section, Xuji Avenue, in Weidu District, and there is a bus stop just outside the entrance served by bus nos. 5, 33, 36, 69, 104 South and 104 Inner Circle. It is one of the city's named tourist attractions and the westernmost of the main sights, which makes it a natural first stop if you are arriving from that side of town.
Opening hours are 08:00–18:00 in summer and 08:00–17:30 in winter, with an admission charge of ¥30. Pair it with the downtown cluster later in the day, since the bus routes that serve it also reach other parts of Weidu District.
2. Spring and Autumn Pavilion
The Spring and Autumn Pavilion, or Chunqiu lou, is a Ming and Qing style building complex on the central section of Wenmiaoqian Street in Weidu District, in front of Chunqiu Square. It was built in 1271 for the general Guanyu of the Shu Kingdom, which is why it carries weight for anyone following the Three Kingdoms thread through the city.
It is open 08:00–17:30 and admission is ¥25; bus no. 33 will get you there. Because it faces Chunqiu Square, it works well as the centre of a downtown half-day rather than a quick stop.
3. Chunqiu Tower Scenic Area
The Chunqiu Tower Scenic Area occupies the north end of Chunqiu Square at 186 Wenmiao Qian Street, East Street Subdistrict, Weidu District. According to legend this was where Guan Yu stayed after defeating Cao Cao and where he studied the Spring and Autumn Annals, and the rear courtyard behind the main hall was the residence of Lady Gan and Lady Mi, with a small garden of pavilions and corridors in a Jiangnan style.
It is open daily 08:00–17:30 with last entry at 17:00, and admission is ¥23 per person. Since it shares its address and square with the Spring and Autumn Pavilion, treat the two as one visit and give yourself time for the rear garden.
4. Cao Wei Ancient City
Cao Wei Ancient City is on South Street, East Street Subdistrict, Weidu District, built to preserve Cao Wei and Three Kingdoms culture as a comprehensive tourist area. Inside, a pedestrian street holds specialty shops for food, drinks and entertainment along with souvenir shops, and the architecture replicates Han and Wei dynasty styles.
A nightly light show adds to the atmosphere, so this is the place to end a day rather than start one. It also sits in the same part of Weidu District as the Chunqiu Square sights, making an easy evening continuation.
5. Xuchang Museum
Xuchang Museum is at the intersection of Xudu Road and Zhaowan Road in Weidu District, reached by bus nos. 7, 16, 33, 71 and 99. Archaeological findings from the area are displayed here, including items from the paleolithic Xuchang man, from the Spring and Autumn period and from the Eastern Han Dynasty, and it is described as good for understanding a bit of the Bronze Age in China.
It is open 09:00–17:00 with no entry after 16:00 and closed on Mondays, and admission is free. Go earlier rather than later in the afternoon so the 16:00 entry cutoff does not catch you out.
6. Wenfeng Pagoda
Wenfeng Pagoda stands at 555 Wenfeng North Road, Weidu District. Built in the late Ming Dynasty, it is considered a cultural relic in Henan Province, and there is a museum next to the pagoda called the Xuchang Pagoda Culture Museum.
It is open 09:00–17:00 and closed on Mondays, and admission is free. Take bus no. 99 to Wenfeng Square, or bus nos. 1, 5, 6, 11, 101, 102 North, 102 South, y1, y3, z1 or z3 to the eastern end of Qi Yi Road. Combine the pagoda with the museum beside it in a single stop.
7. Xuchang Art Museum
The Xuchang Art Museum is at the intersection of Zhulin Road and Longchang Road in Jian'an District, served by bus no. 601. It is a free stop and a change of register from the historical sites, useful if you want an indoor hour away from the Three Kingdoms material.
Opening hours are 09:00–17:00 with no entry after 16:00, and it is closed on Mondays. Note that it sits in Jian'an District rather than the Weidu District cluster, so plan it as its own trip across town.
8. Museum of Central Plains Farming Culture
The Museum of Central Plains Farming Culture is inside Xuchang University at 88 Ba Yi East Road, Weidu District, reached by bus nos. 2, 11, 12, 18, 29, 33, 69, 99, k1 and y1. It is open 08:30–12:00 and 14:30–18:00 and closed on Mondays, with free admission.
Individual visitors may only visit on Saturday or Sunday; between Tuesday and Friday the museum only accepts pre-booked group visits. Check which day you are travelling before you build it into a route.
9. Hucheng Canal
Hucheng Canal is north from the main train station, about two or three minutes' walk away. It is a canal with a long history that now functions as a landscape, and you can enjoy the lotus flower here from July to August.
Locals like to take a walk around the moat after eating in the evening, so the canal is best used as an unhurried end to the day rather than a scheduled sight. Its position near the main train station also makes it convenient on arrival or before departure.
10. Pangdonglai Angel City
Pangdonglai Angel City is at the northeast corner of the intersection of Jian'an Avenue and Balong Road, in Jian'an Cultural Square, Weidu District. It is known as the "ceiling of Chinese supermarkets" and is noted for its business philosophy and care for both customers and employees, and it has become a popular destination for travellers from other cities.
It is open daily 09:30–21:30. Because it stays open into the evening, it fits neatly after a day of sights, and it is a reasonable place to pick up food and drinks for the walk along Hucheng Canal.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Baling Bridge on Xuji Avenue, arriving for the 08:00 summer opening or 08:00 winter opening, and give it time before the day fills up. From there, take bus no. 33 towards the centre and spend the rest of the morning at the Spring and Autumn Pavilion and the Chunqiu Tower Scenic Area, which share Chunqiu Square and its surrounding streets.
Afternoon: Continue to Xuchang Museum at Xudu Road and Zhaowan Road, arriving well before the 16:00 entry cutoff, then move on to Wenfeng Pagoda and the Xuchang Pagoda Culture Museum beside it. Both the museum and the pagoda are closed on Mondays, so this plan assumes a different day of the week.
Evening: Head to Cao Wei Ancient City on South Street for the pedestrian street and its nightly light show, with dinner from the food and drink shops there. If you still have energy, Pangdonglai Angel City stays open until 21:30, and Hucheng Canal is a short walk from the main train station for an evening stroll.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time of year to visit Xuchang?
Xuchang has four distinct seasons, with early, warm springs, mild autumns, cool dry winters and hot, humid summers. Rain falls mainly from May to September, when more than 70% of annual precipitation occurs, so spring and autumn are the more comfortable windows. If you want the lotus flowers at Hucheng Canal, go in July or August.
Which sights are closed on Mondays?
Wenfeng Pagoda, Xuchang Museum, Xuchang Art Museum and the Museum of Central Plains Farming Culture are all closed on Mondays. The Museum of Central Plains Farming Culture also admits individual visitors only on Saturday or Sunday, with pre-booked group visits only from Tuesday to Friday.
Do I need to pay to enter the main sights?
Baling Bridge charges ¥30 and the Spring and Autumn Pavilion charges ¥25, while the Chunqiu Tower Scenic Area charges ¥23 per person. Xuchang Museum, Wenfeng Pagoda, the Xuchang Art Museum and the Museum of Central Plains Farming Culture are free.
How do I get around the sights without a car?
City buses cover the main stops. Bus no. 33 reaches the Spring and Autumn Pavilion and also serves Xuchang Museum and Baling Bridge, bus no. 99 goes to Wenfeng Square, and bus no. 601 serves the Xuchang Art Museum in Jian'an District. Hucheng Canal is about two or three minutes' walk north from the main train station.
Pick your dates around the Monday closures, decide whether the Three Kingdoms sights or the museums come first, and you have enough here to start planning a trip to Xuchang.