Stand on Wuyi Road in the early evening and the city shows you what it is: a central square filling with vendors, students and families, streets fanning out in every direction. Zhoukou is a working river city in eastern Henan, not a polished tourist town, and that is precisely its appeal.
It suits travellers who are already in the region and want an unhurried day or two of genuine local life, wetland scenery and old Henan history rather than a checklist of monuments. Most of the strongest sights sit in Huaiyang District, with a smaller cluster in Chuanhui District around the Guandi Temple and the river.
This guide covers the places worth your time, with the practical details you need to string them into a day.
Top things to do in Zhoukou
1. Taihao Mausoleum
The mausoleum of Fuxi, a Chinese cultural hero, sits on Longdu Avenue in Huaiyang District. It is the anchor of the area's heritage and the reason many visitors come to Huaiyang at all.
Reach it on Huaiyang Bus 8 or Huaiyang Bus 9 (outer circle route) from Huaiyang Bus Station, or take the Huaiyang South HSR Bus from Huaiyang South High-Speed Railway Station. It is open 08:00–17:00; admission is normally ¥40 and ¥20 during temple fairs, so time a visit to a fair if you want the lower price and the crowds that come with it.
2. Longhu National Wetland Park
A major wetland park in Huaiyang District covering around 11 km² and an important breeding site for migratory birds. Practically all bus routes in the district circle or cross the lake, so it is easy to fold into a Huaiyang day.
General entry is free. A 50- to 60-minute boat ride around the lake costs ¥30 per adult, ¥20 for children between 1 and 1.2 metres and free for children under 1 metre; you can also hire a boat for between ¥200 and ¥1200. It is open all day, so pair it with Chenchu Ancient Street on the lake's east side.
3. Pingliangtai Ancient City Ruins
The ruins of an ancient city believed to have been established more than 4600 years ago, and home to the oldest known urban drainage system ever discovered in China. For anyone interested in early urban life, this is the most substantive archaeological stop in the area.
Take Huaiyang Bus 3 from Huaiyang Bus Station and get off at the Pingliangtai bus stop. Opening hours are 08:00–17:00 and admission is ¥30. Combine it with the rest of your Huaiyang sightseeing, since the sites are in the same district.
4. Zhoukou Guandi Temple
Founded in 1693 and expanded during the 18th and 19th centuries, this is the largest temple in Henan Province dedicated to Guan Yu. It sits at 111 Fuqiang Street in Chuanhui District, with a bus stop just outside served by bus no. 1 (inner and outer circle routes), 4, 4a, 6, 18 and 19.
Hours are 09:00–17:00 in winter and 08:30–17:00 the rest of the year; admission is ¥13. The Zhoukou Folk Museum is inside the same scenic area, so see both in one stop.
5. Zhoukou Museum
The city's main museum, at 2 East Section, Wenchang Avenue in Dongxin District, reached by bus nos. 4b, 6 and 16. Entry is free, which makes it an easy addition to a day in the Chuanhui area.
It is open 09:00–17:00 and closed on Mondays, so plan around the start of the week. Go here first if you want context on the region's history before visiting the sites in Huaiyang.
6. Zhoukou Shaying River Wetland Park
A scenic wetland along the Shaying River in the northern part of Chuanhui District, with clear water, reeds and aquatic plants. You can walk the riverside, watch wild ducks, geese and herons, and see carp and catfish in the river.
Entry is free and it is open all day, so it works well as a slow morning or a late-afternoon walk. It is accessible by taxi or local bus from downtown Zhoukou.
7. Wuyi Square
The central square of Zhoukou on Wuyi Road in Chuanhui District, and the city's main gathering point. Locals come in the evenings to socialise, eat street food and browse small vendor markets, and several main streets fan out from here to other parts of the city.
It is free and open 24 hours, and most local bus routes stop nearby. Come after dark for the vendors and the people-watching, and use it as your starting point for exploring the surrounding neighbourhoods.
8. Chenchu Ancient Street
A shopping street on the east side of Dragon Lake in Huaiyang District, built to look old though it is a modern construction. It is a straightforward stop for browsing and eating while you are already at the lake.
Take bus no. K201 from Zhoukou East Railway Station and get off at the final stop. Because it is a modern build, treat it as a stroll and a meal rather than a heritage site, and pair it with Longhu National Wetland Park next door.
9. Lingang New City Night Market
An evening market near Zhoukou Normal University in the Lin'gang New City area, popular with students and selling street food, accessories and affordable fashion. It is best visited after sunset and is an evening-only affair.
Costs are low, so it suits a casual dinner and a wander. It is a good way to see the newer, younger side of the city, and it pairs naturally with an evening that starts at Wuyi Square.
10. Zhoukou Folk Museum
A local museum at 111 Fuqiang Street in Chuanhui District, inside the Zhoukou Guandi Temple Scenic Area. It displays traditional folk items including tools, daily utensils, handicrafts and cultural artifacts from Zhoukou and the wider region, with exhibitions on local customs and rural life.
Entry is free and it is open 09:00–17:00. Since it shares an address with the Guandi Temple, visit the two together and save yourself a separate trip.
11. Xiangetai
A historical site in Chengguan Huizu Town in central Huaiyang District, associated with ancient cultural traditions in the Huaiyang area and including structures and markers related to local heritage.
It is open 08:00–17:30 and admission is ¥4–8, making it a cheap addition to a Huaiyang itinerary. It is reachable by local bus or taxi.
12. Zhoukou Safari Park
A zoo with more than 200 species and more than 10,000 animals, at 188 North Section, Zhongzhou Road in Chuanhui District, inside Zhoukou Forest Park. Take bus no. 4 or 4a from the downtown area and get off at the final stop.
Hours are 09:30–17:30 with no entry after 16:00. Tickets are ¥138 for adults and ¥88 for seniors aged 60 or over and children between 1.2 and 1.39 metres, so arrive early enough to see it properly.
13. Fuxi Cultural Tourism Festival
A local cultural event held in Huaiyang District celebrating traditions related to Fuxi. The first edition opened on 11 March 2024 with participation from more than 30 publishing brands, and the second opened on 8 March 2025 and ran until 30 March 2025 with continued involvement from cultural and publishing organisations.
If your trip falls in early spring, check whether the festival overlaps with your dates and build your Huaiyang day around it.
14. Huaiyang Lotus Festival
An annual summer event centred on the lotus scenery of Huaiyang's lakes, held from 18 July to 18 September each year. Visitors can see the seasonal blooms and attend local cultural activities.
This is the best reason to visit Longhu National Wetland Park in high summer, so plan the lake and the festival as one outing.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start in Huaiyang District at Taihao Mausoleum when it opens at 08:00, then continue to Pingliangtai Ancient City Ruins, which is also open from 08:00.
Afternoon: Spend the middle of the day at Longhu National Wetland Park, taking the 50- to 60-minute boat ride around the lake, then walk over to Chenchu Ancient Street on the lake's east side for food and browsing. Add Xiangetai if time allows.
Evening: Return to Chuanhui District for Wuyi Square, where the vendors and street food come out after dark. If you still have energy, finish at Lingang New City Night Market near Zhoukou Normal University.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see the lotus on Huaiyang's lakes?
The Huaiyang Lotus Festival runs from 18 July to 18 September each year, which is when the seasonal blooms and the associated cultural activities are on.
Which sights are free?
Longhu National Wetland Park, Zhoukou Museum, Zhoukou Shaying River Wetland Park, Zhoukou Folk Museum and Wuyi Square all have free entry. Note that the museum is closed on Mondays.
How do I get to the Huaiyang District sights without a car?
Huaiyang Bus 3 serves the Pingliangtai bus stop, Huaiyang Bus 8 and Huaiyang Bus 9 (outer circle route) go to Taihao Mausoleum, and practically all bus routes in the district circle or cross the lake at Longhu National Wetland Park.
What is there to do in Zhoukou in the evening?
Wuyi Square is the central gathering point and is open 24 hours, with vendors and street food in the evenings. Lingang New City Night Market near Zhoukou Normal University is evening-only and popular with students.
Pick your dates around the lotus season or a temple fair, check the museum's Monday closure, and you have everything you need to start planning a trip to Zhoukou.