Shihe District Travel

Shihe District, Xinyang City, Henan Province — the hometown of Chinese tea culture and a summer resort in southern Henan, integrating the scenery of Jigong Mountain, the beauty of Nanwan Lake, and the fragrance of Maojian tea. Experience the landscape painting and the unique charm of long tea rhyme with a 3-day 2-night in-depth tour.

100+

Years of Summer Resort History in Jigong Mountain

AAAA-Level Scenic Areas

15+

Core Attractions

20+

Specialty Foods

Jigong Mountain Scenery in Shihe District

Jigong Mountain - One of China's Four Great Summer Resorts

Named for its mountain shape resembling a rooster singing with its neck outstretched, it has the momentum of "separating Henan and Hubei in the south, and surpassing Song and Heng Mountains in momentum". Famous for its cool climate and Chinese-Western integrated architecture, it is known as the "Park in the Clouds"

3-Day 2-Night Landscape & Tea Rhythm Tour in Shihe District

Climb Jigong Mountain to enjoy coolness, visit Nanwan Lake to taste fresh fish, explore tea villages to pick Maojian tea, admire the scenery of Zhenlei Mountain, and unlock the beauty of the integration of southern Henan's landscapes and tea culture

                    
Trip Duration
3 Days 2 Nights

                    
Main Destinations
Jigong Mountain, Nanwan Lake, Zhenlei Mountain, Xinyang Maojian Tea Culture Park, Mingyang Pavilion

                    
Suitable For
Summer vacationers, tea culture lovers, family travelers, outdoor enthusiasts

                    
Per Capita Budget
¥800-¥1500

Summer Resort in the Clouds

Jigong Mountain Scenic Area · Baoxiao Peak · Meiling Palace · Air-raid Shelter

Itinerary Highlights

Explore Jigong Mountain all day, climb Baoxiao Peak to overlook the scenery of Henan and Hubei, visit century-old buildings such as Meiling Palace, explore the air-raid shelter to experience historical changes, and watch the sunset and sea of clouds in the mountains in the evening.

Attraction Arrangement

Jigong Mountain Scenic Area

National AAAA-level scenic area, one of China's four great summer resorts, with an altitude of 768 meters and an average summer temperature of 23℃. Known as the "Museum of International Architecture", it retains nearly 100 villas from 23 countries.

Baoxiao Peak

The main peak of Jigong Mountain, named for its resemblance to a rooster singing with its neck outstretched, with an altitude of 768 meters. It is the best location to watch the sunrise and sea of clouds, and you can overlook the scenery of Henan and Hubei provinces from the peak.

Meiling Palace

Formerly known as the "Swedish Building", Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling lived here in 1937. The building integrates Chinese and Western styles, with preserved living furnishings of that year, and is one of the iconic buildings of Jigong Mountain.

Practical Information

Accommodation Recommendations

Jigong Mountain Top Villa Hotel
Homestays around the scenic area
Boutique hotels in Shihe urban area

Food Recommendations

Nanwan Lake Fish Head Soup
Xinyang Braised Pot Meat
Stone Jelly
Egg-filled Pancake

Travel Tips

Sightseeing bus available in the scenic area (¥50 per person)
Large temperature difference between day and night in the mountain area, prepare a thin coat
It is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes for mountain climbing

Lake Rhyme & Tea Fragrance

Nanwan Lake Scenic Area · Xinyang Maojian Tea Culture Park · Mingyang Pavilion

Itinerary Highlights

Visit Nanwan Lake in the morning to enjoy the lake and mountain scenery, board Bird Island and Monkey Island to interact with nature, visit the tea culture park in the afternoon to experience tea picking and making, and climb Mingyang Pavilion to watch the night view of Shihe River in the evening.

Attraction Arrangement

Nanwan Lake Scenic Area

National AAAA-level scenic area, also known as "South Lake", with a water area of 75 square kilometers, known as the "Pearl of Southern Henan". There are 61 islands scattered in the lake, among which Bird Island, Monkey Island and Tea Island are the most famous.

Xinyang Maojian Tea Culture Park

An experience park centered on Xinyang Maojian tea culture. You can visit the tea museum, experience the whole process of tea picking and making, taste pre-Qingming new tea, and understand the cultural heritage of one of China's top ten famous teas.

Mingyang Pavilion

The iconic building of Shihe District, an antique pavilion-style building with a height of 47 meters. Climbing the pavilion, you can overlook the scenery of Shihe River and the panoramic view of the city. The night view is bright with lights, making it a good place to watch the night scenery.

Practical Information

Transportation Guide

Take Bus No. 2 in the urban area to reach Nanwan Lake Scenic Area
Self-driving is recommended for the Tea Culture Park (about 20 kilometers from the urban area)
Take Bus No. 9 to reach Mingyang Pavilion directly

Ticket Information

Jigong Mountain Scenic Area: ¥70
Nanwan Lake Scenic Area: ¥80 (including boat ticket)
Tea Culture Park: ¥50 (including tea picking experience)
Mingyang Pavilion: Free

Travel Tips

Nanwan Lake cruise ships depart on the hour, plan your time in advance
Tea picking experience needs to be reserved, and you can take away self-made tea (charged by weight)
The best time to watch the night view of Mingyang Pavilion is 19:30-21:00

Ecological Leisure

Zhenlei Mountain Scenic Area · Shihe Park · Return Trip

Itinerary Highlights

Explore Zhenlei Mountain in the morning to experience natural wild interest, hike to admire strange rocks and waterfalls, stroll in Shihe Park in the afternoon to experience urban leisure, purchase special products such as Xinyang Maojian tea and return.

Attraction Arrangement

Zhenlei Mountain Scenic Area

Provincial-level scenic area, composed of Zhenlei Mountain, Ma'anshan, Juetou Mountain, etc. The main peak is 338 meters above sea level, famous for the "Leizhao Spray Cloud" landscape, with natural attractions such as Black Dragon Pool and White Dragon Pool.

Shihe Park

An urban park located on the bank of Shihe River, covering an area of 170,000 square meters. It has flower beds, lawns, rockeries, fountains and other landscapes, and is a good place for citizens to take a walk and get close to nature.

Xinyang Maojian Tea Trading Market

The largest tea trading market in southern Henan, gathering various Xinyang Maojian products. You can purchase tea and tea sets of different grades and understand the tea trading culture.

Practical Information

Experience Projects

Zhenlei Mountain Hiking Adventure
Shihe River Cruise Sightseeing
Tea Tasting and Appreciation in Tea Market
Handmade Tea Making Skills Learning

Special Product Recommendations

Xinyang Maojian Tea (National Geographical Indication Product)
Nanwan Lake Whitebait
Gushi Goose Cube (improved version in Shihe)
Guangshan Spicy Duck Eggs

Return Trip Guide

Zhenlei Mountain is about 8 kilometers from the urban area, accessible by Bus No. 18
Xinyang East Railway Station (High-speed Railway) has trains to Zhengzhou and Wuhan
There are courier points around the specialty market for direct mailing

Must-Try Foods in Shihe District

Nanwan Lake Fish Head Soup

A specialty food of Shihe, made with fresh bighead carp from Nanwan Lake, simmered slowly with tofu and ginger slices. The soup is milky white and delicious, rich in protein, known as the "No.1 Soup in Southern Henan".

Xinyang Braised Pot Meat

A traditional famous dish in southern Henan. Cut pork belly into pieces and braise in a clay pot. The meat is crispy and tender, fat but not greasy. Stir-fried with green peppers, it is fragrant and is a must-have dish for local festivals.

Stone Jelly

A special summer snack in Shihe, made from stone flower seeds, similar to jelly. Served with brown sugar water, peppermint water, etc., it is cool and relieves summer heat, with a smooth taste and a history of over 100 years.

Xinyang Maojian Tea

One of China's top ten famous teas, belonging to green tea. Named for being produced in Shihe and other areas, it has the unique style of "thin, round, smooth, straight, with many pekoe, high fragrance, strong taste, and green soup color", known as the "King of Green Tea".

Travel Tips for Shihe District

Best Travel Time

Spring (March-May): Xinyang Maojian tea picking season, full of tea fragrance
Summer (June-August): Best time for summer vacation in Jigong Mountain, cool temperature
Autumn (September-November): Nanwan Lake has charming autumn scenery and delicious lake fresh food

Must-Try Foods

Nanwan Lake Fish Head Soup
Xinyang Braised Pot Meat
Stone Jelly
Xinyang Maojian Tea
Egg-filled Pancake

Budget Reference

Tickets: About ¥200
Accommodation: ¥150-300 per night
Catering: ¥80-120 per day
Transportation: About ¥100
Total: ¥800-1500

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best picking period for Xinyang Maojian tea? → Around Qingming Festival (Pre-Qingming Tea)
Is there a direct bus between Jigong Mountain and Nanwan Lake? → Yes, there is a tourist special line (¥20 per person)
What is the transportation between Nanwan Lake islands? → Scenic area cruise ships (included in the ticket)
Is Zhenlei Mountain suitable for family visits? → There are gentle trails, suitable for family trips

All Counties & Districts Travel Navigation of Xinyang