Shangshui County Travel

Shangshui County, Zhoukou City, Henan Province — the hometown of Central Plains Qing Dynasty manor culture and a sacred place of ancient temples, integrating the official grandeur of Ye's Manor, the thousand-year-old Buddhist charm of Shousheng Temple Pagoda, and the folk customs of Dengcheng Ancient Town. A 2-day & 1-night in-depth tour to touch the historical context and taste the flavors of Eastern Henan.

300+

Years of History of Ye's Manor

National Key Cultural Relic Protection Units

Core Scenic Spots

12+

Special Local Cuisines

Ye's Manor Scenic Area in Shangshui County

Ye's Manor - A Model of Qing Dynasty Manor Architecture in the Central Plains

First built during the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty, it was constructed by the official Ye family, covering an area of 100 mu (about 6.67 hectares). Composed of three groups of architectural complexes, it features exquisite brick carving and wood carving craftsmanship, known as the "Little Forbidden City of the Central Plains", and is a national key cultural relic protection unit.

2-Day & 1-Night Tour of Manor and Ancient Temple in Shangshui County

Visit Ye's Manor to admire Qing Dynasty architecture, climb Shousheng Temple Pagoda to explore thousand-year-old Buddhist traces, tour Dengcheng Ancient Town to taste folk customs, and try Dengcheng Pig's Trotters to enjoy delicious food on the tip of the tongue

                    
Itinerary Duration
2 Days & 1 Night

                    
Main Destinations
Ye's Manor, Dengcheng Ancient Town, Shousheng Temple Pagoda, Baita Temple Cypress Forest, Macun Site, Shangshui Park

                    
Suitable for
Historical architecture enthusiasts, cultural seekers, food lovers, photography enthusiasts, family with kids

                    
Per Capita Budget
¥300-¥550

Manor Exploration · Ancient Town Customs

Ye's Manor · Dengcheng Ancient Town · Ye's Former Residence

Itinerary Highlights

In the morning, visit Ye's Manor to admire the brick carving and wood carving art of the Qing Dynasty official architectural complex; in the afternoon, stroll around Dengcheng Ancient Town to experience the folk customs of Eastern Henan; in the evening, visit Ye's Former Residence to listen to the stories of the rise and fall of the family.

Attraction Arrangement

Ye's Manor

A national key cultural relic protection unit, first built during the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty. It consists of three groups of architectural complexes such as "Three-Entrance Hall" and "Five-Gate Zhaoscreen", with more than 160 existing houses. The architectural style combines the characteristics of official residences and folk houses. The brick carvings of "Twenty-Four Filial Piety Pictures" and wood carvings of "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea" are exquisite works of art.

Dengcheng Ancient Town

A thousand-year-old ancient town, named after Deng Ai stationing troops here during the Three Kingdoms Period. The town retains the pattern of streets and lanes from the Ming and Qing dynasties, with ancient wharves, time-honored shops, traditional dwellings, etc. Every year on the second day of the second lunar month, the "Dragon Head-Raising Festival" is held, with lively performances such as dragon dance and stilt walking.

Ye's Former Residence

A core part of Ye's Manor, it was the living place of the Ye family. It has existing main houses, wing rooms, embroidery buildings and other buildings, displaying family daily necessities, documents and archives, showing the living scenes of the Qing Dynasty official family.

Practical Information

Accommodation Recommendations

Dengcheng Ancient Town Homestay
Central County Hotel
Inns around Ye's Manor

Food Recommendations

Dengcheng Pig's Trotters
Guqiang Handmade Noodles
Shangshui Large Plate Chicken
Sesame Leaf Tofu Jelly

Travel Tips

Guided tour service is available at Ye's Manor (¥50 per time)
Experience handmade cloth shoe making in the ancient town (¥30 for materials per pair)
It is recommended to bring a camera to shoot the details of ancient buildings

Seeking Serenity in Ancient Temples · Tracing Cultural Origins

Shousheng Temple Pagoda · Baita Temple Cypress Forest · Macun Site · Return Trip

Itinerary Highlights

In the morning, climb Shousheng Temple Pagoda to overlook the county scenery and explore the Song Dynasty Buddhist culture; in the afternoon, stroll through Baita Temple Cypress Forest to feel the vigor of thousand-year-old cypresses; then visit Macun Site to trace the Neolithic civilization, and return in the evening.

Attraction Arrangement

Shousheng Temple Pagoda

A national key cultural relic protection unit, first built in the second year of Mingdao in the Song Dynasty (1033 AD). It is a hexagonal nine-story pavilion-style brick pagoda, 41.5 meters high. There are brick-carved Buddha statues and inscriptions inside the pagoda, and the pagoda finial is made of iron with exquisite shape, being one of the earliest existing ancient pagodas in Eastern Henan.

Baita Temple Cypress Forest

A provincial-level cultural relic protection unit, originally the site of Baita Temple. There are hundreds of thousand-year-old cypresses existing, among which the oldest one is over 1500 years old. Ming Dynasty inscriptions still remain in the cypress forest, and the ancient cypresses have various shapes, known as the "Central Plains Cypress Garden".

Macun Site

A Neolithic site from the Yangshao Culture to the Longshan Culture, covering an area of about 50,000 square meters. Cultural relics such as pottery, stone tools and bone tools have been unearthed, among which painted pottery bowls and black pottery cups have important archaeological value, showing the early civilization track of Eastern Henan.

Shangshui Park

A comprehensive park in the county seat, built along the river, with fitness trails, landscape lakes, cultural corridors and other facilities. Sculptures of local historical celebrities are displayed in the park, which is a good place to understand Shangshui's human history and take a leisure walk.

Practical Information

Transportation Guide

Take Bus No.2 in the county seat to reach Shousheng Temple Pagoda
Take Rural Bus No.8 to Baita Temple Cypress Forest
Self-driving is recommended to Macun Site (about 30 kilometers from the county seat)

Ticket Information

Ye's Manor: ¥40
Shousheng Temple Pagoda: ¥20
Baita Temple Cypress Forest: ¥15
Macun Site: Free (Reservation required)
Shangshui Park: Free

Travel Tips

Pay attention to safety when climbing Shousheng Temple Pagoda, some steps are steep
Climbing and carving on ancient cypresses in Baita Temple Cypress Forest are strictly prohibited
Obey the regulations of the archaeological site when visiting Macun Site, and touching cultural relics is prohibited

Must-Try Foods in Shangshui County

Dengcheng Pig's Trotters

A special food of Dengcheng Town, Shangshui County, originating from the Three Kingdoms Period. Selected local black pig trotters are braised with more than 20 kinds of spices, with bright red color, tender but not mushy meat, fat but not greasy, known as the "No.1 Trotter Under Heaven", and is an intangible cultural heritage of Henan Province.

Guqiang Handmade Noodles

A specialty of Guqiang Town, Shangshui County, hand-rolled with high-quality wheat flour, the noodles are evenly thick, chewy and smooth, served with local yellow beef braised soup or egg and tomato soup, with a unique flavor, and are a staple food for local festivals.

Shangshui Large Plate Chicken

A characteristic dish of Eastern Henan, selected local free-range native chickens, braised with potatoes, green peppers, belt noodles and other ingredients with secret sauce, the chicken is tender, the soup is rich, suitable for sharing with multiple people, and is a common dish at local banquets.

Baisi Dog Meat

A traditional flavor of Baisi Town, Shangshui County. Selected healthy meat dogs are braised with unique craftsmanship, with firm meat and mellow flavor, a local winter specialty (Note: Consumption must comply with relevant laws and regulations, it is recommended to choose compliant merchants).

Shangshui County Travel Tips

Best Travel Time

Spring (March-May): Pleasant climate, suitable for visiting ancient towns and manors
Autumn (September-November): Clear sky and fresh air, broad view when climbing Shousheng Temple Pagoda
Important Festival: "Dragon Head-Raising Festival" at Dengcheng Ancient Town on the second day of the second lunar month

Must-Try Foods

Dengcheng Pig's Trotters (Best when hot)
Guqiang Handmade Noodles (With beef braised soup)
Shangshui Large Plate Chicken (With belt noodles)
Sesame Leaf Tofu Jelly
Shangshui Sugar Cakes

Budget Reference

Tickets: About ¥75
Accommodation: ¥70-130 per night
Catering: ¥50-80 per day
Transportation: About ¥40
Total: ¥300-550

Frequently Asked Questions

Which one is the most authentic Dengcheng Pig's Trotters? → "Ye's Pig's Trotters Old Shop" (Center of Dengcheng Town, founded in 1896)
Can I take photos in Ye's Manor? → Flash photography is prohibited indoors, normal shooting is allowed outdoors
Can I reach the top of Shousheng Temple Pagoda? → Can climb to the 6th floor, the top floor is not open to the public
How to book a visit to Macun Site? → Call the Shangshui County Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism one day in advance to make a reservation

Explore Travel in Each District and County of Zhoukou City