On May 1st, I visited Kaifeng (Eight Ancient Capitals of China) in Henan province for a one day tourist visit. I focused on the old town.
Several of the ancient sightseeing sites are developed like Disney worlds. Very commercially developed and not very authentic. Too many shops inside these sites.
Tickets are required almost everywhere and foreigners have to show their passports at the ticket counter. Ridiculous!
I saw very few foreign tourists there.
Foreign tourists may struggle because e.g. many of the exhibits are in Chinese only or feature only one sentence in english (of course many other than Kaifeng tourist places in China are still not better).
I was very impressed and liked the Daxiangguo Temple (one of the oldest, largest still in operation Buddhist temples in China). Out of respect, I did not take any photos of any of the halls containing a Buddha statue.
I also like the Imperial Palace (with the Dragon Pavilion).
Particularly awful was the Kaifeng Palace (aka governor's palace). High price Disney world or amusement park for kids. You can not tell what is authentic and what is not or what is recreated etc.. Most exhibits are banal and disappointing.
E.g. the Iron Pagoda is part of a park for which you have to buy a ticket. I did not go in.
Inside the Daxiangguo Temple
Kaifeng Eiffel Tower far in the background
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