One of China’s eight ancient cities, Anyang lets visitors step back in time. With more than 25,000 years of history at fingertips, Anyang is the perfect stop to soak up the rich culture and heritage of ancient China. From bones to burial sites, characters to canyons, Anyang is a popular and amazing city and worthwhile addition to your China itinerary.
Tours and activities in Anyang
Autumn and spring in Anyang are usually dry, so it is suggested to visit the city from April to May or September to October. During December, January, and then March there are minimum chances of rainfall and snow.
More tourists visit Anyang in May, February, and April. The accommodation prices are usually high during these months. In case you are not fond of the crowd, visit the city in December. The accommodation is relatively cheap in December and January.
Best time to visit
Autumn and spring in Anyang are usually dry, so it is suggested to visit the city from April to May or September to October. During December, January, and then March there are minimum chances of rainfall and snow.
More tourists visit Anyang in May, February, and April. The accommodation prices are usually high during these months. In case you are not fond of the crowd, visit the city in December. The accommodation is relatively cheap in December and January.
Top Attractions in Anyang
Opting for a guided tour for a day or two of your holiday will ensure you get the very best from your visit to Anyang. Some trips are just easier when you’ve got an expert guiding your experience, and others are near on impossible without someone to help.
If you’re keen on Chinese history, or simply on the heritage of the human race, there are few better places to gain an in-depth understanding of the origins of our species than Anyang. From the Oracle Bones to the Yin Ruins, Anyang has so much to uncover, which can often be best tackled with a native speaker and expert guide on hand to interpret.
If you want to attend an event, see a cultural show or experience a bespoke activity in Anyang, we can help with that too. From concerts to theatre performances, sporting activities to spa days, we can help you book the very best activities in Anyang to help you get the very best from your trip.
As the last capital of the Shang dynasty, the Yin Ruins are the top of the list for most tourists. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, An ancient capital measured around 36km square, and over the decades of research, archaeologists have found more than 100 palaces, 12 grand imperial graves, 2,500 sacrificial trenches and great swathes of villages and housing. The site is ideal for anyone who is interested in human history or archaeology the site; it will surely add an enthralling experience in their memory books. One of the most important finds here was the oracle bone inscriptions, which catalog everything about ancient Chinese lifestyle from rituals to astronomy and everything in between. They grabbed the attention of the world when they were discovered in the nineteenth century, and today more than 15,000 pieces have been found. They are one of the oldest testaments to human life on earth.
A large museum at the Yin Ruins is certainly worth your time, but aside from that, another must-see is the world-famous National Museum of Chinese Writing. Unusually for Chinese museums, the signages in English are pretty good and serves to tell the story of the origins of Chinese characters very well. Entrance to the museum is totally free.
Just outside of the city, the Red Flag Canal is a humanmade waterway nestled at the foot of the beautiful Mount Taihang. Visit the Youth Cave, where you can marvel at the engineering works which have gone into this incredible canal, and take a boat along the river passing through many mountain caves. The nearby Luosi Deep Pool offers a spectacular waterfall, as well as the nerve-racking chain bridge which gives a bird’s eye view of the canal and pool. Take a moment to explore the Red Flag Canal Museum which brings to life the history and challenges of building this amazing canal.
Tianning Temple is another great spot for family fun, especially if you choose to climb to the top of Wenfeng Pagoda for a lofty outlook over the city. The architecture of the building is, and there is also a big, charming park behind the pagodas.
An important festival in Anyang is the Anyang Yinshang Culture Tourism Festival which is held from September to October every year. This festival integrates tourism, culture, economy, and trade, and is of special interest for arts, literature and photography enthusiasts.
Aside from Anyang specific festivals, it’s worth checking the calendar to see if you’ll be there during a national public holiday too. The three busiest holidays all over China are Spring Festival, which is around late January to early February, the Labour Day holiday in early May and National Day which is from the 1st to 7th October.
Top tip for travelers: Anyang is somewhat ‘off the beaten track,’ despite its wealth of history and culture. Many travelers overlook this historical gem, heading instead for larger conurbations. This means it’s not as well set up for Westerners, so be prepared to live off local fayre and to struggle in places with the language if you are not a speaker.
The nearby Luosi Deep Pool offers a spectacular waterfall, as well as the nerve racking chain bridge which gives a bird’s eye view of the canal and pool. Take a moment to explore the Red Flag Canal Museum which brings to life the history and challenges of building this amazing canal.
Take the kids along to Sanjiaohu Park to let off some steam. This beautiful park plus garden offers plenty of scenic walking, as well as green spaces to kick a ball and run about. Every corner of the park is well maintained and have the potential to move the hearts of visitors.
Getting here and getting around
Visitors to Anyang will usually make their way to the city from Beijing. High-speed trains run every day at specific routes. They can get you there within an hour. Another option is of using standard trains which run five times a day and take around three and a half hours, depending on which train you catch. Alternatively, there is a bus service from Zhengzhou airport which runs directly to Anyang at 1 pm and 5 pm, costing around ¥70 per person.
If you arrive by high-speed train, you will alight at the Anyang East Train Station which is on the outskirts of the city. From here, a bus will take you to the main city center, costing ¥1 and taking around 35 minutes. If you travel by slow train or bus, you’ll be dropped in the city center when you arrive. There are also local town buses, but unless you’re fairly confident in the inhabitant languages, you might struggle a lot to make yourself understood.
Once you are in the city, reasonably priced taxis are available to take passengers to the main sights. Expect to pay between ¥10 and ¥20 to get out to the highlights of the city. The Yin Ruins are spread across a large site, straddling two sides of the river. You can avail a free shuttle bus service to roam in between the two sides.
Eating and drinking
Anyang boasts of a few local specialties that you definitely shouldn’t miss if you’re a fan of diverse cuisines. Look out for Chao San Bu Zhan which is a traditional egg-based dish, fried together with sugars and flour. Anyang San Xu is another famous dish of the local area and features three different types of smoked meat including a smoked pigs head.
Restaurants are spread out across the city center, so you’re never likely to be far away from somewhere good to eat. The Tiexi Road Residential District is a good place to head for if you’re looking for traditional, local eateries, whereas the area around Bei Guan District will offer more choice of cuisines, although will also tend to be more expensive.
Getting a good night's sleep
There are plenty of hotels to suit all needs and budget in the central city area. Whether you’re on a budget or prepared to splurge, Anyang’s hotels are generally good quality and clean. If you’re tight on cash, there are a number of hostels and guest houses offering safe, clean accommodation for the shoestring traveler.
Near to the Yin Ruins, the Jinjiang Inn at Anyang Institute of Technology offers excellent value, clean accommodation with proper Wi-Fi facility from just ¥150 per night, or closer to the city the Jinjiang Inn at Wenfeng Avenue is a great choice from ¥160 per night.
For a really luxurious stay, the Anyang Wanda Realm Hotel is the main high-end choice in Anyang. It’s stylish, comfortable and luxurious, with a gym, pool and free Wi-Fi. Rooms per night tend to be in the range of ¥300 - ¥400 for a good sized double. You can view a selection of the available accommodations here.
