Henan · China
Pingdingshan travel guide
Pingdingshan is a city in Henan, China, home to about 4,987,000 people.
- Best months
- April, May, September and October
- Nearest airport
- CGO102 km · Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport
- Currency
- CNYrenminbi
- Time zone
- Asia/Shanghai
- Language
- Chinese, Putonghua, Standard Chinese
About
About Pingdingshan
Pingdingshan (simplified Chinese: 平顶山; traditional Chinese: 平頂山; pinyin: Píngdǐngshān), also known as Eagle City (simplified Chinese: 鹰城; traditional Chinese: 鷹城; pinyin: Yīngchéng), is a prefecture-level city in central Henan province, China. It had 4,904,701 inhabitants at the 2010 census whom 1,756,333 lived in the built-up (or metro) area including Ye county being conurbated.
In Chinese, Pingdingshan means "mountain with a flat top". The city is named after a nearby plateau, the top of which is very flat. The nickname "Eagle City" can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn Period (771 to 403 BCE). There was a small country royal named Ying who lived in the Pingdingshan area. In ancient times, the word "Ying" had the same pronunciation as Eagle in Chinese, therefore people also called Pingdingshan "Eagle City". Pingdingshan City oversees 4 districts, 4 counties, and manages 2 county-level cities.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Pingdingshan
See
Pingdingshan people seem to carry a regional pride with them, as their city is home to an ancient "Eagle" tribe which was probably one of the earliest in the country. Keep in mind as you wander the area that you are walking amongst some of the oldest landscapes within Chinese civilization. The area is mostly flood plain, except for the flat-topped hills to the northeast which lend the city its name. Take Xinhua road to its northern terminus and you'll be halfway up Pingdingshan mountain, a flat-topped butte of sorts, but usually green and comfortable on top.
- Spring Temple Buddha
- Hwamei Valley
- Yao Shan
- White Egret Island National Urban Wetland Park
- Bai Gui Lake National Wetland Park
- Ping Ding mountain
- Xiangshan Pumen Zen Temple
- Yexian County Yamen
- Fengxue Temple
- Pingdingshan Museum
Do
Because Pingdingshan is not a tourist city, there are relatively few things to do, but walking around the city center is also a good option; it's walkable in a day. Most locals like to visit Pingdingshan mountain or walk along the Zhanhe river (canal) which cuts through the city from west to east. There is a park lining the canal which at most times of night and day has something interesting to see. The central area of Pingdingshan is located on TiYu Road ZhongXin Road, KaiYuan Road.These three roads have many shops and dining options, making them the liveliest places on Pingdingshan, where there are also numerous entertainment options.
- Eagle City Square
- Riverside Park
- Yao Mountain Grand Canyon Rafting
- Yao Mountain TianHe Rafting
- Bao Feng Ma Street Shu Hui (National Intangible Cultural Heritage)
- Yao Mountain Highland Rhododendron Festival
- Yao Mountain Ice and Snow Festival
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Pingdingshan to stay in
Most hotels in Pingdingshan offer average prices with little fluctuation. If you are a backpacker looking to spend a low price on accommodation, there are still some options around the train station, though the environment may be a bit poor.However, some hotels are slightly more expensive than budget hotels near the train station, but they offer much better environments and better value for money.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Pingdingshan
1 hotel within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Yunhai Jinyuan Hotel | 10.2 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Pingdingshan
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Pingdingshan are April, May, September and October. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; July is the wettest, with about 171 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Pingdingshan: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport (CGO), about 102 km from the city centre in a straight line; Luoyang Beijiao Airport (LYA, 140 km) is also within reach.
Getting around
The most important roads in town are Guangming road (光明路), Jianshe road (建设路), Zhongxing road (中兴路) and Kuanggong road (矿工路). Together they form somewhat of a trapezoid around the northwestern part of the city and most city life can be found within the area. If you catch a bus, just imagine the bus running straight down the road which you are on. The train station is at the southern end of Zhongxing road (中兴路). There is a bus station just north of the train station on Zhongxing road and another bus station on East Kuang-gong road just east of Xinhua road (新花路).
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
CGO · Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport
LYA · Luoyang Beijiao Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Pingdingshan
Eat
PingDingShan has a diverse array of fine Chinese cuisine. Its location at China's center means you can find almost any type of Chinese food here. The city is big enough to have a scattering of cosmopolitan restaurants, and while there are a number of imitation Korean, Japanese, Indian, and Western options about, you will do best to stick with Chinese food. From street food to local delicacies, this city has a rich, authentic, and down-to-earth flavor.
Drink
The following bars are mostly the same setup. An open space with a short bar, then two levels of booths wrapped around the open space. They play Chinese pop and most people play dice-game over their beer, fruit, popcorn and cigarettes. The bartenders and servers are all nice and helpful. They sell beer and mixed drinks.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Pingdingshan: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Pingdingshan?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Pingdingshan are April, May, September and October. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; July is the wettest, with about 171 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Pingdingshan?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport (CGO), about 102 km from the city centre in a straight line; Luoyang Beijiao Airport (LYA, 140 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in Pingdingshan?
renminbi (CNY).
Nearby
Destinations near Pingdingshan
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.