The wider region around Luohe offers everything from the history of Chinese writing to river routes, birdlife, and regional cuisine. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between the different highlights: some places focus on writing and collections, while others feature landscapes, local history, or food.
The History of Chinese Writing at Xu Shen Cultural Park
Xu Shen Cultural Park, in the wider area around Luohe, was planned and built around Xu Shen’s tomb, which is designated a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level. The park covers more than 150 mu and follows traditional Chinese architectural principles. Its symmetrical layout is organized around a central axis. Along the central axis of the visitor route are the Chinese Dictionary Museum and the Exhibition Hall of Cultural Relics on Shuowen Jiezi.
Several design features explore the development of Chinese writing. The 80-meter-long Hanzi Avenue displays reproductions of selected famous inscriptions from ten stages in the development of the script. The Xu Shen Stele Forest features more than 1,000 stone inscriptions from Shuowen Jiezi, famous historical inscriptions, and calligraphy by contemporary figures and renowned calligraphers. The Pillar of the Six Principles of Writing also draws on Xu Shen’s work: made from a single six-meter-high block of granite, it bears his theory of the six principles of writing.
The Shuzhong Pavilion, Shuowen Pavilion, exhibition hall, and Chinese Dictionary Museum display materials related to Xu Shen. Their collections include numerous books about Xu Shen and the Confucian classics, dictionaries, writing artifacts, and works by well-known figures. The Xu Shen Cultural Temple Fair is held in the park every year. Each year, memorial activities honoring the region’s sages take place for the Qingming Festival; citywide recitations of classical texts are also held there. Writing, architecture, and recurring cultural events bring different aspects of the same theme together here.
River Routes and Birdlife in the Wider Region
Those interested in birds will find a different focus at Shenzhou Bird Park. It is a national 4A-rated tourist attraction centered on bird culture. The park is considered suitable for family outings, nature education, and leisure visits. A local report from 2026 lists more than 160 bird species and over 8,000 rare birds; population figures may change.
The scenic area along the Sha-Li River is also designated a national 4A-rated tourist attraction and additionally holds the title of national sports park. An extensive network of riverside paths is intended for walking and cycling. An open, ribbon-shaped public park has also been created along the banks of the Sha and Li rivers. The wider region therefore offers both a nature-focused bird experience and routes along the river.
Museums, Local History, and Regional Cuisine
The Luohe Museum presents more than 12,000 years of Luohe’s history through stone, earthenware, ceramic, and bronze objects. He Shang Jie offers a different emphasis: this large cultural tourism district, created by Luohe city, features historicist-style design and draws on the commercial history of central China as well as Luohe’s history. It is not a traditional century-old street.
For regional specialties, the night market at Huanghe Square in Luohe offers Yancheng tofu fritters, crispy vegetable wraps, grilled skewers, and liangfen, among other dishes. The selection at individual stalls and the dishes available may change. Visitors interested in culture can choose between themes centered on writing and museums; those who would rather focus on landscapes or birdlife will find other reasons to visit the wider Luohe area.
For the overall travel guide: Henan.
More Destinations
More places in the same destination:
