Kaifeng's Gulou Night Market: The 1,000-Year-Old China Travel Classic That Still Delivers

The Night Market Where China's Nightlife Was Invented

Kaifeng is the city where Chinese night markets were born. As the capital of the Northern Song dynasty (960-1127), it was one of the first cities in the world where street stalls stayed open after dark, and the bustling night scenes of that era are recorded in the famous painting Along the River During the Qingming Festival.

The Gulou (Drum Tower) Night Market, centered on the square beneath Kaifeng's ancient drum tower, is the direct descendant of that tradition and remains the largest night market in the city. Trip.com's live guide page for the market, updated 15 October 2026, lists it as free to enter with a 4.8/5.0 rating from 179 reviews, running roughly 6 p.m. to midnight.

What Makes It Stand Out for Foreign Visitors

It's genuinely ancient. You are not eating in a themed recreation - the street layout and the market's place in the city date back centuries. For travelers tired of identikit tourist streets, that's the point.

The price gap is the whole pitch. Trip Moments guides from October 2026 note that locals still use the market as their everyday dinner spot. A full round of Kaifeng's signature snacks - steamed soup dumplings, braised chicken slices, skewers, and the famous stir-fried mung bean jelly - runs well under 50 RMB (about 7 USD). The same evening out would cost several times that in most global capitals.

There are two tiers, and both are worth it. The Gulou Night Market itself is the liveliest and most atmospheric, ideal for a first visit. A few minutes away, the Old Henan University night market skews younger and cheaper, popular with students - the pick for budget-conscious travelers who want the same food without the crowds.

What to Eat at Gulou

• Stir-fried mung bean jelly (chao liang fen): the signature dish. Cooked on a hot plate until the sauce thickens, finished with sesame sauce. Order it "with extra garlic" and locals will know you've done your homework.
• Steamed soup dumplings (guan tang bao): Kaifeng's answer to Shanghai's xiaolongbao, with a broth-filled center.
• Braised chicken slices (tong zi ji): a century-old local specialty, served cold with a rich, spiced glaze.
• Grilled skewers: the universal night-market currency, from lamb to vegetables, done over charcoal.

How to Do It Right

• Go around 7-8 p.m. when the market is at full swing but before the late-night crowds peak.
• Bring your phone, not cash - stalls accept Alipay and WeChat Pay QR codes, and both apps support foreign cards.
• Order small portions from several stalls. Half the fun is the tour.
• Kaifeng sits on the high-speed rail line between Zhengzhou and the east - a 30-40 minute ride from Zhengzhou East makes it an easy day trip.

The Takeaway

Every China travel itinerary needs a night market, and most first-timers pick the obvious ones. Kaifeng's Gulou offers something rarer: a food street with a thousand years of history behind it, prices that still feel like a secret, and a crowd that is mostly local. It is the classic China travel experience - and it still delivers.

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