Qingming Shangheyuan (Part 5): Center Seat at the Horse Show, a Big Red 1.5-Liter Water Cup in Front — Annual Pass This Time, Song Banquet Next Time

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It was our last day at Qingming Shangheyuan (Kaifeng City, Henan Province, China) — we’d be taking the train back in the evening. Even though I’d also bought an annual pass for Wansuishan (Wansui Mountain) Wuxia City, I still hadn’t seen the Great Song Horse Show over here, so I decided not to go over for now.

I’d been wandering for half a day, and by afternoon I was a little hungry. It seems people around here don’t have much of a sweet tooth — some things that really should be sweet weren’t sweet at all, or just not sweet enough (and I’m not someone who can handle very sweet food anyway).

For example, the sweet rice wine and bubble tea I bought here, and yesterday’s almond-tea dessert, all lacked that gently sweet flavor.

I walked into a shop selling snacks, and inside there seemed to be a storyteller. I couldn’t quite make out his lines — his accent was very northern — but he at least added to the atmosphere, which was nice.

I looked around at the ordering counter and finally ordered a bowl of rice noodles (米线). All I can say is, it was edible.

After we’d eaten, it started pouring when we went outside. Good thing we’d been smart and worn sandals. As long as you roll up your trouser legs like you’re heading into the fields, you’re “safe.”

We passed a “Song Banquet” (宋宴) restaurant (you eat delicious food while watching performances), and the package even includes an entrance ticket. But we’d already used our scenic-area annual passes this time — we’ll definitely go try it on the next visit!!!

We passed the wall of “Great Song · Defense of Dongjing” (大宋·东京保卫战). Hey! This one moves — it’s a real person! Too bad he wasn’t holding a “weapon,” or I could’ve “snatched” it for fun.

There was another arched bridge up ahead. Qingming Shangheyuan really has so many arched bridges!

I suddenly spotted what looked like money on the bridge deck and hurried over. It was jiaozi! (Jiaozi was the currency of China’s Song Dynasty — the world’s earliest paper money — and it’s also the token currency of the Qingming Shangheyuan scenic area.) Two bills of ten thousand guan! Now I’m “worth ten thousand strings of cash” too ✌

It suddenly hit me that I hadn’t brought the leftover jiaozi from last year — one of them I’d even traded for a stick of chewing gum.

It was still drizzling, and I had no idea whether the Great Song Horse Show would still go on. Come what may, I’d head over and find out.

Hardly anyone was there — excellent! My luck held yet again, and I got the center seat this time too. Just a few minutes to showtime!

Then I spotted someone up front with a big bright-red extra-large water cup — at least 1.5 liters. Were they planning to hold that center seat all day? Hahaha

The show began, and the horse trainer made the horse rear up on its hind legs to greet us.

The performance really was spectacular — the live show was far more captivating than what a camera can capture.

After the show, a crowd gathered on the left. Turns out you could pay 30 yuan for a horseback-riding experience.

Little kids have the most fun riding, because they get to sit in front of the instructor. The space is a bit cramped, but the horse gets to run fast.

Older kids can ride a horse on their own, which is more comfortable. If you’re a male visitor, the instructor leads your horse at a fast run. But for female visitors it’s slow — not much fun.

Oh right — in a day and a half of wandering, I never did come across that arched bridge that had been packed with tourists when Yang Yang (a famous Chinese male celebrity) came through a couple of days earlier.

Tired from walking, I went back to the covered walkway where I’d taken photos a few times before (this spot photographs beautifully — if you’re in hanfu, definitely come shoot here) to rest.

As I sat there, I looked around — wasn’t that bridge up ahead the very one where the fans had gathered to welcome Yang Yang that day?

Looking closely, the walkway had changed too. The lanterns weren’t as pretty as before, and the staircase with handrails at the back was gone! What a shame.

It was getting dark, so we found a dessert shop nearby and sat down for something to eat.

The shop was nearly empty, and the desserts and skewers were just so-so. But since it was raining medium-to-heavy outside, it wasn’t a bad place to take shelter.

The sky grew darker, and I suddenly noticed the fish lanterns on the window had lit up and were moving. So fun~

After eating, it was time to grab our luggage and head for the train station.

I have to say, the male NPCs that Qingming Shangheyuan hires are tall and handsome, so everywhere you look there are female visitors crowding around them. After all, it’s about the only chance they get to openly pester and chat up handsome guys — they’ve got to seize the opportunity, haha.

Of course, there are plenty of beautiful female NPCs too~

I enjoy slow-paced travel and never do rushed, check-the-box sightseeing. If you also like this style of traveling, feel free to follow, like, save, comment, and share. Thank you for reading this far~