Gongyi City is a sizeable town between Zhengzhou and Luoyang in western Henan Province. While not worth traveling here from afar, it makes a decent stop-off on the way to Luoyang from Zhengzhou, the provincial capital.
Walks along the banks of the Yellow River in the north of town and a look at the Imperial Tombs of Northern Song Dynasty are the major pluses of a visit to Gongyi City. The town also has a nice park loaded with interesting historical items.
The tombs in Gongyi City are the largest complex of their type in central China. They feature seven of the nine emperors of the Northern Song Dynasty, along with empresses, princes and princesses, generals and ministers. Yongzhao Tomb is the most visited and has been completely restored.
Getting There & Away
Gongyi City is 80kms west of Zhengzhou and 75kms east of Luoyang on the Lanzhou-Xuzhou Expressway. Buses make the trip in about an hour and trains also run here. Xinzheng International Airport is 37kms southeast of Zhengzhou. Flight time from Beijing is around an hour or more.
Things to Do
Gongyi City Attractions
- Imperial Tombs of Northern Song Dynasty
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A series of well-kept tombs featuring many emperors, their empresses, and princes and princesses. focus on the yongzhao tomb if you have little time.
Side trips from Gongyi City
- Yongding Tomb
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Situated 10kms to the southwest of gongyi, this tomb is much less visited than yongzhao and is beautifully done with stone sculptures.