Food
Zhengzhou, despite its role as the main transit point for travelers in and beyond
Henan, is not the most culinary city in China. It is, however, a rapidly modernising
city, and as such there are a wealth of restaurants to choose from. The food
here mainly consists of authentic Henan cuisine, carp and chicken being most
dishes main component. The Chinese here are proud of their local produce, including,
most famously, the traditional pastries (called Taosibao, but with different
varieties including Dajiujia, Pipasu and Chongyang huagao) and the see-through
noodles (Liangfen), which are both said to have been popular dishes on the emperor's
plate in bygone days. Of more simple fare, there are fish slices with noodles
(Liyu peiman), wooden bucket-cooked chicken (Tongzi bao) and a delicious stewed
yellow carp dish (Huangmeng yu).The most popular and fashionable restaurants
can be found on and around Jinshui Road (Jinshui lu). This area is full of fairly
cheap food (around RMB50 per person), somewhat deceptive since the facades of
many of these places are grand and imposing. Restaurant choice here is also
large and varied, with prices kept down by competition, but among the best,
the Shaolin and Guotai Restaurants (Shaolin fandian and Guotai fandian) are
both good choices, and the Caolaomu serves cheaper Muslim buffet during lunch
hours. For Cantonese food, the Flower Restaurant (Huayuan fandian) does well
crafted dimsum and some good seafood dishes and for Western food, the Richmond
Brewery (Zhuqimen) is nice, allowing you to relax with some cool Canadian draft
beer.Within town, and also close to Jinshui Road, is also a branch of the famous
Red Sorghum Restaurant (Honggaoliang), which serves a variety of better made
Muslim fast food. The restaurant can be located on Erqi lu, just near to the
Erqi Hotel. For those after something a little more spicy the Sichuan Restaurant
(Sichuan caiguan) on Fuli Lu will enliven the tastebuds.
Shopping
ZhengzhouBisha Department Store
Address : 20 Bishagang Road North, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, P.R.C.
Zhengda Garden Commercial Building Department Store
Address : 8 Huayuan Road, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, P.R.C.
ZhengzhouAsia Wucai Plaza (Closed in 1998)
Address : 3, Minzhu Road, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, P.R.C.
Zhengzhou Commercial City Building
Address : No1, Er Qi Road, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, P.R.C.
Zhengzhou Tianran Commercial Building
Address : No 1, Remin Road, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, P.R.C.
Zhengzhou Hualian Department Store
Address : Er Qi Square, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, P.R.C.
Zhengzhou Department Store
Address : No. 49 27th Road North, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, P.R.C.
Zhengzhou Asia Group Co. Ltd.
Address : Erqi Square Zhengzhou, Henan Province, P.R.C.
Zhengzhou Zijingshan Department Store
Address: No.1 Zijinshan Road, Zhengzhou, China
Zhengzhou Zhenghong Shopping Club
Address: No. 224, Er Qi Road, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, P.R.C.
Zhengzhou Dennis Department Store
Address: No. 2, Remin Road, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, P.R.C.
Zhengzhou Jinbuoda Shopping Mall
Address: Er Qi Square, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, P.R.C.
Anyang Asian Commercial Building
Add : Hunacheng Rd. (North) Anyang, Henang,
Despite the usual array of Chinese entertainment centers, including karaoke, bowling and billiards, Zhengzhou is not the most exciting of areas to be situated. Many of the bars and discos here have a short lifespan that is not very conducive to a lively clubbing scene. However, a visit to some of the more popular restaurants on Jinshui Lu can be a nice way to spend an evening; particularly good is the Richmond Brewery (Zhuqimen), at 111 Jinshui Lu, that not only serves some of Zhengzhou's best Western food, but also that has a fine selection of imported beer on tap, mostly Canadian.The longest running of the clubs in Zhengzhou is probably the Jump Disco, that is situated on the corner of Dong Dajie and Chongdong Lu. The music here is not the best, although possibly the best in the city, a mixture of cheesy Chinese pop and old Western "classics", and so the place often is partially filled by the students and younger expats of the city. Admission here is around RMB30, and the place is often shut by twelve.