East:
Kaifeng – Shangqiu – Zhoukou
Head to the Longhai Expressway east of Zhengzhou and then take Lianhuo Highway to reach Kaifeng in some 90 minutes. Spend a day exploring the ancient city and don't miss the Song dynasty themed Millennium City Park with shows during the day and night, that are equally entertaining. The next day, get back on Lianhuo Highway and drive further east to reach Shangqiu, a scenic 500 year town that's one of China's most well-preserved. From Shangqiu, catch the S206 provincial highway and then Shangzhou Highway to Huaiyang county in Zhoukou. Take time to discover the 8,000 year old relics including the first representation of the dragon.
West
Dengfeng – Gongyi – Luoyang – Sanmenxia
90 minutes west of Zhengzhou using the Zhengshaoluo and G207 Highways, is Dengfeng. Pay a visit to the famous Shaolin Temple and catch the Kung Fu fighting monks in action. Continue further west on the Zhengshaoluo Highway for about 70 minutes, that leads to Luoyang with the Longmen Grottoes. Visit the White Horse Temple and the Old City as well as the massive UNESCO Heritage site. In winter, plan a stop at the Funiu Mountains for some alpine views and fun. The next day, drive north on X058 and jump onto the G310 Highway. This leads to Gongyi and the Manor of Millionaire Kang, an amazing building complex from feudal times that includes cave homes. Further west of Gongyi is Sanmenxia. Between November and March, make it a point to stop at the Wetlands Park to view the beautiful Siberian swans.