许昌市

Why this place

Xuchang was the capital of the State of Wei and then of Cao Cao's regime, which made it central to the Three Kingdoms story that every Chinese person knows. Its museum and the sites around it are for anyone who grew up on that narrative.

What to see

• The Chunqiu Tower and the Cao Cao-era sites in the city
• The Ba Ling Bridge and the Three Kingdoms heritage of the surrounding counties
• The Jun kiln sites at Yuzhou — Jun ware is one of the great Song ceramic types
• Shenhou town, the centre of China's hair-products industry

What to eat

• Henan noodles, lamb and the local braised dishes
• Xuchang is known for its 'lotus root' dishes and its sesame pastries

Best time

April–May and September–October