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Brief description |
Zhengzhou sits just south of the majestic Yellow River, in the centre of China. It is the capital of Henan province, acting as a hub for the area's transportation, economy and culture. It is one of the oldest capitals in China, linked to the legendary figure of China's Yellow Emperor. It was chosen to be the capital city of several ancient Chinese dynasties and today the city considers itself to be at the forefront of China's economic development.
It is often overlooked as a tourist destination: though it has a long history, the crowded modern streets have not retained the same level of local charm that Cities such as Beijing and Shanghai have managed, but nevertheless, Zhengzhou can be an interesting place to spend a few days.
The Shaolin Monks and the secular practitioners of Shaolin Wushu have made the Shaolin Monastery (''Shaolin Temple'') the most widely recognized site around Zhengzhou. The temple is on the slopes of Song Mountain, one of the five sacred mountains of China. Daily exhibitions of martial arts are one of the main attractions at the temple, but the temple also boasts paintings and statues reflecting the Zen Buddhism still practiced at the temple, as well as numerous pagodas, towers and halls.
This is by no means the only ancient attraction in Zhengzhou: the twin Han Dynasty Tombs, the Songyang Academy, established during the Northern Wei Dynasty, Dahechun Village which dates from the Neolithic Era and the Shang Dynasty City Ruins can all give visitors a glimpse into the long history of the region. Excavations of the Shang Dynasty City Ruins, have uncovered workshops, ancient wells and silos as well as numerous small artifacts and grave goods, which have helped archeologists move toward a clearer understanding of the period. Of course traveling out to one of these ancient sites is not the only way of exploring the region's history: visiting the Henan Provincial Museum to view its superb collection of art and ancient artefacts is far simpler, and the city also has a smaller museum - the Zhengzhou Museum - which has a notable collection of Shang and Zhou Dynasty Bronze Wares.
A boat trip along the Yellow River from Zhengzhou or an afternoon spent climbing up to the top of Five Dragons Peak complements a stroll around Zijingshan Park or Zhengzhou National Forest Park and provides nature-loving visitors with all the scenery and greenery they could ask for. Visitors particularly interested in rare plants should take a trip to the Zhengzhou Rare Plants Botanical Garden where the largest greenhouse in China has been used to cultivate over 3500 varieties of plant, many of which are on the verge of extinction.
The city does not have a wild nightlife, though there are enough KTV boxes and bars to keep most visitors occupied. The most interesting entertainment is the city comes from the traditional operas performed in the city's theatres, or local impromptu singing performances in one of the city's squares. Visitors should also be sure to sample local cuisine, which include Mutton Braised Noodles, Tube Chicken, and a fish dish known as Liyu Sanchi. Of course visitors may want to take some local products home with them, and are recommended to browse for jade sculptures, Huanghe Ink stones and herbal medicines, which are grown and produced in the city.
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Location /Climate |
Zhengzhou is situated in the Henan Province, in the centre of China, south of the Yellow River. Summers in the city usually reach around 27C in July: this month also experiences high levels of rainfall, which is highest during July, August and September. In January, the thermometer drops to just below 0C. Spring and Autumn are usually the best times to visit the city: the temperature is pleasant and rainfall is low.
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Area & Population |
 Zhengzhou covers an area of nearly 7.5 thousand square kilometers with a total population of 7.24 million, 4.36 million of whom live in urban areas.
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History |
 Zhengzhou is one of the oldest Cities in China, with a history stretching back over 3500 years. It was founded in the Shang Dynasty, and as such can claim to be one of the seats of Chinese civilization.
Long before the city was founded, the Yellow Emperor (the first Chinese Emperor) is said to have been born in Xuanyuan Hill, which is now a part of the Zhengzhou Municipality. He is a legendary figure of Chinese history, and is said to be the father of the Han people and is now revered as one of the chief deities of Taoism. During the Xia dynasty, Yangcheng was the capital city of the region, but after being founded in the Shang Dynasty, Zhengzhou became the capital city for the Shang Dynasty, the States of Guan, Zheng and Han. It was also an important prefecture during eight dynasties: Sui, Tang, Five Dynasties, song, Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing.
During the time the Zheng and Han Dynasties had their capitals established in the region, the city's wealth grew considerably. The city finally got its current name during the Sui Dynasty becoming the economic and political centre of the area. It was during the Sui Dynasty too that the waterways of Zhengzhou became an important transport hub in the region. The Grand Canal and Tongli Channel were built during the reign of Emperor Yang, ensuring that the waterways became as important as the roads in transporting goods around the region.
More recently, Zhengzhou has become known as the site of the February 7 Great Strike of 1923, which was a crucial time in the development and growth of the Chinese Worker Movement. In 1948, the city was officially established in its modern form, and became the provincial capital of Henan six years later. |
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