Henan Administrative Divisions

Henan Province (河南省), historically known as Zhongyuan (中原) or the Central Plains, lies in east-central China along the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River. Covering approximately 167,000 square kilometres, Henan borders Anhui and Shandong to the east, Hebei and Shanxi to the north, Shaanxi to the west and Hubei to the south.

The province contains broad plains in the centre and east, the Taihang Mountains in the north, the Funiu Mountains in the west and southwest, and the Tongbai and Dabie mountains in the south. This geographic structure has shaped both its administrative development and its varied tourism resources, ranging from ancient capitals and archaeological sites to mountain resorts, Yellow River landscapes and traditional villages.

As of 31 December 2025, Henan administered 17 prefecture-level cities and Jiyuan City (济源市), a county-level city directly administered by the provincial government. The province contained 157 county-level divisions, comprising 54 urban districts, 21 county-level cities—including Jiyuan—and 82 counties. It also had 2,471 township-level divisions: 734 subdistricts, 1,225 towns, 501 ordinary townships and 11 ethnic townships.

Administrative Structure of Henan

Henan follows the general four-level Chinese administrative structure:

Province → prefecture-level city → county-level division → township-level division

The county level includes:

• Urban districts, generally covering the central urban areas of prefecture-level cities.
• County-level cities, which include both urban centres and surrounding rural territory.
• Counties, which usually contain county towns, smaller towns, villages and agricultural or mountain areas.
• Jiyuan, which is formally a province-administered county-level city and operates together with the Jiyuan Industry–City Integration Demonstration Zone. It directly administers five subdistricts and 11 towns.

Development zones, high-tech zones, airport economic zones and tourism-management areas may function like local administrative districts, but they are not necessarily separate statutory county-level divisions.

Henan Tourism Resources and Administrative Geography

Henan’s tourism resources are concentrated along several major cultural and geographic corridors. Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, Luoyang and Anyang form the province’s ancient-capital tourism system, while the Taihang Mountains, Funiu Mountains, Dabie Mountains and Yellow River corridor support nature, hiking, geology and rural tourism.

The province contains heritage associated with five UNESCO World Heritage properties: Longmen Grottoes, Yin Xu, the Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in the Centre of Heaven and Earth, the Grand Canal and the Silk Roads: Routes Network of the Chang’an–Tianshan Corridor. Henan’s recent cultural-tourism development has also emphasised immersive performance, museum tourism, archaeological experiences, mountain resorts and cultural night tours.

Zhengzhou Administrative Divisions and Tourism

Zhengzhou (郑州市) is the provincial capital and Henan’s principal transportation, business and cultural centre. Its western and southern areas connect with the Songshan Mountains, while Zhongmu County lies on the eastern plain between Zhengzhou and Kaifeng.

Major tourism resources include Henan Museum (河南博物院), Shaolin Temple (少林寺), Mount Song (嵩山), the historic monuments of Dengfeng, the Yellow River Scenic Area and Only Henan · Drama Fantasy City (只有河南·戏剧幻城). Xinzheng is associated with early Chinese civilisation and the Yellow Emperor tradition, while Gongyi preserves important grottoes, imperial tombs and traditional villages.

Kaifeng Administrative Divisions and Tourism

Kaifeng (开封市) is one of China’s historic capitals and is particularly associated with the Northern Song Dynasty. Its central districts preserve the traditional urban pattern of the former imperial capital, while Lankao, Qixian, Tongxu and Weishi extend across the eastern Henan plain.

Major attractions include Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden (清明上河园), Dragon Pavilion, Iron Pagoda, Daxiangguo Temple, Kaifeng City Wall, Kaifeng Museum and Wansui Mountain Martial Arts City. Lankao is also associated with the life and public-service legacy of Jiao Yulu.

Luoyang Administrative Divisions and Tourism

Luoyang (洛阳市) is one of China’s most important ancient capitals. Its administrative area extends from the central urban districts to the Funiu Mountains in Luanchuan and Song County.

Major tourism resources include Longmen Grottoes (龙门石窟), White Horse Temple, Luoyang Museum, Luoyi Ancient City, Sui-Tang Luoyang City National Archaeological Site Park, Laojun Mountain, Baiyun Mountain and Chongdugou. Luoyang is also the centre of Henan’s annual peony tourism season.

The current Luoyang structure includes Mengjin District (孟津区) and Yanshi District (偃师区). Mengjin is no longer a county, and Yanshi is no longer classified as a county-level city.

Pingdingshan Administrative Divisions and Tourism

Pingdingshan (平顶山市) combines industrial cities, agricultural plains and mountain landscapes. Ruzhou is famous for Ru porcelain, while the western part of Lushan County reaches the Funiu Mountain region.

Major tourism resources include Yaoshan Mountain (尧山), the Central Plains Giant Buddha, Sansu Garden, Erlang Mountain, Shimantan Reservoir, Fengxue Temple and the traditional ceramic culture of Ruzhou.

Anyang Administrative Divisions and Tourism

Anyang (安阳市) is a major centre of Shang Dynasty archaeology and Chinese writing history. Its western area reaches the Taihang Mountains, while Hua County and Neihuang lie on the northern plains.

Major attractions include Yin Xu (殷墟), the National Museum of Chinese Writing, Red Flag Canal, Taihang Grand Canyon, Yue Fei Temple in Tangyin and traditional villages around Linzhou. Anyang is particularly suitable for archaeological, historical and educational tours.

Hebi Administrative Divisions and Tourism

Hebi (鹤壁市) is one of Henan’s smaller prefecture-level cities. Its tourism resources combine ancient settlement culture, the Qi River, mountain landscapes and traditions associated with the ancient state and capital of Wei.

Major destinations include Xunxian Ancient City (浚县古城), Dapi Mountain, Yunmeng Mountain, the Qi River scenic corridor and cultural sites in Qi County connected with the ancient city of Chaoge.

Xinxiang Administrative Divisions and Tourism

Xinxiang (新乡市) stretches from the North China Plain to the cliffs and valleys of the South Taihang Mountains. The mountain counties and county-level cities of Huixian and Weihui contrast strongly with the eastern agricultural plains.

Major attractions include Wanxian Mountain, Guoliang Village, Baligou, Baoquan Resort, the South Taihang scenic corridor and Bigan Temple. Changyuan is now a county-level city and should not be listed as a county.

Jiaozuo Administrative Divisions and Tourism

Jiaozuo (焦作市) lies along the southern foothills of the Taihang Mountains and the northern bank of the Yellow River. Its mountain scenery, water systems and martial-arts traditions give it a distinctive tourism identity.

Major attractions include Yuntai Mountain (云台山), Qingtian River, Shennong Mountain, Chenjiagou—the birthplace of Chen-style tai chi—and Jiaying Temple, which presents Yellow River water-management history.

Puyang Administrative Divisions and Tourism

Puyang (濮阳市) lies in northeastern Henan near the Yellow River and the borders with Shandong and Hebei. Its landscape is dominated by plains, wetlands, historic river channels and agricultural settlements.

Major cultural resources include Qicheng Archaeological Site, the city’s ancient dragon-culture traditions, the former revolutionary base areas, Yellow River wetlands and local acrobatics and folk-performance traditions.

Xuchang Administrative Divisions and Tourism

Xuchang (许昌市) is strongly associated with Three Kingdoms history, Cao Wei culture, flowers and ceramic traditions. Yuzhou is one of China’s most important centres of Jun porcelain.

Major attractions include Cao Wei Ancient City, Chunqiu Tower, Baling Bridge, Shenhou Ancient Town, Jun Porcelain Cultural Park and Yanling’s flower and ecological tourism areas.

Luohe Administrative Divisions and Tourism

Luohe (漯河市) is a compact city on the confluence of the Sha and Li rivers. It is known for food-industry tourism, writing culture and riverside recreation.

Major resources include Xu Shen Cultural Park, the Shali River Scenic Area, Nanjie Village, local food-industry visitor centres and historical sites connected with the development of Chinese characters and regional commerce.

Sanmenxia Administrative Divisions and Tourism

Sanmenxia (三门峡市) occupies the western gateway of Henan along the Yellow River and the borders with Shaanxi and Shanxi. Its western counties combine loess landscapes, mountains, wetlands and Silk Road history.

Major attractions include Hangu Pass, Sanmenxia Yellow River Wetland, winter swan-watching areas, Shanzhou underground courtyard houses, the Yangshao Culture Museum in Mianchi and mountain scenery in Lushi County.

Nanyang Administrative Divisions and Tourism

Nanyang (南阳市) is Henan’s largest prefecture-level administrative area. It occupies the Nanyang Basin and extends westward into the Funiu Mountains and southward towards Hubei.

Major attractions include Nanyang Wuhou Shrine, the Museum of Han Dynasty Stone Carvings, Neixiang County Government Office, Xixia Dinosaur Relics Park, Laojieling Mountain, Baotianman Nature Reserve, Danjiangkou Reservoir and the headworks of the Middle Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project.

Shangqiu Administrative Divisions and Tourism

Shangqiu (商丘市) lies on the eastern Henan plain and is associated with Shang culture, Grand Canal history, academies and ancient commercial routes.

Major attractions include Shangqiu Ancient City, Mangdang Mountain, Yingtian Academy, the ancient city and tomb complexes of Yongcheng, and the ecological corridor along the former course of the Yellow River.

Xinyang Administrative Divisions and Tourism

Xinyang (信阳市) is the southernmost prefecture-level city in Henan and has a more humid, northern-subtropical environment. Tea, forests, lakes and Dabie Mountain landscapes distinguish it from northern and central Henan.

Major tourism resources include Jigong Mountain, Nanwan Lake, Xinyang Maojian tea gardens, the Dabie Mountains, traditional villages and revolutionary heritage sites in Xin County.

Zhoukou Administrative Divisions and Tourism

Zhoukou (周口市) lies on the southeastern Henan plain and is associated with ancestral culture, early Chinese philosophy, agricultural civilisation and river transport.

Major attractions include Taihao Mausoleum in Huaiyang, Laozi’s Hometown in Luyi, Zhoukou Guandi Temple, Huaiyang Lake and local intangible heritage such as clay dogs, folk performance and traditional temple fairs.

Zhumadian Administrative Divisions and Tourism

Zhumadian (驻马店市) lies between the central plains and the Tongbai and Dabie mountain systems. Its eastern districts are predominantly agricultural, while its western counties offer mountains, reservoirs and forest landscapes.

Major attractions include Chaya Mountain, Nanhai Temple, Boshan Lake, Tongshan Mountain, Yang Jingyu Memorial facilities and cultural sites associated with the ancient Liang-Zhu legend.

Jiyuan Administrative Divisions and Tourism

Jiyuan (济源市) is a province-administered county-level city rather than a prefecture-level city. It administers five subdistricts and 11 towns and is managed together with the Jiyuan Industry–City Integration Demonstration Zone.

Major tourism resources include Wangwu Mountain, Wulongkou macaque reserve, Yellow River Three Gorges, Jidu Temple, Xiaolangdi-area landscapes and sites connected with the legend of the Foolish Old Man Moving the Mountains.

Complete County-Level Administrative Divisions of Henan

The following table presents all 157 county-level administrative divisions recorded in Henan’s 2025 administrative-division information.

Jiyuan Township-Level Administrative Divisions

Because Jiyuan does not contain subordinate counties or urban districts, its five subdistricts and 11 towns are administered directly by the city.

Henan Township-Level Administrative Structure

The official 2025 classification separates ordinary townships from ethnic townships. The frequently used total of “512 townships” consists of 501 ordinary townships plus 11 ethnic townships.

A literal list of all 2,471 township-level names would require thousands of rows and is not practical inside a tourism article. For publication purposes, the complete 157-unit county-level table above is the usable core reference, while the full township-name and administrative-code directory is best maintained as a separate spreadsheet or database appendix based on the Henan Department of Civil Affairs’ annual administrative-code release.