Zhengzhou

Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan Province, is an important city located in the heart of Central China. Historically, it was the capital of commerce and has played a significant role in the development of Chinese civilization. Today, Zhengzhou stands as a megacity, a vital transportation hub, and a commercial and logistics center, making it one of the most important urban centers in China.

Why Visit Zhengzhou?

Historical Significance

Zhengzhou is one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization and has been the capital of China five times throughout history. It is also the hometown of Xuanyuan, the Yellow Emperor, who is regarded as the ancestor of Chinese culture. As a national historical and cultural city, Zhengzhou offers a glimpse into China's ancient heritage.

Strategic Location

Located along the Yellow River, Zhengzhou sits at the transition zone from the Funiu Mountains to the Huanghuai Plain. This geographical positioning gives the city a north temperate continental monsoon climate, with four distinct seasons, providing visitors with pleasant weather throughout the year.

Transportation Hub

Zhengzhou is one of China’s key transportation hubs, offering an extensive network of railways, highways, and air travel connections. It is home to the largest truck marshalling station in Asia and Zhengzhou Aviation Port Area, China's only state-level airport economy comprehensive experimental area. The city also hosts the Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange, China’s first futures exchange.

Economic and Cultural Importance

Zhengzhou is an economic powerhouse, serving as a core component of the China (Henan) Pilot Free Trade Zone. The city is also a significant commercial and logistics center, strategically placed to connect various regions in China and internationally.

Highlights of Zhengzhou:

• Long History: Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan province, is one of China's eight historic capitals. Zhengzhou, with its profound culture and long history, is an important birthplace of Chinese culture and civilization. Five thousand years ago, the first ancestor of Chinese culture, the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan, was born and founded the capital in the land of Zhengzhou. The Yellow River civilization and central plains culture were formed in the long history as well.
• Famous Attractions: Zhengzhou has numerous cultural relics and historic sites, including the ancient city, ancient culture, ancient tombs, ancient buildings, ancient passes and ancient battlefields, a total of more than 10000 ruins. The Erqi Memorial Tower of Erqi Square is the landmark building of Zhengzhou, where there is the earliest astronomical building- Dengfeng Observation Platform, and the world-famous Shaolin temple. Other major attractions include the Yellow River Scenic Area, the Hometown of the Yellow Emperor, Songshan Mountain, Songyang Academy, Zhongyue Temple, Henan Museum and so on.
• Traditional Opera Culture: Henan Opera(Yu Opera), Qu opera and Yue Tune(越调) have a great influence on the types of opera in Zhengzhou, among which Yu Opera, together with Peking Opera, Ping Opera and Yue Opera(Shaoxing Opera), is known as one of the four major types of opera in China. Henan opera originated in Kaifen of Henan province, inherited, reformed, innovated and developed on the basis of Henan Bangzi. After the founding of the nation, since Henan is referred to as "Yu", hence Yu Opera.
• Shaolin Kungfu: Shaolin temple, located in Dengfeng of Zhengzhou, at the foot of the Wuru peak of Mount Songshan, is the birthplace of Shaolin martial arts. The Shaolin temple is famous for Shaolin Kungfu, and has the reputation of "the ancestral temple of Zen Buddhism, the most famous temple in the world". Therefore, Zhengzhou is also known as "the center of heaven and earth, the capital of Kung Fu".