Special Coverage

Henan, the midland of China

(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-05-24 11:32
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Henan in spotlight:

Kaifeng: Ancient capital strides to be a modern city

Kaifeng, once the capital of seven dynasties in Chinese history, is now making every effort to be a modernized city.

The 2,753-year-old city is dotted with quite a few historical sites. Receiving 31 million tourists last year, tourism has the city's major industry and it has effectively propelled the development of the tertiary industry, with an increase of 17.1% in 2009.

Last year, Kaifeng took the first place as the "most charming historical cities in China" in the top 20 list voted by 3.7 million internet users.

However, the ancient capital aims more than that. Also in 2009, Kaifeng ranked the third among other Henan cities for its industrialization speed.

With its GDP hitting 77.7 billion yuan last year, an increase of 12.6% from 2008, the city has entered a new phase of industrialization. [Click for more photos]

Tai Chi flourishing in its birthplace

Henan is not only home to Shaolin Kung Fu, but also the birthplace of Tai Chi.

Chenjiagou village, Wenxian county, lies where the Yellow River and Luohe River meet. The village's special geographical location has produced the concept of Yin and Yang, and Tai Chi.

About 2,500 people live in Chenjiagou, and 70% of the villagers' family name is Chen.

The founder of Tai Chi, Chen Wangting (1600-1680), was the ninth generation Chen in this village. Raised in a family that was good at Kung Fu, Chen Wangting was already very popular for his Kung Fu by the time he was a young man. [To read more]

 

Xinxiang: New farmhouses, major achievements

If you are image anything shabby and dirty, smelly and cheesy before dropping by a farmer's house in Xinxiang, you are wrong.

 
The new houses as the picture below depicted will definitely make urban dwellers envy and even make them wonder when they can purchase a house like these in big cities.
 
Every family in this 800-people village lives in the three-storey, 400-meter-square new houses.
 
But few people know that Liu Zhuang used to be the "poorest" village 60 years ago.
 
In early 1970s, the village had found a way to shift development orientation from agriculture to industry. In 1980, Liuzhuang set up 13 enterprises and recorded a total industrial and agricultural output of 2.05 million yuan($0.3 million dollars) and per capita income of 2,000 yuan($293 dollars), becoming the first well-off village in Henan province. Aiming for high technology, Liuzhuang established Hua Xing Medicines Factory in 1985. Since then, Liuzhuang's economy began to take off. From 2005 to 2009, the village alone contributed a revenue of 500 million yuan($0.73 billion dollars).
 
Preserving traditional Bian embroidery

Bian embroidery, with a history of 800 years, originates from the Northern Song Dynasty. The world-famous folk art is characterized by lucid and lively color and tight needlework.

In Kaifeng, once the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty, this folk art is well preserved. Wang Suhua, 74, has been devoted to Bian embroidery for 55 years.

Wang Suhua has completed many great embroidery works and has won quite a few awards. But she still wants to do more. In her later years, she set up an embroidery school. Every student can earn about 1,000 yuan per month for their embroidery work. [Click here for more photos about Bian embroidery]
 

Henan, the midland of China

Jiaozuo: home of Mt. Yuntai

Mt. Yuntai is located in Jiaozuo city, which is 70km northwestern of Zhengzhou, capital of Henan province.
 
It is a national ecological geo-park including water bodies, geomorphologic landscapes and relics of culture and civilization.
 [Click for more photos]
 

 

Henan, the midland of China

Local snacks: Kaifeng Baozi

Other than visiting historical sites in Kaifeng, one can not miss is baozi.

Different from baozi of other places, Kaifeng's has a much thinner skin which can bring out the most tasty flavor of the inside stuff.

If you still doubt it, well, come and get one, you are sure to ask for many more. [Click here for more snack photos]

 

 
 
Snapshots:
 

Henan, the midland of China
The Millennium City Park 

 
Henan, the midland of China
Erqi Tower
 

 
Henan, the midland of China
   Kang the billionaire's Mansions
    


 
Henan, the midland of China
        Wangwu Mountain

 

 

 

Henan, the midland of China
Kaifeng in photos

 

Henan, the midland of China
Jiyuan in photos

 

Henan, the midland of China
   Jiaozuo in photos

 
 
Cities:
 
Zhengzhou   Kaifeng   Xinxiang   Jiaozuo   Jiyuan   Hebi

About Henan:

Henan is located in the eastern central part of the country. The name Henan means "south of the (Yellow) River" (Huang He). Henan is traditionally regarded as an important cradle of Chinese civilization.

With nearly 100 million people, Henan is the most populated province of China by residency. It borders Hebei to the north, Shandong to the northeast, Anhui to the southeast, Hubei to the south, Shaanxi to the west, and Shanxi to the northwest.

Henan is often called Zhongyuan or Zhongzhou, literally "central plains" or "midland"; this name is also broadly applied to the entire North China Plain.

Map                          History                      Tourism  

 

Related Readings:
 

Henan, the midland of China

Ancient general's tomb unearthed in Henan

Archeologists in central China's Henan Province say they have found the tomb of a noted general from the Three Kingdoms period (220-280 AD). The tomb of Cao Xiu was found in Mengjin County of Luoyang City at the end of last year, said Sun Yingmin, spokesman of the Henan provincial cultural heritage bureau, at a press conference on May 17, 2010. [Read more]


 

Henan, the midland of China

Unearthing a tomb economy

Excavation of the purported tomb of Three Kingdoms Period emperor Cao Cao has got some people thinking they could be sitting on a goldmine too. Wang Shanshan reports. [Read more]

Henan, the midland of China


China Literal Museum opens in Henan

 

The China Literal Museum was officially opened in Anyang City of Henan Province, north China on Nov. 16, 2010. Former president Jiang Zemin wrote an inscription for the museum. Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau, attended the opening ceremony. [Read more]