Zhengzhou Overview & Map Weather Transportation Information
Zhengzhou is the provincial capital of Henan province, located in central China. The Yellow River carves its way through Henan and rides along four of China's seven ancient capitals as well as the cradle of Chinese civilization. Mount Song, Song Shan, sits to the west and the Huang Hai plains surround the city to the south and east. The mighty Yellow River, one of China's major waterways and the giver of life to ancient Chinese civilization, flows along the city's northern side. A recent influx of wealth has given the city of Zhengzhou new life, and the whole place seems to be getting a facelift - new buildings, new roads, new signs - the works!
History
Humans have inhabited the territory in and around Zhengzhou for the past 8,000 years. It is near the birthplace of China's first emperor, and ranked as one of the most populated regions in China during the Shang Dynasty (from the 16th century to 1066 BC), though for some time thereafter waned in importance in comparison to nearby Anyang, which emerged as the dynastic capital.
The modern development of the city began in 1898 when foreign imperial nations were conceded the right to construct major north-south and east-west rail lines, which were completed in 1910. The railway's history then gets bloodier: in the 1920s, it was the focus of several labor disputes, including a notorious incident on February 7, 1923, when a strike of the Beijing-Hankou Railway Workers' Union was brutally suppressed. Because of its importance as a major railway center, Zhengzhou was a primary objective of Japanese forces during their push through China in 1937, and the city was severely damaged during the Chines Civil War in 1948-49. Today, however, things are running smoothly.
Scenic Spots
Zhengzhou's long history has left it with many cultural and historic sites. Located between the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River, this ancient and lively city is the cradle of the splendid culture of the Chinese nation. Shaolin Temple (Shao Lin Si), situated at the foot of Mt. Song, is the birthplace of Shaolin Kung Fu. Tours of Mt. Song along with Shaolin Kung Fu performances are extremely popular, and along the way you can visit some of the memorials, museums and historical sites located right in the downtown area. Aside from Mt. Song, the Shang Dynasty Ruins are also especially deserving of a visit.
Economy
Zhengzhou is a rising industrial city. Textile, machinery, aluminum refraction, materials, energy, foodstuff production and other industries have all taken root in Zhengzhou and subsequently flourished.
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