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Henan province
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Henan province derives its name from its geographic situation. In Chinese, Henan means "south of the river", indicating Henan's location in relation to the Yellow River. The province has also been called the Mid Land or the Mid Plain because Henan is located right in the center of China, far from the inhospitably cold north, the scorching western deserts and the, allegedly, sly southern minorities.
This rich historic heritage has endowed the province with numerous historic treasures. The Longmen Caves in Luoyang, the Shaolin Monastery, origins of the art of Kungfu, and the Baima Temple, China's oldest Buddhist Temple, are the highlights of this small province. For natural scenery, travelers should not miss out on the sacred Songshan, or the winding danger of the Yellow River, agricultural provider and flooding destroyer. |
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Zhengzhou| Located 25km south of the Yellow River and mid-way between Luoyang and Kaifeng, Zhengzhou is the economic capital of Henan Province. Many Chinese guide books would also have us believe that this is the political and cultural center of the province too. However, throughout history, the importance of the area has long been overshadowed by its eastern and western neighbors, that is, Kaifeng and Luoyang, both of which have been the capital of empires in the past. What's more, Zhengzhou is certainly not the most charming of places, a large sprawling, booming industrial city, home to roughly 3 million people....... |
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| Kaifeng| Kaifeng city is located in the northern part of Henan province, at the start of the alluvial land of the East China plain. ...... |
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| Luoyang| The history of Luoyang as a town and later as a city run much longer than that of it as a capital. Documents and cultural relics are continually being found here, allowing archaeologists the chance to slowly piece together the past and allowing the Luoyangese the comfort of swelled pride. But the interpretation of history is never the easiest thing and the ancient discoveries are always somewhat tinted by this pride. Recent evidence, discovered in the Neolithic site found in the west of the city, has dated a population here as far back a 7,000 years ago. Buddhism was apparently introduced here as early as 68 AD from Nepal. The revered Chinese scholar, Confucius, is also said to have spent some time here, perfecting his philosophical thought. The biggest claim, however, that the people of Luoyang make is that contrary to common belief the Silk Road's true starting point was, in fact, Luoyang. ...... |
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| Songshan| This mountain range has many peaks, but is most famed for the Shaoshi Peak and the Taishi Peak. These two are said to be the two wives of a legendary emperor Dayu, known as the man who successfully stopped a nation-wide flood. The peaks here are all heavily vegetated, and frequently are shrouded in dense, swirling mists. The highest peak, the Junji Peak, is only 1494 meters above sea-level, which makes climbing here easy, and the mountain is fairly unique in China for not having a set path to follow. ...... |
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