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.
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]
Jiaozuo: home of Mt. Yuntai
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]
 Erqi Tower |
 ???Kang the billionaire's Mansions ???? |
 ??????? Wangwu Mountain
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 Kaifeng in photos |
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 ?? Jiaozuo in photos
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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.
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Related Readings:
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]
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]
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]