China Top Travel

Henan Province is located in eastern central China, on the plain between the Yellow and Huaihe rivers. As most part of the province lies to the south of the Yellow River, which runs for over 700 km through its territory, it was given the name Henan (River South). Neighboring Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Hubei, Anhui and Shandong provinces,

Henan Province is located between 102. 21 and 116. 39 degrees east longitude and 31.23 and 36.24 degrees north latitude. It is in temperate-subtropical zone and humid--semi-humid zone, and has a monsoon climate. It neighbors on Hebei, Shandong, Anhui, Hubei, Shaanxi and Shanxi.

Henan covers an area of 167,000 sqare kilometers.

At the end of the year2005, the total population stood at 97.68 million.

Henan has a continental climate of the North Temperate Zone, with hot, rainy summers, dry, inclement winters and windy springs. It has a mean temperature of 13 to 15 degrees Celsius, increasing from north to south, an annual frost-free period of 6-8 months, and a mean annual precipitation of 600-900 mm., also increasing from north to south.

Yuju (Henan Opera) is the most important opera genre; other operas include Quju, Yue Diao, and Henan Zhuizi, etc.

Liyu Beimian (Carp Covered with Baked Noodles in Sweet and Sour Sauce), Luoyang Shuixi (Feast Characterized by Its Soup in Luoyang Style), Songgong Miangao (Pastry Originating From the Imperial Palace of the Song Dynasty), etc.

In 2005, Henan had water reserves of 40.6 billion cubic meters, about 410 cubic meters per capita. Of the more than 150 kinds of minerals found on earth, 126 are available in Henan, of which, the reserves of 74 kinds have been made clear; 61 kinds have been mined and utilized. With considerable reserves of petroleum and natural gas, Henan possesses Zhongyuan Oil Fields and Henan Oil Fields. Henan has 197 families and 3,830 species of higher plants, and 418 kinds of animals.

Henan has highly developed agriculture and industries. Its agricultural products of wheat, cotton, tobacco, sesame and peanut are among the most important in the whole country. Its output of coal and petroleum holds an important position in China.

The places of interest include Songshan Mountain, Jigong Mountain, the Imperial Mausoleum of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770-256BC), the White Horse Temple in Luoyang, the Longmen Grotto, the Chancellor Temple in Kaifeng, the Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng, the Zhongyue Temple and so on.

The traditional specialties are Henan embroidery in Kaifeng, Maojian Tea in Xinyang and Dukang Wine in Luoyang.

Major Cities

Kaifeng

Luoyang

Zhengzhou

Top Attractions

Longmen Grottos

White Horse Temple