Holiday in Zhengzhou

About Zhengzhou

Zhengzhou is the capital of Henan Province and one of the most important transportation hubs in China — the city is located in the geographical center of the country and is a junction for the north-south and east-west railway lines. With over 12 million inhabitants, Zhengzhou is one of the fastest-growing metropolises in China. The biggest attraction in the region is the Shaolin Temple on Mount Songshan, about 80 km southwest of Zhengzhou. Founded in 495 AD, it is considered the birthplace of Chan Buddhism (Zen) and Shaolin Kung Fu. Monks and students perform impressive martial arts demonstrations daily. The surrounding martial arts schools train over 50,000 students. Zhengzhou itself has a history of 3,600 years: The Shang Dynasty city wall from the 16th century BC is one of the oldest urban fortifications in the world. The Henan Provincial Museum houses artifacts from seven millennia, including bronze ritual vessels and ancient musical instruments. The Yellow River (Huang He), the "cradle of Chinese civilization," flows north of the city. The Scenic Spot at the Yellow River offers viewpoints and the monumental statue of the legendary Emperors Yan and Huang (106 meters high). Zhengzhou is also known for the Dengfeng Observatory, the oldest preserved astronomical observatory in China from the 13th century, part of the UNESCO World Heritage site "Historic Monuments of Dengfeng."