Henan

Map

Key data

Items shown in Chinese are kept from the original Chinese source; no English name is available yet.

Highlights

Introduction

• The central plains — Shaolin Temple, Longmen Grottoes and ancient Luoyang.

History

• History: Henan lies in the heart of the Central Plains and long served as China's political, economic, and cultural center. The oracle bone inscriptions unearthed at the Yin Ruins in Anyang attest to the splendor of Shang civilization and mark the beginning of China's documented history. Later, Luoyang and Kaifeng successively served as capitals of multiple dynasties, and the Silk Road and the Grand Canal converged here, nurturing a flourishing urban civilization. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, many schools of the Hundred Schools of Thought arose here; from the Han dynasty onward, the Central Plains remained the core region of Chinese culture. Historically the Yellow River changed course many times, and the people of Henan accumulated rich experience in water management through their struggles against floods; projects such as the Red Flag Canal further demonstrate a spirit of indomitable perseverance. In modern times, Zhengzhou rose rapidly due to its status as a railway hub and became a major national transportation center.

Culture

• Culture: Henan culture is a microcosm of Central Plains civilization. The region mainly uses Central Plains Mandarin and Jin Chinese, whose language is simple and warm. Shaolin Temple kung fu is world-famous and an important symbol of Chinese martial arts, attracting martial artists from around the globe to make pilgrimages each year; tai chi also originated in Wen County, Henan, and is now popular worldwide. In terms of food, Henan cuisine has moderate flavors and features both soups and dishes, with specialty snacks such as braised noodles and spicy soup found throughout the streets and alleys. Luoyang peonies are the finest under heaven, Kaifeng's Song culture and folk temple fairs are lively and bustling, and the Buddhist sculpture art of Longmen Grottoes together with the thousand-year incense of White Horse Temple weave a deep and vivid cultural picture of Henan.

Science & Technology

• Science and technology: Henan is home to Zhengzhou University, Henan University and other institutions of higher education, as well as multiple national-level research platforms. The province is strong in fields such as superhard materials, shield tunneling equipment, rail transit and biological breeding; Zhengzhou's shield machine industry leads the country, and enterprises such as Yutong Bus are renowned at home and abroad. In recent years, Henan has accelerated the building of a national innovation hub. Innovation carriers such as the Zhongyuan Science and Technology City gather talent and enterprises, and the province is speeding up its layout in electronic information, new energy and modern logistics, injecting surging momentum of scientific and technological innovation into this populous province.

Economy

• Economy: Henan is a major economic province in China, with a regional GDP of 6,663.279 billion yuan in 2025. The province's pillar industries are food processing, equipment manufacturing, electronic information, and modern logistics. Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone and the China-Europe Railway Express have made Henan a highland of inland openness. At the same time, Henan is a major agricultural province, ranking first in China in wheat output and known as China's granary. In recent years, Henan has promoted the upgrading of traditional industries and the development of emerging industries, steadily enhancing its overall economic competitiveness.