Explore Zhengzhou, the Cradle of Chinese Civilization
Zhengzhou, the provincial capital of Henan, home to Shaolin Temple, and the birthplace of Chinese Civilization. What more could you ask for in a city? Zhengzhou was the first capital during the Shang Dynasty (1600-1027 BC) and is one of the Eight Ancient Capital cities. Modern day Zhengzhou serves as a major transportation hub in China and is the core area for the Central Plains Economic Zone.
Zhengzhou is now considered a New Tier 1 city in China, and in recent years the city has been experiencing a new revitalization of new buildings, signs, roads, and full of newly planted trees. Zhengzhou still encompasses a mix of ancient Chinese civilization with and the new modern China. Here we breakdown the top 4 things to do in Zhengzhou.
Shaolin Temple
As the birthplace of Shaolin Kung Fu, Shaolin Temple’s history can be traced back to the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534). It has played an important role in the development of the Buddhism in China. Located in the foothills of the west side of Songshan Mountain, Shaolin Temple, A UNESCO heritage site and has been recommended to be the “The Number One Temple Under Heaven.” So, if you’re wanting to live out your inner Bruce Lee and find some zen in the mountains, Shaolin Temple is your go-to!
Henan Museum
For all the history buffs out there, the Henan Museum will be your kryptonite. Founded in 1927, it was formerly known as the Henan Provincial Museum; this museum has the second largest collection of artifacts after the Palace Museum in Beijing and Taipei. The collections date back to the early 20th century with over 130,000 pieces of prehistoric artifacts, including ancient ceramics, bronze from the Shang and Zhou dynasty, jade, and even dinosaur bones and fossils.
Songshan Mountain (Mount Song)
In the heart of Henan Province, Songshan Mountain lies about 80 kilometers (50 miles) east of Zhengzhou. Songshan Mountain is known as one of the Five Mountains of China. It’s composed of 72 mountains, grouped around the peaks of Shaoshi Mountain and Taishi Mountain. Songshan Mountain has some of the most breathtaking scenery in China and was given the title of “International Geological Park” by UNESCO. If you’re looking to get out in nature, Songshan Mountain is a breath of fresh air.
Erqi Night Market
Looking for something more in the center of town? Check out the bustling Erqi Night Market. Located at the Erqi Square, this market comes alive at night with stalls filled with delicious food and vendors selling a variety of items from arts and crafts to clothing, to perfect little knick knacks at bargain prices.
Ready to pack your bags and head off to Zhengzhou? Are you looking to get something more out of a stay in China by learning the language or doing an internship? Then don’t hesitate to visit our new branch of Hutong School that we opened in the city!
Get started with us now and sign up for Chinese classes or find the perfect internship. Zhengzhou is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the heart of Chinese culture and experience the local lifestyle. Curious to see what other branches we have? Check out our Qingdao and Chongqing branches too!
