Henan,
in the middle-lower Yellow River valley, derived its name from the
greater part of the province's lying south of the Yellow River. One of
the earliest developed regions in the country; it was a political and
cultural center in ancient China. Henan has an area of 167,000 sq km and
a population of over 100 million. In 2009, Henan's nominal GDP was 2.29
trillion RMB (US$339 billion), making it the fifth largest economy in
China, although it rank nineteen in terms of GDP per capita.
There
are 18 cities that is under direct jurisdiction of Henan Province,
namely, Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, Luoyang, Pingdingshan, Anyang, Hebi,
Xinxiang, Jiaozuo, Puyang, Xuchang, Luohe, Sanmenxia, Nayang, Shangqiu,
Xinyang, Zhoukou, Zhumadian, and Jiyuan. Zhengzhou is the capital of
Henan Province.
Climate
Henan
has a continental climate with hot, rainy summer, dry, inclement winter
and windy spring. It has a mean annual temperature of 13°c-15°c,
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.
Population and Nationalities
Henan
Province boasts the largest population in China. By the end of 2005,
the gross population of Henan Province is 97,680,000, with 30.65% urban
residents and 69.35% rural residents. There are many nationalities in
Henan Province. Beside Han nationality, there are 55 minorities,
including Hui nationality, Meng nationality, Zang nationality, etc, with
the population of 1,280,000 that accounts for 1.3% of the gross
population of Henan Province.
Infrastructure and Transportation
The
infrastructure of Henan Province has become more and more completed. It
has played a more and more significant role in economic development.
The electricity installation capacity ranks 5th in the county. The
transportation system of highway, railway, and aviation has already come
into existence.
Henan
Province, which is to the east of Shanghai, south of Wuhan, north of
Beijing and Tianjin, and west of Xi’an, is situated in the central area
of China. Its convenient and superior transport condition plays an
important role in its economic development as Henan Province links up
east, west, south, and north area together.
Foreign Exchanges
Provinces and Cities of Friendship:
By the end of 2005, Henan Province has established friend relationship
with 59 cities of 29 countries, including the US, French, Russia, Japan,
Korea, Germany and Singapore, etc.
History and Culture
Henan
is one of the birthplaces of Chinese people. Since Xia Dynasty to
Northern Song Dynasty, more than 20 imperial families established their
capitals in Henan Province or moved their capitals here. Henan Province,
having long been a politic, economic and cultural center of China in
history, boasts four of the eight famous China ancient capitals, namely,
Luoyang, an ancient capital for nine dynasties; Kaifeng, an ancient
capital for seven dynasties; Anyang, an ancient capital for Yinshang
Dynasty; Zhengzhou, an ancient capital for Shang Dynasty. Three
inventions of the Four Great Inventions in ancient China, namely
compass, gunpowder, and papermaking technology were all invented in
Henan Province.
Henan
Province is regarded as a history museum of China for its long history
and possessions of valuable cultural relics and historical sites. The
amount of its underground cultural relics ranks first in China and the
amount of overground cultural relics ranks second in China. More than a
million pieces of cultural relics are treasured in the museum, which
accounts for one eighth of the total amount in China, and ranks the
third place in China.
Tourism
Henan
Province is rich in tourism resources with its deep culture deposits
and beautiful scenic spots. In 2005, the number of tourists visited
Henan Province exceeds 0.1 billion person-times, among which 0.61
million are foreign tourists. The most representative scenic spots are:
Longmen Grotto in Luoyang and Yinxu in An’yang, Songshan Shaolin Temple,
Yuntai Mountain and Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden.
Agricultural Specialties in Henan Province
There
are many famous specialties produced in Henan Province, such as
Yuanyang rice, Xinzheng Chinese Date, Kaifeng watermelon, Qixian and
Zhongmou Garlic, Xinyang palecoloured
tips
and chestnut, Xixia Chinese gooseberry, Lingbao apple, Jiaozuo yam and
Luoyang peony. Among these specialties, peony in Luoyang is well known
both at home and abroad.
Education and Scientific Research
Higher Education: With
the continual expansion higher education, Henan Province now boasts 11
First-class Subjects of Doctor and 106 doctor spots. In 2005, there are
28 universities and colleges that are qualified to offer a bachelor’s
degree, 61 postdoctoral stations, and 1,450,000 students in universities
and colleges in Henan Province. Among that, Zhengzhou University and
Henan University, etc are some of the key comprehensive universities in
China.
Universities in Henan:
• Zhengzhou University
• Zhongzhou University
• Henan University of Technology
• Henan College of Finance & Taxation
• Zhengzhou University of Light Industry
• Zhongyuan University of Technology
• North China University of Water Conservancy and Electric Power
• Zhengzhou Institute of Aeronautical Industry Management
• Henan Agricultural University
• Henan Business College
• Henan University of TCM
• Luoyang Normal University
• Henan University of Science and Technology
• Luoyang Institute of Science and Technology
• Henan University
• Shangqiu Normal University
Scientific Research:
There are more than 1,300 scientific research and R&D institutions
of various categories in Henan Province. In the year 2005, there are
8,981 patents applied to be ratified and 3,748 of them got ratified;
more than 350 scientific research achierements got province-level award
and 12 got state-level award. More than 35% of the achierements got
popularized and amounted to 43% of the economic development in Henan
Province.