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Places in China: Henan Province

This province near the centre of the country is highly populated and successful in its farming and tourism accomplishments. The province has had important places in China's history since some of its cities have been capitals of various ancient imperial sites. The provincial capital of Kaifeng (formerly Daling) has been the capital venue of seven dynasties.

The people of the province are largely Han Chinese with small groups of Manchu and Mongols. The weather in the province is typical for temperate zones worldwide with hot summers and cool winters. Such weather is good for farming, making Henan one of the great agricultural provinces in China.

The two major rivers in the province are the Yellow River (Huang He) and the Huai He. The capital city of Kaifeng is located on a wide portion of the Huang He. The Sanmen Dam was constructed on the Huai He in the 1960s, making agriculture a strong element in the provincial income. This dam also produces energy for the region.

Farming, coal production and tourism account for much of the income of Henan Province.

Tourism is most strongly felt in Kaifeng, Luoyang and Dengfeng. Many Buddhist monasteries and kung fu training centres are found in these cities. Several famous Buddhist monks have been involved in the history of Henan as well. Many of the monasteries still exist as tourist attractions in the province. One of the oldest Chinese Buddhist temples is at White Horse Temple in Luoyang. A wushi (kung fu) training venue at the Shaolin Temple attracts many tourists.

The population density of Henan ranks sixth in the nation with 582 people per square kilometre. Ninety-seven million people occupy 167,000 square kilometres of land area.