About Zhengzhou
What to see and do in Zhengzhou
Weather in Zhengzhou
Airport in Zhengzhou
Visa
Zhengzhou (pinyin: Zh'ngzhou), formerly called Zhengxian is a prefecture-level city, and the capital of Henan province, People's Republic of China.
The name Zhengzhou comes from a city in the Sui Dyansty, but its actual location was in modern day Chenggao. During the Tang Dyansty, the name switched here. The area remained an unimportant backwater until it was selected for development by the Chinese Government after 1949. Strategically located in the center of the country, Zhengzhou is now a major transportation hub and rapidly growing city.
Zhenghzhou is an easy city to travel in and out of as well as through, because it is the transit hub for central China and subsequently possess great transportation infrastructure. There are also affordable and comfortable accommodations throughout the city. And although Zhenghzhou is the capital of the province of Henan, it is not really a tourist town, but mainly an industrial one.
For those interested in a little bit of culture, one can pay a visit to the Dong Wu Yuan zoo or visit the Henan Museum which has prehistoric artifacts and items from many of the Dynasties, most notably from the Qing Dynasty.
Zhenghzhou is a rapidly growing city, but not necessarily a touristy one. It has a strong industrial and agricultural base and that seems to be both its' strength and focus.
What to see and do in Zhengzhou
The Erqi (February 7) Memorial Tower is a museum inside a rather garish double pagoda that looms over February 7 Square. Inside there are exhibits explaining the city's development.
Worth a visit is the monolithic pyramid-shaped Henan Provincial Museum on Nongye Road in the north part of the city. Learn about ancient civilizations in the area (most of which were not based in Zhengzhou, but nearby cities such as Kaifeng and Luoyang), and even see a dinosaur bone or two in the area. While you're out there, pop into the Henan Museum of Science & Technology that's a fascinating insight into Chinese children's education. Play on crumbling science exhibits, gawk at the garish space tributes and meet local families, all for RMB 5.
Remains of Shang Dynasty Wall in the east side of town. There are the remains of the Shang Dynasty Ruins in Zhengzhou's west side located around Shangcheng lu. Mostly this consists of a 5,000 year old dirt wall which formed part of the old city's defenses. While it is a good walk, do not expect to find many other relics of this time; additionally, the city wall is cut in three places by new roads that have been built recently.
Zhengzhou Zoo The Zhengzhou zoo is more depressing than it is impressive in any way. Some of their imported animals include turkeys and coyotes which might be interesting for a local but hardly for a foreigner. If you generally enjoy zoos, you may very well walk away sad at how the animals are cared for, or not in this case.
City parks, especially Renmin Park on Erqi Road. Renmin Park has a quaint Ferris Wheel that is worth riding, if only to forget, for a moment, that you are in Zhengzhou.
Museum Area. One thing worth knowing about is that the museum area is also the area of the 2 branches of government - federal and communist - so the area is much nicer. We are talking trees and some flowers along with a more neighborhood feel that might remind you of Shanghai. Don't expect wild nightclubs, but it is a more pleasant place to be if you are looking for a walk. Er qi lou is fine, but a bit dirty, so see this other side of Zhengzhou if you get a chance. Also, some nice places to eat are in this area.
Henan Provincial Museum. The Henan Provincial Museum is one of the three key museums in China along with one in Beijing. If you are into modern art, this is not the place for you. It is free, which is nice, and generally has acceptable squat toilets which are also free on the first floor. There is an English audio tour you can rent, and there are cheapish lockers to store your stuff. Come to see old pottery from the Song dynasty, old bells, bronzes, things like that, but anything more recent does not have English captions. Across the street is a coffee house that makes ok tea and coffee for about RMB 30 - reasonable, and comfortable chairs. FREE.
There's not a lot to do in Zhengzhou. A possible evening in Zhengzhou might involve eating at a Sichuan restaurant, getting yourself a bottle of whisky, getting crazy, and finishing off the evening at a 24-hour hot pot restaurant. Another park worth going to is the century park called shir chi quan le yuan in chinese.Its quite a huge amusement park n is 20-30 mins away from the er qi square.
The best known tourist attraction is Shaolin Temple, which is about more than 50 miles southwest of Zhengzhou. Shaolin Temple is famous not only as one of China's important Buddhist shrines, but also as the ancient center of Chinese kung-fu. Built in 495, the temple was originally designed to house Batuo, a celebrated Indian monk, who, after many years of spreading Buddhism, was later known as Fo Tuo, or Grand Monk. In 537, another famous Indian monk, Boddhidharma, settled in the temple, and as legend has it, created a sort of primitive bare-hand combat routine called 'xingyi boxing' after he had sat meditating in a cave for nine years. That started the kung-fu tradition at the temple.
There is a large water, light, and music show on display in Zheng Dong Xin Qu (New Eastern District) during the weekend at 8.30 pm in the summer and 8.00 pm during the winter months. The show is about 25 minutes long and is free of charge. Arrive before 8.00 for a seat; the show times do change from 8.00 and 8.30 without warning.
As one of the Five Famous Mountains in China, there is no need to say more about the beauty of Song Mountain. If you visit one mountain in Henan, make it this one for its charming natural views and its fame. Shaolin Temple is situated in the west foothills of Song Mountain. At the mention of Shaolin Temple, tourists mostly think of Shaolin Kung Fu, and it is true that you can appreciate wonderful performances here. Another place worth a visit near Shaolin Temple is the Pagoda Forest. There are about 250 different pagodas which are the graves of every abbot of Shaolin Temple from Tang Dynasty (618 - 907) till the last. The constructions, reflecting the architectural styles of every dynasty, are now the treasures for studying Chinese ancient brick architecture and the art of engraving.
Also, one of the four Academies of Classical Learning in Song Dynasty (960 - 1279) - Songyang Shuyuan, and the Astronomical Observatory are both worth a visit
Yellow river scenic area
The Yellow River Scenic Area is situated northwest of Zhengzhou City, in Henan Province. The scenic area is surprisingly beautiful. As seen from a high point in this scenic area, the mighty Yellow River rushes by and demonstrates tremendous force with rolling and falling of the river's torrents. Sometimes in its thousands of miles, the river reaches wide endless plains where currents flow smoothly, and sometimes it meets precipitous mountains where it has to zigzag its way.
The Yellow River Scenic Area embraces five scenic spots, namely the Five Dragons Peak, the Camel Mountain Range, the Yueshan Temple, the Stone Figures of Yandi and Huangdi, and the Ancient City of Liu Bang and Xiang Yu. Among them, the Five Dragons Peak is the central area.
Five Dragons Peak
Five Dragons is named after a range of five mountains. From a distance,
you see ancient pavilions, both large and small, of many designs scattered on
the mountains among ancient pines and cypresses. To catch a broad view of the
Yellow River, come to Jimu Pavilion on the top of the Five Dragons Peak.
From here you can see the mighty river, which has nourished Chinese for thousands
of years. Here you see a sculpture of a mother's figure named 'Nourishing'.
This benevolent mother in ancient costume is happily holding her baby in her
arms.
Camel Mountain Range
This is 2 kilometers (about 1.24 miles) to the west of Yueshan Temple.
A figure of Yu the Great (2,070 B.C. - 2,061 B.C.) is a highlight on the main peak
of the Camel Mountain Range. Yu the Great, a beloved and legendary ruler in China's
prehistoric times, was the first King of the Xia Dynasty (21st centuries B.C. - 16th
centuries B.C.). He is commemorated and honored for his battle against floods.
The sculpture of Yu the Great is very striking in this area.
Yueshan Temple
This is 1.5 kilometers (about 0.93 miles) to the east of Five Dragons Peak. There
are several featured spots, such as the Purple Golden Pavilion (Zijin Pavilion) and
the Peony Garden. During festivals, a deafening bell reverberates from a distance
to catch your attention. The bell is on the top of the Golden Pavilion and its deep
heavy sounds mixing with the Yellow River's rumble create enormous reverberations.
In the wilderness, the reverberation rises and falls in waves.
Stone Figures of Yandi and Huangdi
Yandi and Huangdi are legendary figures and generally regarded as the ancestors
of the Chinese. Stone figures, with 18-meter-high (about 59 feet) heads and
82-meter-high (about 269 feet) bodies, are facing the Yellow River. In total, the
stone figures measure 100 meters (about 328 feet) high. Nine big bronze Dings
(a kind of ancient Chinese vessel) are displayed on the tomb passage in front
of the altar for worshipping Yandi and Huangdi.
Ancient City of Liu Bang and Xiang Yu
In the Ancient City of Liu Bang(the first Emperor of the Han Dynasty 206 B.C. -
24 A.D.)and Xiang Yu (the Overlord of the West Chu 232A.D. - 202A.D.),
you will see figures of war horses and soldiers. They are sculpted in great detail.
The Yellow River is the second largest river in China. Thousands of years ago, Chinese civilization emerged from the Yellow River's central basin. Since then this great river has nourished millions of people. If you want to see this mighty river and its surrounding landscape, then come to the Zhengzhou Yellow River Scenic Area.
Admission Fee: RMB 40
Opening Hours: 08:10 to 18:00
Recommended Time for a Visit: Two hours
Bus Route: Take shuttle buses at Zhengzhou Railway Station
The climate is comfortable, with bright sunshine and a clear distinction between the four seasons. The hottest month is July with an average temperature of about 27.3 C (about 81.1 F), while the coldest month is January, with an average temperature around minus 0.2 C (about 31.6 F) winter in Zhengzhou is cold though seldom snowy. However, rainfall is abundant during summer. Autumn is usually sunny and with long daytimes and is the best season for your travel to the city. If you are interested in visiting Zhengzhou in winter, heavy clothing is necessary, though sweaters and a jacket are enough during spring and autumn.
Except for the comfortable travel seasons, some tourist activities or festivals are also appealing to many travel enthusiasts. China Zhengzhou International Shaolin Wushu Festival (Sep. 1st to Sep. 5th) is a grand get-together of enthusiasts in Chinese Shaolin Kong Fu. During the festival, tourists can appreciate the impassioned opening ceremony and excellent Kong Fu demonstrations. China Rose Flower Fair (May 1st to May 20th) and Xinzheng Date Village Tour (Xinzheng Zaoxiang Fengqing You) from the end of Aug. to Sep. 20th are also exciting.
If you plan to visit Zhengzhou during from early September through to early November, please make an advanced hotel reservation as the Zhengzhou Commercial Goods Exchange Fair is usually held around the time.
January 6 C to -5 C
February 8 C to -3 C
March 14 C to 3 C
April 21 C to 9 C
May 27 C to 15 C
June 32 C to 20 C
July 32 C to 23 C
August 31 C to 22 C
September 26 C to 16 C
October 21 C to 10 C
November 14 C to 3 C
December 8 C to -3 C
Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport (IATA: CGO, ICAO: ZHCC) is the principal airport of Zhengzhou, Henan Province, People's Republic of China.
Xinzheng airport is located 37 km southeast of Zhengzhou. It was opened in August 28, 1997, the 21st international airport in China. It was built to replace Dongjiao Airport, which lies in the immediate vicinity of downtown Zhengzhou.
There are domestic and regional flights from the airport to most major cities in the People's Republic of China, international cargo flights to the Middle East and North Africa (including by MK Airlines, Etihad Airways and DAS Air Cargo) as well as charter flights to Thailand during the travel season.
Location: Xinzheng City, 37kilometers (23 miles) southeast to Zhengzhou City
Brief Intro: As an important trunk line airport and a hub of air traffic in China, Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport was built in 1994 under the 4E standards and put into service in 1997. The terminal was designed to resemble a huge flying bird, covers an area of 46,000 square meters (11 acres), and is capable of handling 3,800,000 passengers per year. Well-equipped, the 3,400-meter-long (2 miles) runway is available for a full-loaded B747-400 and the parking apron offers 12 parking spaces for large airplanes. Over 60 air routes connect the airport to 45 domestic and international cities and areas, including Hong Kong, Macau, Japan and Singapore, etc.
Airport Hotline: 0371-68511688
Banks:
Bank of China: 0371-68510170
Agricultural Bank of China: 0371-62589598
Guangdong Development Bank: 0371-68510452
Car Park: Covering an area of 100,000 sq m (25 acres), the car park offers over 1,000 parking spaces.
Transportation: At present, there are no public buses offered to and from the airport, however airport shuttle buses and taxis are available to and from downtown Zhengzhou. Passengers can take the hourly shuttle bus from the airport to the Civil Aviation Hotel (Address: No. 3, Jinshui Lu), and takes about 40 minutes and costs about RMB 15 per person. The hourly airport shuttle bus service starts at 06:00 through to the last scheduled daily flight. If you do not want to wait for shuttle bus, you can take a taxi; the cost being around RMB 80.
Airlines and other destinations of Zhengzhou
International
China Southern Airlines (Hong Kong)
Hong Kong Airlines (Hong Kong)
Korean Air (Seoul-Incheon)
On February 8, 2009, the direct air route between Zhengzhouand Taiwanwas launched in Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport, the Zhengzhou-Taipei flight was operated by Shenzhen Airlines.
Domestic
Air China (Beijing-Capital, Chengdu, Chongqing, Hohhot)
China Eastern Airlines (Kunming, Nanjing, Shanghai-Hongqiao, Shenyang)
China Southern Airlines (Beijing-Capital, Changchun, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Guangzhou, Guiyang, Haikou, Hangzhou, Kunming, Nanjing, Qingdao, Sanya, Shanghai-Hongqiao, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Urumqi, Xiamen)
Hainan Airlines (Changsha, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Lanzhou, Nanjing, Ningbo, Sanya, Shenzhen, Taiyuan, Tianjin, 'r'mqi, Wenzhou, Wuhan, Yinchuan)
Shanghai Airlines (Shanghai-Hongqiao)
Shenzhen Airlines (Chongqing, Dalian, Guangzhou, Guiyang, Hangzhou, Nanning, Shenzhen, Shenyang, 'r'mqi)
Spring Airlines (Shanghai-Hongqiao)
Xiamen Airlines (Fuzhou, Hangzhou, Lanzhou, Xiamen)
To be able to travel to Zhengzhou you need to have a valid China Visa, issue from your local government at the China Embassy, Chinese visa fall into four types: diplomatic visa, courtesy visa, service visa and ordinary visa. Ordinary visa is further divided into the following 8 categories each marked with a letter: (1) Tourist and family visit visa (L-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to China for tourist purpose, family visit or other personal affairs.
(2) Business Visa (F-visa ) is issued to a foreign citizen who is invited to China for visit, research, lecture, business, exchanges in the fields of science, technology, education, culture and sports, or attending various kinds of trade fairs or exhibitions, or short-term study, intern practice for a period of no more than 6 months.
(3) Student Visa (X-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to China for the purpose of study or advanced study for a period of six or more months.
(4) Work Visa (Z-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to China to work and his or her accompanying family members, or to give commercial performances in China.
(5) Transit Visa (G-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who is to transit through China on his or her way to a third country (or region).
(6) Crew Visa(C-visa)is issued to crew member performing his/her duties on board an international train, or on an international airliner, to a sailor on board an international ocean-liner or freighter, and also to their accompanying family members..
(7) Journalist Visa (J-visa)is issued to foreign journalists. J-visa has two categories: J-1 visa and J-2 visa. J-1 visa is issued to resident foreign journalists in China and their accompanying spouses and under-age children, J-2 visa to foreign journalists who visit China for temporary news coverage.
(8) Permanent Residence Visa(D-visa)is issued to a foreign citizen who has been approved by China's public security authority to reside in China permanently.
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