The rich history and geographical advantages of Zhoukou have made it a unique city. As the ancient capitals of Emperor Yao and the birthplace ofLaozi, it carries a profound cultural heritage of China. At the same time, the remnants of the Chen and Chu cultures endow Zhoukou with a distinctive historical charm. The development of the Lin'gang New City showcases the city's modernization process and economic vitality.[peacock prose]
The convergence of the Sha Ying rivers has endowed Zhoukou with unparalleled geographical advantages, making it a hub known as theCentral Plains Port City.[6] This bestowed upon Zhoukou significant importance in ancient times, and today, with further improvements in transportation infrastructure, its advantages are even more pronounced.
The integrated transportation network comprising highways, railways, and waterways has provided robust support for the city's development, facilitating economic growth and connections with the outside world. This transportation advantage has not only driven the local economy of Zhoukou but has also positioned it as a vital nexus linking the Central Plains with other regions.[7]
For thousands of years, Chen (now atHuaiyang) had been the center of this area and a nationally well-known city. The ancient city site founded atPingliangtai (near Huaiyang) is over 4600 years old, which is one of the oldest cities in China.[10] According to the legend,Fu Xi, the first of theThree Sovereigns of ancient China, died in the city. During theSpring and Autumn period, Chen was the capital ofChen State and then annexed byChu. Therefore, the area was usually referred to as "Chen Chu" in ancient times. The leaders of the first Chinese peasant uprising (theDazexiang uprising) established the government at Chen.
The city's name "Zhoukou" is short for "Zhoujiakou", which literally means "Zhou's ferry". Located at the intersection ofJialu River andShaying River, it started to develop as a river harbor of China's Inland Water Transport System in the earlyMing dynasty. By the end of the 18th century, two towns along the rivers merged into one big town with several tens of thousand permanent residents. From the port, cargo could either be shipped south to theYangtze River or north to theYellow River. However, after the "sea ban" was canceled, sea transport began to play a major role on the trade betweenJiangnan and North China, which diminished the utility of inland waterways. The cost of maintaining the river channels kept increasing because of the ever-rising river bed. The appearance of railways and modern roads in the early 20th century lead to a recession in the water transport business nearby. Finally, in the 1970s, a dam was built on the Shaying River, which cut the city's last waterway.
In 2000, the government of the Zhoukou prefecture-level city was founded. The old county-level city and its suburban area becameChuanhui District.
In 2004, Zhoukou City was recognized as the only prefecture-level"Hometown of ChineseAcrobatics" in the country.[11] On January 22, 2020, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development named Zhoukou City a National Garden City. On May 18, 2020, Zhoukou City was awarded the title of"Civilized City of Henan Province". On October 20 of the same year, it was selected as a"National Model City for Supporting Military Service". In 2021, Zhoukou Port was listed as one of the 36 national-level major inland ports.[12] In June 2023, Zhoukou City was granted the title of"Hometown of Chinese Literature" in China.[13]
Zhoukou is a major agricultural producer in the province ofHenan. Its economy is mainly based on the trade of agricultural products, such as grain, cotton, oil, meat and tobacco. In particular, Zhoukou is famous for the skin of the Huai Goat, a local breed of goat.