Zhengzhou[b] is the capital ofHenan, China. Located in northern Henan, it is one of the ninenational central cities in China,[6] and serves as the political, economic, technological, and educational center of the province.[7] The Zhengzhou metropolitan area (including Zhengzhou andKaifeng) is the core area of theCentral Plains Economic Zone.[8][9]
As of the2020 Chinese census, theprefecture-level city of Zhengzhou had a population of 12,600,574 inhabitants,[15] of whom 10,260,667 lived in its built-up (or metro) area made of 6 urban districts plus Zhongmu county, Xinzheng and Xingyang cities now largely beingconurbated.[16][17] The city had a total GDP of 1.014 trillion (RMB) in 2018.[18][19] Greater Zhengzhou was named as one of the 13 emerging mega-cities in China in a July 2012 report by theEconomist Intelligence Unit,[20] and officially named as the eighth National Central City[21] in 2017 by the central government in Beijing.[22]
TheShang dynasty established Aodu (隞都) or Bodu (亳都) in Zhengzhou.[25] This prehistorical city had become abandoned as ruins long before theFirst Emperor of China in 260 BC. Since 1950, archaeological finds in awalled city in Eastern Zhengzhou have provided evidence ofShang dynasty settlements in the area around 1600 BC.[26][27] Outside this city, remains of large public buildings and a complex of small settlements have been discovered. The site is generally identified with the Shang capital of Ao and is preserved in the Shang dynasty Ruins monument in Guanchen District.
The Shang, who continually moved their capital due to frequent natural disasters, left Ao at around 13th century BC. The site, nevertheless, remained occupied;Zhou (post-1050 BC) tombs have also been discovered.[28] Legend suggests that in the Western Zhou period (1111–771 BC) the site became the fief of a family namedGuan. From this derives the name borne by the county (xian) since the late 6th century BC—Guancheng (City of the Guan). The city first became the seat of a prefectural administration in AD 587, when it was namedGuanzhou. In 605 it was first called Zhengzhou—a name by which it has been known virtually ever since.[29]
The name Zhengzhou came from theSui dynasty (AD 582), even though it was located in Chenggao, another town. The government moved to the contemporary city during theTang dynasty. It achieved its greatest importance under theSui (AD 581–618),Tang (618–907), and earlySong (960–1127) dynasties, when it was the terminus of theNew Bian Canal, which joined theYellow River to the northwest. There, at a place called Heyin, a vast granary complex was established to supply the capitals atLuoyang andChang'an to the west and the frontier armies to the north. In the Song period, however, the transfer of the capital eastward toKaifeng robbed Zhengzhou of much of its importance.[citation needed]
In 1903 theBeijing–Hankou Railway arrived at Zhengzhou, and in 1909 the first stage of theLonghai Railway gave it an east–west link to Kaifeng and Luoyang; it later was extended eastward to the coast atLianyungang,Jiangsu, and westward toXi'an (Chang'an),Shaanxi, as well as to western Shaanxi. Zhengzhou thus became a major rail junction and a regional center for cotton, grain,peanuts, and other agricultural produce.[citation needed] Early in 1923 a workers' strike began in Zhengzhou and spread along the rail line before it was suppressed; a 14-story double tower in the center of the city commemorates the strike. On 10 June 1938, Chiang Kai-shek'sNational Revolutionary Army opened up the dikes retaining the Yellow River at Huayuankou between Zhengzhou and Kaifeng, in an effort to stem thetide of invading Japanese; however, the ensuing1938 Yellow River flood also killed hundreds of thousands of Chinese.[30]
Zhengzhou also has alocomotive androlling-stock repair plant, a tractor-assembly plant, and a thermal generating station. The city's industrial growth has resulted in a large increase in the population, coming predominantly from industrial workers from the north. A water diversion project and pumping station, built in 1972, has providedirrigation for the surrounding countryside.[citation needed][31] The city has an agricultural university.
Located just north of the province's centre and south of theYellow River, Zhengzhou bordersLuoyang to the west,Jiaozuo to the northwest,Xinxiang to the northeast,Kaifeng to the east,Xuchang to the southeast, andPingdingshan to the southwest. With the land within its administrative borders generally sloping down from west to east, Zhengzhou is situated at the transitional zone between theNorth China Plain to the east and theSong Mountains andXionger Mountains to the west, which are part of the greaterQinling range. The city centre is situated to the south of the middle reach of the Yellow River, where its valley broadens into the great plain. Zhengzhou is at the crossing point of the north–south route skirting theTaihang Mountains and the mountains of western Henan. The prefecture spans 34° 16' ~ 34° 58 N latitude and 112° 42' ~ 114° 14' E longitude, covering a total area of 7,567 square kilometres (2,922 sq mi), including the metropolitan area, which covers 1,284.89 km2 (496.1 sq mi), and the city centre, which occupies 709.69 square kilometres (274.0 sq mi).[34]
A section of the Yellow River passes by the northern edges of the urban area, extending 150.4 km (93.5 mi) within Zhengzhou prefecture. However,Jialu River, a secondary tributary of theHuai River, is Zhengzhou's main urban river and flood channel.[35] The Jialu enters Zhengzhou fromXinmi to the southwest, and turns to the southeast within the city. Mountains loom over the western counties ofGongyi andDengfeng while the easternmost county ofZhongmu is a vast, fertile floodplain, with the counties in between being hilly transitions.
Zhengzhou experiences a monsoon-influenced, four-seasonhumid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classificationCwa), with cool, dry winters and hot, humid summers. Spring and autumn are dry and somewhat abbreviated transition periods. The city has an annual mean temperature of 15.4 °C (59.7 °F), with the monthly 24-hour average temperature ranging from 1.0 °C (33.8 °F) in January to 27.8 °C (82.0 °F) in July.[36] The frost-free period lasts on average 220 days. Extremes since 1951 have ranged from −17.9 °C (0 °F) on 2 January 1955, 27 December 1971 and 1 February 1990 to 43.0 °C (109 °F) on 19 July 1966.[37][38]
Rainfall is primarily produced by themonsoonal low during summer; in winter, when the vastSiberian High dominates due to radiative cooling from further north, the area receives little precipitation. During the summer season, the city is also often affected by tropical depressions, which bring additional amounts of rain. The annual precipitation is about 630 millimetres (25 in). With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 37 percent in January to 49 percent in April and May, the city receives 1,905 hours of sunshine per year, which is around 43% of the possible total.[36]
Climate data for Zhengzhou, elevation 110 m (360 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1951–present)
In 2019, there were 177 good days in Zhengzhou, an increase of 9 days year-on-year, and 48.5% of the good days reached the standard. There were 24 days of heavy pollution, 9 days less than last year.[42]
On 20 July 2021, "The heaviest hour of rainfall ever reliably recorded in China crashed like a miles-wide waterfall over the city of Zhengzhou on 20 July, killing at least 300 people, including 14 who drowned in a subway tunnel." Although an emergency alert was issued the day before the flood, businesses and subways remained open.[43] From 4pm to 5pm on 21 July, 7.95 inches of rain fell. A collapsed retaining wall allowed water to pour into subway tunnels. "The Chinese government now appears to be acknowledging missteps by local officials, as well as the possibility that severe weather events will become increasingly common."[44]
Map including Zheng County (labeled as鄭縣 CHENG-HSIEN (walled)) (AMS, 1955)
Zhengzhou is divided into 6urban districts, 5county-level cities and 1county. These subdivisions are likely to undergo significant changes in the near future due to increasingly rapid urban expansion and urban planning.
The municipality is home to 8,626,505 inhabitants (2010 census) and 6.35 million in its built up area made of 6 urban and suburban districts,Xingyang andXinzheng cities and nowZhongmu county largely being urbanized, making the city one of the main built-up areas of the province.[45]
Zhengzhou was the capital of China during theShang dynasty. Parts of the Shang-era capital city wall that were built 3,600 years ago still remain in Downtown Zhengzhou (seeZhengzhou Shang City).[29] Zhengzhou maintains abundant cultural heritages that reflect its history as well as the culture of Henan Province.Zhengzhou Confucius Temple, initially built during the Eastern Han dynasty 1900 years ago, is one of the oldest Confucian Temples in China. Other important architectural heritage sites in the city center include Town God Temple andErqi Memorial Tower.
One internationally known tourist attraction is theShaolin Monastery (少林寺), which is inDengfeng, about 90 kilometres (56 miles) southwest of downtown Zhengzhou (1.5 hours by coach). The Shaolin Monastery is not only known as one of China's most important Buddhist shrines, but also as the ancient centre of ChineseKung-fu. Shaolin Monastery and its famedPagoda Forest were inscribed as aUNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010.[46]
TheHenan Museum is one of China's most important museums. It has a collection of more than 130,000 cultural objects includes exhibitions from prehistoric times (such asdinosaur fossils and prehistoric human remains) through to the modern era.
Zhengzhou's most developed and modern area is theZhengdong New Area, which is in the eastern part of the city. It is home to some of the tallest skyscrapers in Zhengzhou, including the 280 metres (918.6 ft) tallZhengzhou Greenland Plaza ("Big Corn"), which is one of the most prominent landmarks in Zhengzhou, and the twin towers ofZhengzhou Greenland Central Plaza (285 metres (935.0 ft)), which are currently the tallest skyscrapers in the city. The tallest structure in Zhengzhou is the 388-meter heightZhongyuan Tower, located on Hanghai East Road in the south ofZhengdong New Area. It is used as a television tower, with a revolving restaurant and an observation deck. The tower is amongthe tallest towers in the world.
Zhengzhou Zoo (郑州动物园) is located on Huayuan Road (花园路).
Zhengzhou, along withXi'an,Chengdu,Chongqing andWuhan, are some of the most economically important cities in inland China. Zhengzhou is the economic center of the province and the surrounding areas such as southeasternShanxi and southwesternShandong. Due to its strategic location in one of the most populous areas in the world (nearly 100 million people in Henan alone) and in China's railway, road and aviation transport networks, Zhengzhou is increasingly attracting domestic and international investment as well as migrants from other areas, transforming the city into one of the largest economic centers in China. In 2018, total GDP of Zhengzhou was ¥1020 billion,[47][48] ranked 17th in China. And in 2021, total GDP was ¥1269.1 billion, ranked 16th in China.[49]
By the end of 2006, Zhengzhou had a total population of over 7 million, of which 2.88 million lived in rural areas.[50] Its main products includeapples,paulownia,tobacco,maize,cotton, andwheat. In addition, Zhengzhou also produces Yellow Rivercarp, Zhengzhouwatermelons, Xinzhengjujube,Xingyang driedpersimmons, GuangwuPomegranate and Zhongmugarlic, all of which are specialties that are rarely found outside the region.
Zhengzhou and the surrounding area have large reserves of coal and other minerals. Coal mining and electricity generation are traditionally important in the local economy.
Shaolin Bus, a well-known small-to-medium-sized bus producer.[51]
ZhengzhouNissan, a subsidiary ofDongfeng Nissan, specializing in the manufacture of SUVs and pickup trucks. In 2010, Nissan opened its second plant in the city.[52]
Haima Automobile Zhengzhou, an automobile manufacturer specializing in manufacturingmicrovans and light passenger vehicles.
Mural Painting from Han DynastySanquan Food, a frozen food company. With over 20000 employees, Sanquan produced the first frozen dumplings and rice balls in China.
Synear Food Holdings Limited, along with Sanquan Food, is one of the largest producers of frozen food in China. The market share is over 20% in China[54]
The service industries of Zhengzhou include retail, wholesale, hospitality, finance, exhibition, transport and delivery, tourism, and education. With a number of domestic and international institutions having regional offices in the city, Zhengzhou is becoming the financial center in central China.Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange (ZCE) is one of the only four future exchanges (inc.Shanghai Futures Exchange andDalian Commodity Exchange andChina Financial Futures Exchange) in China and is becoming an important global player specialised in agricultural future exchange. Equipped with newly built facilities such asZhengzhou International Conference and Exhibition Center. Third party logistics (3PL) in Zhengzhou has also been experiencing industrial boom during the past few years. As a transit and tourist center of Henan Province and central China, Zhengzhou is the center of Henan cuisine.
TheZhengdong New Area (Chinese:郑东新区), literally Eastern Zhengzhou New Area, similar toHangzhou Bay New Area inNingbo andHengqin New Area inZhuhai, is one of dozens of major economic zones that are currently developing in various regions of China.[55] Established in 2003 by the provincial and municipal governments, it has become the financial center ofHenan province and one of the most rapidly growing areas of China.
Kisho Kurokawa, a Japanese world-renowned planner and architect, was appointed to design the overall planning scheme for Zhengdong New Area.[56] He brought in advanced ideas including ecological city, co-existing city, metabolic city and ring city ideas. The scheme won the "Prominent Award for City Planning Design" at the first session of Annual Meeting of the World Architects Alliance in 2002.[57] Zhengdong New Area is mainly constituted by the CBD area, the Longhu commercial and residential area, the Longzihu college area, and theZhengzhou East railway station commercial area.
Zhengzhou New & Hi-Tech Industries Development Zone
Zhengzhou High & New Technology Industries Development Zone was established in 1988, and approved by the state Council of PRC to be a state development zone on Mar.6,1991. It was appraised to be advanced high tech zone of China respectively in 1993, 1998 and 2002. The Zone currently covers a total area of 18.6 square kilometres (7.2 square miles). An extension plan was approved by Zhengzhou Municipal Government, the various construction work started in 2004. Under the development strategy of "multiple parks in one zone", the Zone has been making great efforts to promote the development of software, information technologies, new materials, bio-pharmaceutical and photo-machinery-electronic industries.[58]
Zhengzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone
Zhengzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone was approved as state-level development zone on 13 February 2000. The zone has a developed area of 7 square kilometres (3 square miles) Industries encouraged include Electronics Assembly & Manufacturing, Telecommunications Equipment, Trading and Distribution, Biotechnology/Pharmaceuticals, Instruments & Industrial Equipment Production, Medical Equipment and Supplies, Shipping/Warehousing/Logistics and Heavy Industry.[59]
Zhengzhou Export Processing Area
Zhengzhou (Henan) Export Processing Zone was established on 21 June 2002 with approval by the state council. Its planned area is 2.7 square kilometres (1.0 square mile). Zone A is located in Zhengzhou National Economic & technological Development Area and began to operate on 1 June 2004. The area of land developed is 0.893 square kilometres (0.345 square miles) at present. Zone B is located in Zhengzhou Airport Area and is adjacent to Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport on the north and it covers a planned area of 5 square km with bonded logistics zone, bonded processing zone and supporting industry zone, etc.[60]
TheZhengzhou Metro is a rapid transit metro rail network serving urban and suburban districts of Great Zhengzhou metropolitan. TheZhengzhou Metro system started operation on 28 December 2013. It currently has 5 lines in operation, creating a 134.1 km (83.3 mi) long network. The first two lines (Line 1 andLine 2) were approved by theNational Development and Reform Commission in Feb. 2009.[61] Construction of the two lines started in 2009 and 2010, and were finished in 2013 and 2015 respectively.[62] TheChengjiao Line (planned to be part of Line 9), which is now in through operations with Line 2, allows the system to serve theZhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport. A total of 21 metro lines have been planned to connect all areas in Great Zhengzhou Metropolitan Area.[63]
As of 2024, Zhengzhou Metro operates 9 inner-city metro lines (Line 1; Line 2; Line 3; Line 4; Line 5 Inner Ring; Line 5 Outer Ring; Line 6; Line 10; Line 12; and Line 14). In addition, the city operates two metro lines connecting to the suburbs (Suburban Line) and to the nearby Xuchang, a prefecture-level city (Zhengxü Line). Line 6, 7 and 8 is estimated to be opened by the end of 2024.
The Zhengzhou subway fares has a segmented pricing system. The starting price is 2 yuan ($0.28) for a ride of up to 6 kilometers. If the mileage exceeds 6 kilometers, the principle of "decreasing for further distances" will apply. Within the mileage of 6 to 13 kilometers, 1 yuan ($0.14) will be added for every 7 kilometers, and for 8 kilometers between 13 and 21 kilometers, 1 yuan ($0.14) will be added. For each additional 9 kilometers above 21 kilometers, an additional 1 yuan ($0.14) is added. Riders can use cash, a physical metro card, or QR code payment available on Alipay or WeChat apps to pay for the ride.
The operations ofZhengzhou Bus Rapid Transit commenced in 2009. The system consists of 5 main routes (B1,B2,B3,B5 andB6) with dedicated bus lanes and dozens of branch routes that serve most areas of the city.[citation needed]
The completion of theZhengzhou–Jinan high-speed railway, planned for 2023, will complete a star-shaped (referred to as a "米"-shaped) network of eight high-speed lines radiating out from the city.[66]
Liu Yang (刘洋; born 1978), a pilot andastronaut who became the first Chinese woman in space.
Tie Ya Na (帖雅娜; born 1979), a table tennis player representing Hong Kong, born in Zhengzhou.
Sun Tiantian (孙甜甜; born 1981), a former professional tennis player onWTA Tour and 2004 Olympic Tennis champion (women's doubles withLi Ting), the first Chinese player to win a mixed doubles Grand Slam title at the2008 Australian Open withNenad Zimonjić.
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