Zhengzhou may not be a name that most people recognize outside of China, but it is a city that is quickly making a name for itself as a regional economic and cultural destination.
Zhengzhou is a transportation hub due to its central location in China, and is the capital of one of the most important agricultural regions in the country.
Economy
Henan Province's economy is bolstered by industries such as
agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and textiles, among others. Henan
Province is one of the largest wheat growing regions in China, and in
addition grows cotton and corn. Coal and other minerals are also mined
here, making coal and coal power a pillar of the local economy.
Business
Zhengzhou is quickly becoming a destination for international business and trade opportunities. It is the site of the Zhengzhou Commodities Exchange,
the national commodities exchange of China and one of only 3 future
exchanges in the country (in addition to the Shanghai Future Exchange
and Dalian Commodity Exchange).
In addition, Zhengzhou has several key economic development zones,
such as the New and High-Tech Industries Development Zone, the Economic
and Technological Development Zone, and the Export Processing Zone, all
of which highlight the forward-looking nature of the city. Zhengzhou
also has the Zhengzhou International Conference and Exhibition Center,
and regularly holds conventions related to a variety of fields.
Tourism
Henan is notable for its long and impressive history. Some of the
earliest civilizations in China originated in what is now Henan. In
addition, the cities of Luoyang and Kaifeng were both capitals of China
at different times and across different dynasties.
Places such as the Longmen Caves and White Horse Temple in Luoyang
draw thousands of tourists every year, while the Shaolin Temple, famous
for its style of Kung Fu, is only an hour or so from Zhengzhou. Other
places of interest include Anyang, whose museums display bronze work
from the earliest civilizations in China, in addition to providing
information on the history of Chinese writing, from the earliest Oracle
Bones to the simplification of Chinese Characters in modern times.