Why Should Henan Be at the Center of China?
▲ Picture shows Qingtian River in Jiaozuo, Henan. Looking at Henan as a stage, it is as winding and vast as a long river. Photo by Shi Yaochen
Time is the beat, the earth is the stage.
Across the vast land of China, which stage—
has the most grand scene? It harmonizes the terrain from all directions and manages the nation's transportation. Today, it connects the country's economic lifelines with a highway network, the earliest "米"-shaped high-speed rail structure, and China's first aviation-based economic development experimental zone.
▲ Zhengzhou Liujiang Yellow River Bridge. Photo/VCG
has the most enduring melody? With the antiquity of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, the elegance of the Han, Tang, and Song dynasties, ancient capitals and famous cities abound, and countless heroes have come and gone. Thousands of words and ages of drama ultimately converge into one crisp and clear word: "中" (zhōng).
▲ Statues of Emperors Yan and Huang. Many ancient legends took place in Henan. Photo by Jiao Xiaoxiang
has the most diverse repertoire? It features epics blending Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, the varied flavors of five regions, and can also stage the era-defining drama of "Hardcore Henan."
▲ White Horse Temple in Luoyang. Built in the Eastern Han Dynasty, it is the first ancient temple and the first government-built monastery in China. Most of the existing structures date back to the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Photo by Shi Yaochen
has the most twists and turns in its plot? In ancient times, it was the protagonist of two millennia as the "center of the world." In modern times, it has risen abruptly in seventy years, reversing eight centuries of decline, and with the efforts of a hundred million people, it has broken through on the Central Plains.
▲ Landmark buildings in Zhengzhou, Henan: Zhongyuan Tower and航海体育场 (Navigation Stadium). Photo by Jiao Xiaoxiang
This center-stage role belongs to none other than Henan!
Henan: China's Hometown in the Spotlight
Henan spans the east-west divide between the third and second steps of China's terrain and the north-south transition zone between semi-humid and humid climates. It has aliases such as "Central Plain," "Central Region," "Central Land," and "Center of the Earth." Major transportation routes running through the nation mostly converge in Henan. Its reputation as the "hinterland of the Nine Provinces and thoroughfare of Ten Provinces" is well-deserved.
▲ Schematic map of Henan's topography. Map by Wu Pan
The eastern half of Henan features low, gentle, and flat terrain, with the Hai River, Yellow River, Huai River, and Yangtze River systems intertwining, alluvial forming a vast, fan-shaped plain.
▲ Yellow River alluvial plain. Photo by Shi Yaochen
The western half of Henan is not just a monotonous expanse of plain but also a little-known geographical "kaleidoscope":
In northwestern Henan, the remnants of the Qinling Mountains, such as Zhongtiao Mountain, Xiao Mountain, and Xiong'er Mountain, form gorges and are carved by flowing water into纵横交错的 gullies. The hills of western Henan extend southeastward, with low areas rugged and uneven, and high areas featuring jagged peaks.
▲ Scenery of Guanshan National Park, part of the Taihang Mountains. Photo by Li Qiong
The climate in southwestern Henan is humid. From northwest to southeast, the Funiu Mountains, Waifang Mountains, Tongbai Mountains, and Dabie Mountains stretch like an emerald curtain. These mountain ranges stand like a row of halberds, forming a "crescent scimitar" that embraces the Central Henan Plain. From a bird's-eye view, it resembles a curved jade pendant encircling the east. This C-shaped barrier is pierced by the mighty Yellow River, forming the character "中" (zhōng, meaning "center").
▲ Mount Laojun, the main peak of the Funiu Mountains, is known as the world's foremost "sacred mountain." Photo/VCG
Chinese culture venerates the center and treasures jade. Henan's feng shui is supremely noble. The "C-shape" and "C-position" complement each other, creating the diverse and magnificent landscape of Henan.
The Yellow River runs through the central courtyard, while the mountains form a natural gateway. Henan is like a grand mansion, sheltering and nurturing generations of Chinese ancestors. Today, the descendants of Yan and Huang have spread across the globe. Do they still remember where their ancestral home is?
▲ Shang Dynasty bronze ding and statues of Emperors Yan and Huang. Photo/Shi Yaochen
Henan is not only a geographical "hub" but also the "origin" of historical civilization. Tang Dynasty minister Du You wrote in *Comprehensive Institutions*: "The Central Plains reside in the center of the land, where all things receive the purest energy." This means Henan, located at the heart of China, enjoys a uniquely favorable environment that fosters growth. It is the cradle of Chinese civilization, with Neolithic cultures like Peiligang and Yangshao originating here. Ancient Henan was once home to Asian elephants, hence its ancient name "Yuzhou" (Elephant Province). Like an elephant carrying a heavy load, Henan is the C-position cornerstone that bears (carry) Chinese culture.
▲ Distribution and introduction of ancient capitals and national historical and cultural cities in Henan. Map/Wu Pan
The history of Henan is half the history of China.
Half of China's Eight Great Ancient Capitals are in Henan. Four cities, representing four eras, form a "capital line," stringing together 4,000 years of Henan's past and present.
Writing is the lever that elevated humanity from barbarism to civilization. The hometown of Chinese writing is Anyang, the ancient capital of seven dynasties.
The oracle bone inscriptions unearthed at the Yinxu ruins in Xiaotun Village, Anyang, are the earliest and most mature ancient Chinese characters discovered. Anyang is located at the northernmost "protrusion" of Henan, stretching like an eagle's beak across the Yellow River into the border of Shanxi and Hebei. Jiaozuo, Xinxiang, Hebi, and Puyang are its strong wings. The pioneering spirit of Shanxi merchants and the heroic ethos of Yan and Zhao resonate across northern Henan.
▲ Location map of Anyang, Henan. Map/F50BB
Over 3,000 years ago, the Shang Dynasty, after numerous political upheavals, finally established its capital in Anyang (ancient Yin). The Houmuwu Ding, the largest bronze ritual vessel ever found in China, was unearthed in Anyang. It was so heavy that seven or eight people could not lift it and large enough to cook an entire ox—a testament to Yin's zenith. Anyang is a milestone of China's Bronze Age.
▲ Houmuwu Ding at the Yinxu Museum in Anyang. Photo/VCG
Fu Hao, a "strong woman" and Queen of King Wu Ding of Shang, once commanded thousands of troops on horseback. Her glorious life was rediscovered with the excavation of her tomb in Anyang. "Brother Liu’s words are too biased—who says women are inferior to men?" Fu Hao’s heroic spirit echoes the popularity of the Henan opera *Hua Mulan*. The "Anyang Era," with its cultural and military achievements, marked the beginning of Henan's and China's civilized history.
Chinese civilization started in Anyang and, after many twists, returned to its origin in Henan—Luoyang. Among China's Eight Great Ancient Capitals, Luoyang served as the capital for the most dynasties and the longest duration. The grandeur of the Three Dynasties' rites and music and the magnificence of the Han and Tang eras define the Luoyang Era, which runs through the main thread of ancient and medieval Chinese history.
▲ Ruins of the Tang Dynasty Dingding Gate in Luoyang. Photo/Shi Yaochen
Luoyang is located in western Henan, at the confluence of the Yi, Luo, Chan, and Jian rivers, with the Xiao Mountains to the west and the Yellow River to the east. Surrounded by rolling hills, it embraces the gentle and vast Heluo region. Luoyang was once synonymous with the ancient Central Plains.
▲ Luoyang today. Photo/Shi Yaochen
To the west of Luoyang, Sanmenxia guards the "gateway" of the Yellow River flowing from the west. To the southeast, Pingdingshan extends into the Eastern Henan Plain. On the map, these three places form an arch. The "arrow" is Jiyuan City to the northwest, the "bowstring" is the Luo River flowing through western Henan, and the six "arrow shafts" are Luoyang’s six ancient capital sites: the Erlitou Xia and Shang capitals in Yanshi, the Zhou Dynasty Wangcheng and Chengzhou cities, the Han-Wei Luoyang City, the Sui-Tang Luoyang City... Thirteen dynasties once ruled here like tigers and dragons.
▲ Map of the Changes of Luoyang, an Ancient Capital of Thirteen Dynasties. Map by Wu Pan
From the embryonic form of the state at Erlitou to King Wu of Zhou's alliance at Mengjin in Luoyang to campaign against King Zhou, over 700 years had passed. The Duke of Zhou built the eastern capital, Luoyi (the ruins of the Zhou Dynasty royal city and Chengzhou city in present-day Luoyang), to house the "Nine Cauldrons," marking Luoyang's rise to its peak. Nearly 400 years later, the Eastern Zhou moved its capital to Luoyi, and the state's power gradually declined. In 249 BCE, the Eastern Zhou perished, concluding a 2,000-year cycle of rise and fall for Luoyang. This "Heluo Bow" was temporarily "put away when the birds were gone."
▲ Erlitou Site Museum. Photo by Shi Yaochen
Three hundred years later, the wheel of history once again stopped at Luoyang: in 25 CE, Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han, Liu Xiu, established Luoyang as the capital, ushering in a second era of prosperity for Luoyang. From the Eastern Han to the Western Jin, it remained the political, economic, and cultural center of China. The opening and consolidation of the Silk Road made Luoyang a melting pot of ethnic integration during the Han and Tang dynasties. According to the Western Jin "Piyong Stele" in Dongdajiao Village, Yanshi, Luoyang, the highest institution of learning, "Piyong," once enrolled over ten Western Regions "international students."
▲ Ruins of the Han-Wei Luoyang City. Photo by Fu Ding
By this time, the "scholarly atmosphere" of the Luoyang era had overshadowed the "martial atmosphere" of the Anyang era, and the "Heluo Bow" that could be drawn from both sides transformed into the "Central Plains Dome" that pacified the four fields. In 494 CE, Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei moved the capital from Pingcheng (present-day Datong, Shanxi) to Luoyang, revitalizing the city once again. Sino-Western trade circulated through here, penetrating deep into the heart of Eurasia. Western delicacies such as Hu soup, Hu rice, Hu bread, and Hu roasted meat spread from Luoyang across the country, becoming part of Chinese cuisine. To this day, Luoyang remains one of the places in China most fond of pepper.
The breadth and inclusiveness of Luoyang not only changed the lifestyle of the Chinese people but also rewrote the cultural vein of China: Confucius came here to seek wisdom from Laozi, the White Horse Temple—the cradle of Han Buddhism—was established here, and the intertwining and fusion of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism wove the tapestry of splendid China.
▲ Top: Snowfall at the White Horse Temple; Bottom: Shaolin monks practicing martial arts under golden ginkgo trees. These are possibly the two most famous temples in Henan. Top photo by Wang Yuwen, bottom photo by Liu Kebai
Thereafter, the Sui and Tang dynasties built Luoyang anew. During Wu Zetian's reign, the divine capital Luoyang was resplendent and majestic, like the king of flowers, the peony. "Only the peony is truly the national beauty; when it blooms, it stirs the entire capital." Countless literary works narrate the millennia of elegance and charm of Luoyang.
▲ Panorama of the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang and its largest Buddha statue—Vairocana Buddha. Top photo by Zhu Shuwen, bottom photo by Lu Wen
In the glorious Tang Dynasty, the Luoyang era reached its peak. Over time, however, Luoyang's brilliance gradually faded. Today, Luoyang is rather lonely; only the honeycomb-like Longmen Grottoes and the layered imperial tombs on Mount Mang bear witness to its former imperial grandeur. "Born in Suzhou and Hangzhou, buried on Northern Mang." Flourishing here and passing away here, the Chinese people's sentiment of "great unity" and "falling leaves returning to the roots" is the spiritual legacy left by the Luoyang era.
Luoyang's roots are deeply buried in fertile soil, and its branches bore the spring blossoms and autumn fruits of Kaifeng. The Kaifeng era carried forward the past and ushered in the future, adding a lively worldly flavor, becoming a graceful shadow of Chinese elegance.
▲ Ruins of the Kaifeng Drum Tower. Photo by Tian Chunyu
Kaifeng borders Shandong to the east and connects to central Henan to the west. Its rise and fall are closely tied to the fluctuations of the Yellow River. Repeatedly flooded and rebuilt, it is known as the "Water City of the Central Plains." Today, Kaifeng is filled with dark, shimmering waters everywhere, possessing the charm and elegance of the Jiangnan water towns. The ancient Bian River's convenient canal transport attracted Emperor Taizu of Song, Zhao Kuangyin, to this treasure land, inaugurating the prosperous era of Northern Song Kaifeng (also known as Bianjing, Bianliang, or Dongjing).
▲ "Water Town" Kaifeng. Photo by Jiao Xiaoxiang
Porcelain carries the local culture of the Central Plains during the Kaifeng era and reached the world via the "Maritime Ceramic Road." During the Northern Song alone, Henan's ceramic industry included over ten large kilns, such as the Ru Kiln, Jun Kiln, Official Kiln, Dengfeng Kiln, Gongxian Kiln, Jiaozuo Kiln, Hebi Kiln, Yiyang Kiln, and Dengzhou Kiln. Countless elegant utensils and playthings were supplied nationwide and even exported overseas.
▲ Distribution Map of the Five Great Kilns of the Song Dynasty. Map by Wu Pan
Song Dynasty porcelain is elegant and subtle. The saying "A piece of Jun Kiln tile is worth a fortune" has been widely circulated in the antique trade of later generations. Ru Kiln porcelain is even hailed as the finest among ceramics, with fewer than 70 pieces surviving worldwide today, each a rare treasure.
▲ Jun porcelain artifacts and the process of making Jun porcelain. Photo by Li Ping'an
However, delicate porcelain is fragile, and beautiful dreams are short-lived. The splendid scenes eventually vanished like bubbles. The moment the Jin cavalry breached the city gates, the Kaifeng era came to an abrupt end. Yet, it left behind many treasures, such as "Dreams of Splendor of the Eastern Capital" by Meng Yuanlao, an "old Kaifeng local"; the "Eastern Capital Love Story" of the poetess Li Qingzhao and her deceased husband Zhao Mingcheng treasure hunting at the Daxiangguo Temple market; and the painting "Along the River During the Qingming Festival," which captures the bustling world of Bianliang, allowing people to reminisce about the elegance of the Northern Song.
▲ Today's Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden. Photo by Jiao Xiaoxiang
Henan then entered an 800-year period of decline. After the Southern Song Dynasty, China's economic center shifted south to the area around Lake Tai and the southeastern coast. Henan was no longer the proud "Center of the World" that looked down upon the rest of the land.
Times change. It was not until the early 20th century that the rumbling trains awakened Henan from its millennia-long slumber. The intersection of the Beijing-Guangzhou and Longhai railways in central Henan created the "Zheng Center" at the very heart—Zhengzhou.
▲ Railways converge in Zhengzhou. Map by F50BB
The land transport network weaves incessantly through Zhengzhou. In just a century, Zhengzhou has risen from a small "Zheng County" to the capital of Henan Province. Today, Zhengzhou is not only the "double cross" heart of conventional and high-speed railways. With the successive construction of high-speed railways to Hefei, Chongqing, Taiyuan, and Jinan, a米-shaped high-speed rail network centered on Zhengzhou is taking shape. The integration of water, land, and air transport has made Zhengzhou an international comprehensive transportation hub.
▲ Zhengzhou High-Speed Railway Station. Photo by Jiao Xiaoxiang
The development of Zhengzhou in the new era has been a nimble "multi-stage leap": In 1993, Yutong Bus "going global" and Zhengzhou Nissan "bringing in" were established simultaneously, laying the foundation for Zhengzhou as a "motor city." In 2010, Foxconn located a factory in Zhengzhou that produces half of the world's iPhones, driving the rapid development of the electronic information and optoelectronic industries. Subsequently, leveraging its transportation advantages, Zhengzhou became a "sky city" and was approved as China's first aviation economic development pilot zone, marking a turning point in its rise.
▲ Top: Intersection of Zhengzhou-Fuyang and Zhengzhou-Wanzhou railways; Bottom: Beilonghu Financial Island under construction, the fastest-growing area in Zhengzhou. Photo by Shi Yaochen
Young Zhengzhou has no dominant local culture. As an immigrant city, it carries the dreams of 100 million Henan people as "Zheng drifters." But Zhengzhou is far from the "cultural desert" that many mistakenly believe. In 1955, the ruins of a Shang Dynasty capital were excavated in downtown Zhengzhou, earning the city a place among the "Eight Great Ancient Capitals of China" in 2004. Today, Zhengzhou is inclusive and thriving, with an excellent human environment, making it deservedly "Number One in Henan."
▲ Zhengzhou Shang City Ruins. Photo by Shi Yaochen
The rapid changes in Zhengzhou are leading the revival of Henan and the entire central region.
Sheng, Dan, Jing, Chou—"The Central Divine Power"
At the center of China's stage, it is Henan people's主场 (home ground). Countless faces have risen and fallen in the long river of history, gathered together, they form the four roles of Sheng, Dan, Jing, and Chou.
▲ Yu Opera, using Central Plains Mandarin as its pronunciation, is one of China's five major opera types. Image/VCG
China's First Laosheng | How Profound?
Henan is the "Laosheng" (old male role). Aged, ancient, steady, and conservative are the "Henan impressions" for most people.
Walking on the Central Plains, ancient relics are everywhere, like the strands of beard on the Laosheng's髯口 (beard). Henan has produced many talented scholars, the serene and dignified "Angong Laosheng" with peerless singing skills, and also many heroes, the "Kaoba Laosheng" who wear armor and wield swords. Henan, like an old steed in the stable, carries too much of the nation's past and people's livelihood, standing firm like Mount Song. Historical celebrities from Henan are as numerous as stars:
▲ How many experts has Henan produced through the ages? Map by Jun Ming.
Henan is the main origin of Chinese surnames. Each surname contains a long and profound bloodline. Many Hakka people migrated south from Henan, spreading their branches in various places. In addition to native "Hundred Family Surnames," Henan also gave rise to Chinese surnames of foreign ethnic groups. During the Song Dynasty, thousands of Jews lived in Bianliang (Kaifeng), divided into 17 surnames including Li, Zhao, Ai, Zhang, Gao, Jin, and Shi. Their descendants can still find ancestral graves around Kaifeng today. To seek roots and ancestors, the root is in Henan.
▲ Long Pavilion in Kaifeng. Photo by Jiao Xiaoxiang
Originating from the "Elegant Speech" of the Spring and Autumn Period, the Central Plains Mandarin is a living fossil of Chinese culture. Henan people call "shouting" "xié huò," "squatting" "gǔ duī," "layman" "bái bó," and "deceiving" "dǎo" or "què," all of which are ancient dialects. Henan dialect combines elegance and vulgarity; though phrases like "tù sūn er" (rascal), "niáng lei gè jiǎo (juē)" (damn it), and "kōu sou" (Henan slang: being stingy) may sound crude, they all have deep origins.
▲ "Henan dialect" fills the streets and alleys of ordinary people's lives in Henan. Photo/Lu Wen
As a living fossil, it embodies a conservative maturity of "following what others do." Henan people mostly lack a spirit of adventure and call those who stir up trouble "lèng tóu qīng" (hothead). Though Henan was once revered as an "imperial residence," it historically produced few founding emperors.
However, among the myriad expressions in Henan dialect, nothing compares to the straightforward "Zhōng!" (Okay!). Henan people are straightforward and sincere. In moments of competition, they shout: "Nòng!" (Let's do it!), roll up their sleeves and yell: "Duì (dei)!" (Go for it!), carrying a hint of "ferocity" and a touch of "vitality," much like the two representative Henan styles of Chinese martial arts: Shaolin Kung Fu and Chen-style Tai Chi.
Henan, like an old steed in the stable, stands firm like Mount Song, worthy of being called "China's Hometown."
Beautiful Henan丨Elderly Dan or Hua Dan?
The Yellow River is sometimes gentle, sometimes狂暴. For the people along its banks, a flood is a calamity. Henan is like an "Elderly Dan" playing a nurturing mother,包容着the wild and unruly Yellow River. The Central Plains have long had vast farmland, but in the era of relying on nature, floods, droughts, and wars kept ancient Henan's grain yields low.
▲ Scenery of the Yellow River Three Gorges at the Wan Mountain Lake in the Xiaolangdi Reservoir area, Xin'an County. Photo/Zhang Yongfeng
However, its central location made Henan the granary of the nation since ancient times. For example, during the Tang Dynasty's Tianbao era, the Hanjia Granary in Luoyang stored over 5.8 million dan of grain, enough to sustain a large city of a million people for at least a year.
In the new era, the Yellow River's floods have been controlled, and Henan's agricultural prowess has been reborn: hardworking Henan people cultivate one-sixteenth of China's arable land but produce one-tenth of the nation's annual grain output.
▲ A demonstration field for ten-thousand-mu rice cultivation in Mengjin County, Luoyang, Henan. Photo/Huang Zhengwei
Today, Henan is not only China's granary but also a low-key major province in fruit and vegetable cultivation, livestock breeding, and food processing, integrating all four aspects to become the nation's kitchen:
In terms of national condiments, Henan has Wang Shouyi Thirteen Spices from Zhumadian and Zhongjing Mushroom Sauce from Nanyang; in frozen foods, represented by Sanquan and Synear from Zhengzhou, Henan accounts for 60% of China's production; in meat products, China's first ham sausage was born in Henan (Luoyang Chundu Food Factory), and Shineway, which holds three-tenths of the ham sausage market, is also in Henan (Luohe). The province's meat processing scale accounts for over 70% of the national total...
▲ Technological progress at Sanquan Food Factory. Top: 2001, Bottom: 2014. Photo/Visual China
From seasonings to instant frozen foods, from snacks to beverages, from dining tables to afternoon tea, Henan handles almost all of China's "eating" needs.
Henan is not only about earth-covered relics and crops; she can also tie up her hair, don splendid attire, and play the role of a charming Hua Dan. Henan boasts stunning natural landscapes that complement its historical sites. Various geological parks like Mount Song, Yuntai Mountain, Wangwu Mountain, Longtan Gorge, Chaya Mountain, and Shenling寨 are scattered across the Central Plains... Whether heavily made-up or lightly adorned, Henan in the C位 is not only a domineering "big brother" but also a tender "big sister."
▲ Yuntai Mountain Scenic Area in Henan. Photo/Kang Hui
"Painted Face" Henan丨How Exciting Is It?
Jing, commonly known as Painted Face. As the central connecting belt of China, Henan integrates the customs and cultures of various regions. Each place has its own color, each city its own form, together forming a large painted face:
Western Henan connects with Shaanxi's "Guanzhong flavor"; northwestern and northern Henan form part of the North China Plain; eastern Henan interlocks with the Qilu region, blending Confucianism and Taoism; southern Henan converges with Jingchu and Jianghuai cultures, where Henan people embody both the clever stubbornness of the "nine-headed bird" and the delicate elegance of the Jianghuai style. Central Henan is the birthplace of contemporary Central Plains Mandarin but has blended too many foreign customs, making it the most Henan yet the least Henan.
▲ Mazongling in Funiu Mountains, Luoyang, Henan; Shihegang Tea Plantation by Nanwan Lake, Xinyang, Henan; Farmland along the Beijing-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway in Luohe, Henan. The diverse landscapes in different regions of Henan have shaped its varied terroir and culture. Fig.1 by Zhang Yongfeng, Fig.2 by Jiao Xiaoxiang, Fig.3 by Shi Yaochen
The culinary palette of Henan people is also richly diverse, far beyond the well-known "three axes" of braised noodles, spicy soup, and Daokou braised chicken. There are many lesser-known local delicacies: Wuzhi oil tea, Luoyang tofu soup, Kaifeng soup dumplings, scalded noodle dumplings, large intestine soup, almond tea... Others such as skin residue, flat stack, silver strips, paste卜, salty food, valley垒 (lui), nianzhuan, and husk包 are dishes whose names offer no clue without local interpretation.
▲ Representative dishes of Henan. Top left: Carp with焙noodles, picture from Huitu.com; Top right: Heji braised noodles, picture from Visual China Group; Middle right: Spicy soup, by Wu Xuewen; Bottom: Daokou braised chicken, picture from Visual China Group
Henan cuisine, characterized by its "moderate, balanced, and mild" flavors, excels in harmonizing diverse tastes from all directions: Eastern Henan, represented by Kaifeng cuisine, features the酱, salty, and fresh flavors reminiscent of Shandong cuisine; Western Henan is renowned for Luoyang Water Banquet, with its sour and spicy notes; Southern Henan's Xinyang prefers stews with fragrant and spicy flavors; Northern Henan specializes in braised dishes with profound tastes... The flavor of Henan is a grand mosaic of Chinese tastes.
▲ Authentic "KFC" (Kaifeng Fare Cuisine). From top to bottom: Fried凉粉, sesame baked cake, soup dumplings. By Shi Yaochen
Henan People丨Why Do They Embody the Most Challenging "Ugly Role"?
The ugly role is the most difficult to perform, mirroring the complexity of Henan people's character. The opera world has a tradition of "respecting the ugly role," where "famous ugly roles" require profound skills and often serve as the pillar of a troupe. In Henan opera "The Seventh Rank Sesame Official" and Beijing opera "Xu Jiujing's Promotion," the ugly role unquestionably takes center stage.
Born in the "imperial city roots" where stars surround the moon, Henan people have long been accustomed to leading roles. Their central position in the world fostered a sense of superiority, hence the frequent use of "中" (zhōng, meaning "okay" or "central"). But as time flies and prosperity slips through their fingers, the more anxious they become, the less they can grasp. Perhaps out of sheer reluctance, they use "中" to ease the embarrassment of empty hands.
▲ The once glorious China Second Abrasive Wheel Factory now lies in ruins. By Jiao Xiaoxiang
Favorable timing and geographical advantages are gone, yet natural and man-made disasters frequent. Wars and famines swept Henan people into the social torrent, forcing them to "go with the flow." The flames of war burned Luoyang to agony; the raging Yellow River drowned Kaifeng to the brink of death. The ancient battlefields with bleached bones and the Yellow River Flooded Areas strewn with starved corpses are eternal scars for Henan people.
▲ The Yellow River Flooded Area at the border of Bozhou, Anhui and Shangqiu, Henan is now vast fertile farmland. By Fu Ding
To make a living, Henan people have repeatedly left their homeland, spreading across the country, yet often troubled by regional stereotypes. However, Henan people prove themselves with strength. In the "Touching China" awards, Henan role models like Hong Zhanhui, Wei Qinggang, and Xie Yanxin frequently appear. Henan-made products are known for quality, embodying "Henan quality." The construction steel for national landmarks like the Bird's Nest, Water Cube, and Beijing Capital International Airport terminals came from Henan's Wugang Iron and Steel Company.
During the 2020 pandemic, Henan maintained order, aided Hubei with resources and personnel. Henan people's "中!" resonated nationwide.
▲ February 13, 2020, the first medical team from Zhengzhou departs for Wuhan. Picture from People's Visual
Henan people's "中" is not just about mediocrity or reservation. It means appropriateness, perfection, harmony in diversity. Respecting the ugly role is about masters skillfully balancing humor without absurdity, thus highlighting strengths and avoiding weaknesses. As Niu Decao, a famed Henan opera artist, sang in "The Seventh Rank Sesame Official": "If an official doesn't serve the people, he might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes." Henan's center stage is earned by taking charge of their own destiny.
New Henan, the Future C位 (Center)!
Henan ancestors lived tough lives. The romance of armored horses and gleaming spears couldn't掩盖 the tragedy of war and floods. To survive in turbulent times, resilience and restraint were essential for every Henan person, with tenacity deeply embedded in their hearts. In peacetime, as stability and prosperity gradually arrived, Henan people finally have the chance to shine.
First, rebuilding new homes: People in Linxian County (now Linzhou), Anyang, cut through mountains and dug tunnels to build the "artificial miracle" — Red Flag Canal for water; Guoliang Village in Huixian, Xinxiang, determined to break out of the mountains, spent over five years carving a cliff highway on the Taihang Mountains with bare hands and simple tools.
▲ Guoliang Village Cliff Highway in Huixian, Xinxiang, Henan. Picture from Visual China Group
Projects like the Mengjin Xiaolangdi水利枢纽 on the Yellow River, which uses "restraining water to attack sand," and the built-from-scratch Sanmenxia City for水利工程, along with various water conservancy facilities, have tamed the "temper" of the Yellow and Huai River systems. The dual scourges of drought and flood that plagued Henan for millennia are finally conquered, resolving the historical regret left by Da Yu. Even once disaster-ridden Lankao in Kaifeng, where Jiao Yulu lies, has transformed from saline-alkali land into fertile soil yielding 800 jin of wheat per mu.
▲ Xiaolangdi Water Control Project in Mengjin, Luoyang, Henan. Photo by Cui Hanyu
At the same time, it marked the birth of industrialization: the successful implementation of the First Five-Year Plan of the People's Republic of China owed much to the hardworking people of Henan. In the early years of the PRC, due to strategic needs, Henan, located deep in the heart of China, was developed into an industrial hub. A large number of technicians from Beijing, Shanghai, the three northeastern provinces, and coastal cities gathered in the Central Plains, making Henan a pillar of strength during the nation's reconstruction.
▲ Zhengzhou No. 3 State Cotton Mill, built with Soviet assistance. Photo by Jiao Xiaoxiang
Leveraging Henan's abundant natural resources, a host of national-level industrial projects in machinery, metallurgy, energy, textiles, and more were established: Pingdingshan, Jiaozuo, and Hebi formed an "iron triangle" of coal cities; Zhengzhou, already a major cotton distribution center, became one of China's six major textile industrial bases; the first domestically produced tractor—the "Dongfanghong"—rolled out from the "First Tractor Factory of China" in Luoyang and spread across the nation... Various light and heavy industries flourished in Henan.
▲ The First Tractor Factory in Luoyang, Henan. Photo by Huang Zhengwei
In the new era, Henan has revitalized itself by leveraging its central geographic location and abundant human resources. Around 2008, Zhengzhou sounded the clarion call for the "Rise of Central China." Today, as the "center of the center," Zhengzhou has become the locomotive leading Henan's development, pulling behind it the Central Plains Urban Agglomeration, which radiates across five provinces and encompasses over 20 cities.
▲ Zhengzhou Dongfeng Nissan automobile parking lot. Photo by Jiao Xiaoxiang
From the nation's granary to China's kitchen, from a transportation hub to a commercial and trade center, from a giant in labor-intensive industries to the world's largest smart terminal manufacturing base... today, Henan's identity has become even more diverse.
Having climbed high mountains and traversed low valleys, the people of Henan have honed their resilience to adapt to change amidst twists and turns. In 2019, Henan ranked fifth in China's GDP rankings. Contemporary Henan is transitioning from solitude back to bustle, from conservatism to openness, and from the periphery back to the center. In the future, it is believed that China will usher in a new "Henan Era"!
▲ Zhengdong New Area in vigorous development. Photo by Jiao Xiaoxiang
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