Xinzheng
Encyclopedia
Xinzheng is a small county-level city of Zhengzhou
in the south of Henan
province of Central China. The city has a population of 600,000 people and covers an area of 15 square kilometres (5.8 sq mi).
people of Peiligang culture
lived in the vicinity. The legendary Yellow Emperor
was said to have been born in Xinzheng 5000 years ago. During the Zhou Dynasty
it was the capital of the state of Zheng
and later, the state of Han
, after the conquest of the former by the latter. It was the seat of government for the Qin Dynasty
, from about 221 B.C.E.
, which is considered the beginning of a unified China. The word qin (秦), which is pronounced similar to "chin", is thought to be the basis for the word "China."
Historically, this prefecture was an integrated part of Zhengzhou. However, in 1994, the Henan Provincial Council authorized the incorporation of Xinzheng into a separate municipality.
, cotton
, tobacco
and other industrial crops. The city is well-known throughout China
for the jujube
or Chinese Date. At harvest time, large quantities of these fruits are sold in markets, as well as on the side of the roads into the town.
Due to limited accommodation, lack of infrastructure, pollution and other factors, tourism has been slow to take off in Xinzheng. Every Spring, the city hosts a ceremony honoring Huangdi, the legendary ancestor of the Chinese nation. In 2009, this celebration attracted over 10,000 Chinese from within the People's Republic of China
, as well as many Overseas Chinese
However, many of these guests find accommodations in nearby Zhengzhou, and the economic impact to the city is minimal. Xinzheng is said to be an 'open-air' museum, and the nearby Shizu mountain is said to be the exact birthplace of HuangDi. The Zhengzhou Dragon realization company began construction at the turn of the 21st century of a large concrete dragon that would straddle the mountain.
A giant dragon
was being constructed by private investors near the city out of concrete
and marble
with a 29.9m tall head and a body that will eventually stretch 21 km (13 mi) along the ridge line of Shizu Mountain. The hollow body of the dragon was slated to be 9m high and 6m wide and will contain a light rail
system along with facilities for sight seeing and leisure, such as shops, restaurants and luxury clubs. The project was expected to be completed before October 1, 2009 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China
However, lack of funding, and a general lack of interest, left the project unfinished.
, is located in Xinzheng. This is of particular importance not only because it is an airport for a large urban center, but because it is the only international airport for the province of 100 million.
On February 8, 2009, the direct air route between Zhengzhou and Taiwan
was launched in Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport
, the Zhengzhou-Taipei flight was operated by Shenzhen Airlines
. The airport has already been a major hub for domestic travel. The airport Code is CGO.
However, nearby Zhengzhou is a major railway hub. It's station serves all major points in China and it lays claims to be the busiest rail station in China. As of 2007, high-speed rail service began between Zhengzhou and Beijing. To do any travel beyond the Zhengzhou immediate area, most residents travel to Zhengzhou, then onward.
. There are no clear bus stops, so passengers wave the bus down as it speeds down the streets, and yell at it to stop when they've reached their destination.
The bus station to the west of the town's city center serves Zhengzhou, Kaifeng
and other municipalities within close proximity to Xinzheng.
.
. All inter-city roads are well maintained. Within the city limits, asin the rest of many small Chinese cities, many residential roads remain in a serious state of disrepair.
Zhengzhou
Zhengzhou , is the capital and largest city of Henan province in north-central China. A prefecture-level city, it also serves as the political, economic, technological, and educational centre of the province, as well as a major transportation hub for Central China...
in the south of Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
province of Central China. The city has a population of 600,000 people and covers an area of 15 square kilometres (5.8 sq mi).
History
Xinzheng is considered one of the birth places of Chinese nation. More than 8000 years ago, neolithicNeolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
people of Peiligang culture
Peiligang culture
The Peiligang culture is a name given by archaeologists to a group of Neolithic communities in the Yi-Luo river basin in Henan Province, China. The culture existed from 7000 BC to 5000 BC. Over 70 sites have been identified with the Peiligang culture. The culture is named after the site discovered...
lived in the vicinity. The legendary Yellow Emperor
Yellow Emperor
The Yellow Emperor or Huangdi1 is a legendary Chinese sovereign and culture hero, included among the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. Tradition holds that he reigned from 2697–2597 or 2696–2598 BC...
was said to have been born in Xinzheng 5000 years ago. During the Zhou Dynasty
Zhou Dynasty
The Zhou Dynasty was a Chinese dynasty that followed the Shang Dynasty and preceded the Qin Dynasty. Although the Zhou Dynasty lasted longer than any other dynasty in Chinese history, the actual political and military control of China by the Ji family lasted only until 771 BC, a period known as...
it was the capital of the state of Zheng
Zheng (state)
Zheng （) was a vassal state in China during the Zhou Dynasty located in the centre of ancient China in modern day Henan Province on the North China Plain about east of the royal capital at Luoyang. It was the most powerful of the vassal states at the beginning of the Eastern Zhou...
and later, the state of Han
Han (state)
Han was a kingdom during the Warring States Period in China, located in modern-day Shanxi and Henan. Not to be confused with South Korea which shares the same character....
, after the conquest of the former by the latter. It was the seat of government for the Qin Dynasty
Qin Dynasty
The Qin Dynasty was the first imperial dynasty of China, lasting from 221 to 207 BC. The Qin state derived its name from its heartland of Qin, in modern-day Shaanxi. The strength of the Qin state was greatly increased by the legalist reforms of Shang Yang in the 4th century BC, during the Warring...
, from about 221 B.C.E.
221 BC
Year 221 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Asina and Rufus/Lepidus...
, which is considered the beginning of a unified China. The word qin (秦), which is pronounced similar to "chin", is thought to be the basis for the word "China."
Historically, this prefecture was an integrated part of Zhengzhou. However, in 1994, the Henan Provincial Council authorized the incorporation of Xinzheng into a separate municipality.
Education
Xinzheng has one of the largest concentrations of foreign teachers in central China due to the presence of Sias International University. The school has 17,000 students and about 100 foreign teachers. Along with SIAS University, the city is also home to another university: ShengDa. SIAS has more than 16,000 students.Economy
Xinzheng has a diversified economy, though agriculture and heavy industry dominate the economic landscape.Agriculture
Xinzheng's agriculture involves the cultivation of maizeMaize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
, tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
and other industrial crops. The city is well-known throughout China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
for the jujube
Jujube
Ziziphus zizyphus , commonly called jujube , red date, Chinese date, Korean date, or Indian date is a species of Ziziphus in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae, used primarily as a fruiting shade tree.-Distribution:Its precise natural distribution is uncertain due to extensive cultivation,...
or Chinese Date. At harvest time, large quantities of these fruits are sold in markets, as well as on the side of the roads into the town.
Industry
Xinzheng is home to several industrial factories, namely cigarette factories, which are located near the center of town. In 2006, more than 2 billion USD was invested in a nearby industrial project, although the status of this investment is currently unknown. Mining coal locally has also been an important source of income.Impact of Educational Institutions
Two large private universities, ShengDa University and SIAS International University play a major role in the local economy as well. ShengDa has 14,000 students, and SIAS has updwards of up to 16,000 students. Service industries (restaurants, hotels, banks, retail shops, etc) to accommodate the students have sprung out around the universities in abundance. At SIAS, the administration tacitly allows students to live off campus, creating a large community of land-lords around the university. The presence of 30,000 students has an undeniable and long lasting impact on the community.Tourism
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, as well as many Overseas Chinese
Overseas Chinese
Overseas Chinese are people of Chinese birth or descent who live outside the Greater China Area . People of partial Chinese ancestry living outside the Greater China Area may also consider themselves Overseas Chinese....
However, many of these guests find accommodations in nearby Zhengzhou, and the economic impact to the city is minimal. Xinzheng is said to be an 'open-air' museum, and the nearby Shizu mountain is said to be the exact birthplace of HuangDi. The Zhengzhou Dragon realization company began construction at the turn of the 21st century of a large concrete dragon that would straddle the mountain.
A giant dragon
Chinese dragon
Chinese dragons are legendary creatures in Chinese mythology and folklore, with mythic counterparts among Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Bhutanese, Western and Turkic dragons. In Chinese art, dragons are typically portrayed as long, scaled, serpentine creatures with four legs...
was being constructed by private investors near the city out of concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
and marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
with a 29.9m tall head and a body that will eventually stretch 21 km (13 mi) along the ridge line of Shizu Mountain. The hollow body of the dragon was slated to be 9m high and 6m wide and will contain a light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
system along with facilities for sight seeing and leisure, such as shops, restaurants and luxury clubs. The project was expected to be completed before October 1, 2009 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
However, lack of funding, and a general lack of interest, left the project unfinished.
Air
The airport that serves the provincial capital, Zhengzhou Xinzheng International AirportZhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport
Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport is the principal airport serving Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan Province, China.Xinzheng airport is located 37 km southeast of Zhengzhou. It was opened on August 28, 1997, the 21st international airport in China...
, is located in Xinzheng. This is of particular importance not only because it is an airport for a large urban center, but because it is the only international airport for the province of 100 million.
On February 8, 2009, the direct air route between Zhengzhou and Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
was launched in Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport
Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport
Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport is the principal airport serving Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan Province, China.Xinzheng airport is located 37 km southeast of Zhengzhou. It was opened on August 28, 1997, the 21st international airport in China...
, the Zhengzhou-Taipei flight was operated by Shenzhen Airlines
Shenzhen Airlines
Shenzhen Airlines is a domestic and international airlines headquartered in Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport in Bao'an District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People's Republic of China....
. The airport has already been a major hub for domestic travel. The airport Code is CGO.
Rail
As in the rest of China, rail transport in Xinzheng is handled by the Ministry of Railways. Xinzheng itself has a small railroad station at the edge of town that accommodates trains to and from Zhengzhou as well as trains to other limited destinations within China.However, nearby Zhengzhou is a major railway hub. It's station serves all major points in China and it lays claims to be the busiest rail station in China. As of 2007, high-speed rail service began between Zhengzhou and Beijing. To do any travel beyond the Zhengzhou immediate area, most residents travel to Zhengzhou, then onward.
Mass Transit
The city has a primitive, yet extensive, bus system. Within the urban city, it's possible to ride anywhere with one or two renminbiRenminbi
The Renminbi is the official currency of the People's Republic of China . Renminbi is legal tender in mainland China, but not in Hong Kong or Macau. It is issued by the People's Bank of China, the monetary authority of the PRC...
. There are no clear bus stops, so passengers wave the bus down as it speeds down the streets, and yell at it to stop when they've reached their destination.
The bus station to the west of the town's city center serves Zhengzhou, Kaifeng
Kaifeng
Kaifeng , known previously by several names , is a prefecture-level city in east-central Henan province, Central China. Nearly 5 million people live in the metropolitan area...
and other municipalities within close proximity to Xinzheng.
Taxi
All Xinzheng taxis belong to the same local company, and taxis barrels throughout the city's streets with a starting fare of 3 renminbiRenminbi
The Renminbi is the official currency of the People's Republic of China . Renminbi is legal tender in mainland China, but not in Hong Kong or Macau. It is issued by the People's Bank of China, the monetary authority of the PRC...
.
Roads
Xinzheng is well connected to Zhengzhou and points south by China National Highway 220China National Highway 220
China National Highway 220 runs from Binzhou, Shandong to Zhengzhou, Henan. It is 585 kilometres in length and runs southwest from Binzhou towards Zhengzhou.-Route and distance:-External links:*...
. All inter-city roads are well maintained. Within the city limits, asin the rest of many small Chinese cities, many residential roads remain in a serious state of disrepair.