Anyang Travel Guide

Chinese Name: 安阳市 (ān yáng shì)
Population: 5,922,700
Area: 7,413 square kilometers (2,862 square miles)
Location: in the north of Henan Province, east-central China
Administrative Division: 4 districts (Beiguan, Wenfeng, Yindu, Long'an); 4 counties (Anyang, Tangyin, Huaxian, Neihuang); 1 county-level city (Linzhou)
Area Code: 0372
Zip Code: 455000
GDP (2018): CNY 239.322 billion (USD 36.168 billion)

Anyang City lies in the northernmost section of Henan Province and is separated from Shanxi Province by the Taihang Mountains to the west and from Hebei Province by the Zhanghe River to the north. It is 170 kilometers (106 miles) away from the capital city of the Henan, Zhengzhou. Anyang has a history of more than 3,000 years. Since the Shang Dynasty (1600 BC - 1046 BC) moved its capital to Anyang, 6 countries built their capital in this city. Many historical sites and cultural relics had been left. The earliest Chinese characters oracle bone inscriptions and Houmuwu Square Cauldron (Ding), the largest bronze ware in the world were unearthed here. Yin Ruins, the earliest capital of China, has been listed in the world heritage list as a world cultural heritage. The Book of Changes also originated from Anyang, which is the theoretical source of natural philosophy and human practice in Chinese traditional ideology and culture.

 10 Old Capitals of China

Yin is the ancient name for present-day Xiaodun village, where inscriptions on bones and tortoise shells, the oldest characters in the world, were discovered in 1899. The ruins cover a total area of 24 square kilometers (9 square miles), preserving a great number of bronze, stone, bone and jade articles. The 87-kilogram Simuwu four-legged square bronze caldron is the biggest bronze article in the world. 

It lies to the west of Linzhou City at the eastern foot of the southern Taihang Mountains. The relative relief reaches 1000 meters (3,281 feet). Spectacular peaks, cliffs, gorges and waterfalls generate this outstanding natural scenery in North China. People have lived there since the remote Shang Dynasty, and the residence building there are all made of locally quarried stone, integrating them well with the surrounding landscape. 

Other Scenic Spots: Museum of Yin Ruins, Gaoge Temple, Wenfeng Pagoda
 

Beijing-Guangzhou Railway runs through the city and it has trains going north to Beijing and south to Shanghai, Zhengzhou and Wuhan. The railway station of the city in the west end of Jiefang Lu. The long-distance bus station of Anyang is just located in the east side of the railway station (West section of Heping Lu). Through the expressway, Zhengzhou can be reached from Anyang in three hours.

 See more Shanghai - Anyang Train

Situated in the warm northern temperate zone, Anyang enjoys a continental monsoon climate. Its annual average temperature falls around 14 degrees centigrade (57.2 degree Fahrenheit), and the rainfall is mainly concentrated in July and August.

 When to go: Anyang is chilly in winter and hot in summer, therefore, spring and autumn are the best seasons to visit the city.

 History: Anyang is one of the eight great ancient capitals of ancient China, making it an important focal-point of the Chinese nation and culture. It was authorized as the capital city of the Shang Dynasty (16th - 11th century BC) in the 14th century BC. This is the site where over 150,000 oracle bones were discovered. The name of Anyang first appeared in history during the Warring States Period (476BC-221BC).

 Physical Features: The city stands at the base of the eastern foothills of the Taihang Mountains. Its terrain basically slopes downward from west to east. The western part of the city belongs to the Taihang Mountains, while eastern part is a part of the North China (Huabei) Plain.

 Special Local Products: Chinese dates of Neihuang County, hawthorn, walnut, pear, chestnut