Nanyang, Henan

Chinese Name: 南阳 (nán yáng)
Population: 11,980,700
Area: 26,509 square kilometers (10,235 square miles)
Location: in the southwest of Henan Province, central China
Administrative Division: 2 districts (Wancheng, Wolong), 4 development areas (Demonstration Area of Urban-rural Integration, High and New Technology Industrial Development Zone, Yahe Industrial Zone, Guanzhuang Industrial Zone), 10 counties (Nanzhao, Fangcheng, Xixia, Zhenping, Neixiang, Xichuan, Sheqi, Tanghe, Xinye, Tongbai)
Area Code: 0377
Zip Code: 473000
GDP (2018): CNY 356.68 billion (USD 53.90 billion)

Nanyang is located in the southwest of Henan Province and adjacent to Shanxi Province on the northwest, Shaanxi Province on the west, and Hubei Province on the south. Famous for Nanyang Jade, one of the four famous jades in China, Nanyang has become the largest production and sales base of jade carving crafts in the world. Nanyang has established a number of professional jade carving markets, such as the International Jade City in Zhenping County, Jade Street on Wolong Road. Nanyang Henan is also the core water source and head of the middle route of South-North Water Transfer Project because of abundant rivers crossing through. Nanyang Henan is rich in tourism resources.

 Shopping in International Jade City
Visitors can buy jade products and carvings at the Nanyang International Jade City. Located in Zhenping County, it is the world's largest wholesale base of jewelry, jade and related arts and crafts and the first-class international tourism and shopping park.

 Laojieling in Funiu Mountain  
Laojieling tourist resort is the core area of Nanyang Funiu Mountain World Geopark. Different sceneries are shown in line with the changes of four seasons. There are flouring flowers and trees in spring, steep and lush mountains of great momentum in summer, red forest in autumn and snow-capped peaks in winter. Also, waterfalls and rivers are easy to be found there. As the average temperature in the summer, from June to August, is 12.5℃ (54.5℉), so it is a popular summer resort.

 Xixia Dinosaur Relics Park
The park has geological science square, dinosaur egg fossil museum, dinosaur museum, dinosaur egg site and simulation Dinosaur Park. The museum which collects many rare dinosaur egg fossils and some dinosaur bone fossils is the major part. Through modern high-tech technologies, a colorful natural environment has been simulated, and the evolution of life on earth is shown in detail.

 Wuhou Temple
Situated in the Wolonggang scenic area, Wuhou Temple is a famous cultural site with a history of over 1,800 years to commemorate and worship Zhuge Liang, an outstanding statesman and strategist in the Three Kingdoms (220 - 280). There are ten memorial buildings such as pavilions, terrace, stones, according to Zhuge Liang’s daily life as well as other ancient buildings. The temple integrates the styles of garden architecture, temple architecture and local houses, showing high-level architectural art. The temple also features a great number of steles.

 Nanyang Fuya (Ancient Government Office of Nanyang)
With a history of more than 700 years, Nanyang Fuya is the only preserved and complete ancient government office at the county level in China. Over 100 buildings of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368 - 1912) present a rigorous layout and cover a grand scale. Now it is one of the famous cultural attractions in Nanyang city.  

Others: Shedian Ancient Town, Qifeng Mountain, Seventy-two Ponds in Fangcheng County

The best time to visit Nanyang Henan is from March to May and from September to November when the weather is the most pleasant of the year. Because Nanyang has four distinctive seasons, it is very hot and rainy in summer and cold and dry in winter. The weather in other time is mild and relatively pleasant. The summer time is from June to August and the highest temperature can be 37℃ (99℉). In winter, from December to February, the weather can be as low as -5℃ (23℉).

Nanyang is about 270 km (168 mi) from Zhengzhou City, the capital of Henan Province. Visitors can take a flight to Nanyang Jiangying Airport. Or one can fly to Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport and then take an inter-city bus to reach Nanyang in 4 hours. It takes 4-5 hours by train from Zhengzhou Railway Station to Nanyang.

The inner-city transportation means rely on buses and taxis and there is no metro in Nanyang Henan. It charges CNY20 by taxi from central Nanyang to Jiangying Airport and CNY10 to Nanyang Railway Station.

There are many delicious foods of which the cooked wheaten food is the staple food of the locals in Nanyang Henan. The best Nanyang foods to try include Dumpling, Nanyang Tofu Soup, Crusty Pancake, Soybean Milk Noodle and Tanghe Chengsha Steamed Buns.  
 
Tanghe Chengsha Steamed Buns
It is famous for the rich ingredients including red bean paste, orange cake, white rock sugar, walnut, green and red silk, rose, banana essence. The skin is made of refined wheat flour after fermentation. After steaming, the steam buns are fragrant, sweet and tasty with a beautiful shape and smooth skin.

Jade products and carvings are the most famous local products.