Zhumadian City (zhù mǎ diàn shì 驻马店市) is situated in the south region of Henan Province (hé nán shěng 河南省), in neighborhood of Anhui Province (ān huī shěng 安徽省) in the east. Within the city, it borders upon Nanyang (nán yáng 南阳) in the west, Zhoukou (zhōu kǒu 周口), Pingdingshan (píng dǐng shān 平顶山) and Luohe (luò hé 漯河) in the north and Xinyang (xìn yáng 信阳) in the south.

Overview

As the communications hub in ancient times, many post stations were set up in the city, thus it got the name — Zhumadian, known as "Hinterland of Henan, Center of China." It governs nine counties and a district with an area of 15,000 square kilometers and a population of 8,260,000 till the end of 2003.

Zhumadian boasts of its advantageous location, abundant products, and convenient transportation. Beijing-Guangzhou Railway, No. 106 and 107 State Highways, and Beijing-Zhuhai Expressway run through the city from south to north. Zhumadian is warm and has sufficient rainfall, which provides good conditions for agriculture production. It is an important national and provincial grain and oil production base, commonly called "a granary of the central plains," "an oil depot of the central state," and "the kingdom of sesame."

Zhumadian takes pride in a long history and many outstanding people. In the north there is "a potted landscape in the central plains" — Chaya Mountain. In the south there is the state-level scenic spot and forest park of Boshan Lake with the hill and water of one hue. In the west towers the layer of green and precipitous Tongshan Mountain, a province-level scenic resort. In the east lies the largest plain lake — Suya Lake with vast expanses of reed marshes and vital birds and fishes. Also there are many historic relics such as Tianzhong Mountain in Runan County, Prime minister Lisi Tomb of Qin Dynasty (221 BC – AD 206), and Fuxi Divination Pavilion. The story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, one of the "Great Four Legends" of China, originated in Runan County.


History

Archeological discoveries of Paleolithic Age expose that human settlers moved to this area as early as eighteen thousand years ago. Agriculture, stock raising and pottery making were well developed here forty-five hundred years ago. Before it was absorbed by Chu State in the Warring State Period (476-221 BC), there were several vassal states. In 221 BC, the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) ended the independent regimes, and established counties in Zhumadian.


Geographical and climate features

Plains make up nearly seventy percent of the city's territory. In addition, there are also mountains, hills and hillocks. The terrain generally declines from the west to the east. Low mountains and hills are distributed in the west region of Zhumadian, while the east region is vast plain.

Zhumadian lies between the subtropical and warm temperate zones enjoying a continental monsoon climate. It has moderate weather, enough sunshine, rich rainfall and distinct four seasons. Its annual average temperature maintains around 14.6°C-15°C (58.3°F-59°F).

Attractions

Zhongyuan Miniascape – Chaya Mountain

Chaya Mountain (chá yá shān 嵖岈山) is located 25 kilometres west of Suiping County (suí píng xiàn 遂平县), near Jingguang railway (jīng guǎng tiě lù 京广铁路), Jingshen road (jīng shēn gōng lù 京深公路) and Jingzhu highway (jīng zhū gāo sù 京珠高速) , a steep, weird stones forest. Mila hill, the south hill, the north hill and Liu feng hill circles standing. Xiumi lake, Pipa lake, Tianmo lake and Baihua lake waving among them. The cultural relics as star net and chessboard ornates here, the beautiful natural scences countless.

Chaya Mountain combines the steepness of Hua Mountain, the magnificence of Tai Mountain, the elegance of Emei Mountain and the profoundity of Yandang Mountain. It is a good place from where Wu Cheng'en (Ming Dynasty) had excited his inspiration to finish his classic story in hermit and the photograph of the TV serial of CCTV were taken. It is called "Zhongyuan Miniascape". In 1987, it was authorized provincial Scenic Spot by Henan Province.

Chaya Mountain is a national geological park and an AAAA level scenic area of the country with fascinating granite of different shapes. It consists of five scenic spots well known for its strange stones and crags. Relying on its exquisite and peculiar mountain sceneries, the mountain was reputed as miniascape of Central China, ranking as one of the hot tourist destinations in Henan Province.

Location: Churchyard of Suiping County, Zhumadian City
Tel: 0396-4779315
Transportation: Take the bus to Suiping County at West Zhumadian Station.
Opening Hours: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Admission Fee: CNY70


Nanhai-Buddhist Temple

Nanhai-Buddihist temple (nán hǎi chán sì 南海禅寺), first built in Jiajing years, Ming Dynasty, was one of "Eight Scenic Spot" in Caizhou (cài zhōu 蔡州) historically. It is named of closing with the lake of "Small Nanhai". Rebuilt in 1994 by the donation of Mingcheng (birth in Runan) from Taibei, it is the largest Buddihist temple in China and also well-known in Asia. From north to south, there are twelve granite memorial gate ways. Baisheng stupa beried donation of Baisheng; Daxiong palace, exceeding Taihe of the Imperial Palace and Dacheng Confucian Temple in scale.

Location: Runan County, Zhumadian City
Admission Fee: CNY40
 

Copper Mountain (Tongshan)

Copper Mountain scenery (tóng shān fēng jǐng qū 铜山风景区) is 30 kilometers far away from the east of Biyang County (bì yáng xiàn
泌阳县). It is famous of steep, weird hills and flourish trees. There is a legend that once Zhangsanfeng (a famous shadow boxing master of Ming Dynasty) built palace here to teach shadow boxing. Several years later, he went to Wudang Mountain and became well-known. Because of this quotation, it is called: "South peak is Wudang; North peak is Copper Mountain.”It once has south and north two Taoist palace, on the peak has three Buddhist palace, today the south palace is still existing. It is a symbol of Buddhist and Taoist which are well mingled. Copper Mountain lake forest garden is a national forest garden. It has a lot of floristics and animal species, such as gingkgo, China fir, leoparol, otter, zibet and white-head pheasant. In 1994, it was authorized provincial beauty spot by Henan rovince.

Location: Biyang County, Zhumadian City
Admission Fee: CNY20


Boshan lake scenery

The famous Boshan lake scenery (bó shān hú fēng jǐng qū 薄山湖风景区) in Queshan County (què shān xiàn 确山县) of Zhumadian, is located 3 kilometres far away from the west of the national road 107 (guó dào 107 国道107), near to Jingguang railway. The hills covery green ,clear water sinuous along. The beauty of the cultural and natural scenes countless, are of the magnificence of Dongting lake, the elegence of West lake and the brightness of Lijiang (lí jiāng 漓江). Here named "natural-eco-garden" and "Lijiang of Zhongyuan". It is a heaven to where touring, resorting against summer, mounting and swimming, fishing and hunting, selected as out-scenes of the TV serial《Pilgrimage to the West》(xī yóu jì 西游记) and《Long march》(cháng zhēng 长征) by CCTV and CTMC. In1995, it was authorized provincial beauty spot by Henan Province.

Location: Southern part of Queshan County, Zhumadian City
Admission Fee: CNY40


Speciality

Runan Wheatgrass Painting

The farmers in WangQiao village, Runan County can paint with wheatgrass. Runan wheatgrass paintings (rǔ nán mài cǎo huà 汝南麦草画) are vivid and of much artistic value, sold well both at home and abroad. It is nominated "Splendiferous Folk art of China" and Luodian Village "The Folk Art Village of China" by the Country's Culture Ministry.



Peanut

Zhengyang is a county with the largest production of peanut. Owing to its warm climate and Porous soil, the peanuts are big, plump and full of oil. Zhengyang therefore becomes the largest production county respectively for peanut products in the whole country.



Wang Shouyi 13 Fragrance


Wang Shouyi 13 Fragrance Condiment Company Ltd. (wáng shǒu yì shí sān xiāng diào wèi pǐn yǒu xiàn gōng sī 王守义十三香调味品有限公司) is the largest production base of pure natural condiment in China. It mingles ancestral secret prescription with natural condiment. Its major products involve: Wang Shouyi 13 fragrance, white pepper powder, condiment for making dumplings, cumin powder, and ginger powder etc.



Biyang Mushroom

Biyang is a county with the largest production of mushroom, and is renowned as "mushroom in Biyang, the best in the world." Biyang mushroom and its deep processed products sell well both at home and abroad.



Sesame Oil

Being claret, transparent, and pure, along with a strong aroma and good quality, the sesame oil is the first among various kinds of edible oil, and is the best ingredient for cooking. It boasts so long a history in Zhumadian that it has been widely used in all towns and villages. "One place grinding the oil, the fragrance waving to and fro his neighbors." Sesame seed is the ingredient. White sesame seed of Pingyu County has passed the inspection in the form of Protecting Native Origin by the State Bureau of Quality Supervision, and will become a protecting product of customary area of the country, with the output be the largest in China.



Transportation

Air

In Zhumadian City, Beijing-Zhuhai Expressway leads to Henan Xinzheng International Airport with a distance of 170 kilometers.

Railway

Zhumadian Railway Station is located in the south end of Huashi Road. You can arrive by taking No.1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, and 18 inner city buses.

Bus

Highway in Zhumadian is well developed, with Beijing-Shenzhen highway, No.106 and No. 107 State highways and Beijing-Zhuhai Expressway running through the city from south to north, six province-level highways lead in all directions.

Taxi

There are over 1,000 taxis in Zhumadian, cars taking up the major part. It costs CNY4 for the first 3 kilometers. When surpasses, an additional CNY1 per kilometer will be charged.


Tips:
1. Best time to Go: April to May of spring and September to October of autumn are the best periods to visit Zhumadian.
2. Special local products: sesame, chestnut, Chinese mushroom, Piao pear, wheatgrass painting, etc.
3. Other Useful Information
Tourist Complaints: 0396-2625219
Seat of the City Government: No.108, Jiefang Road, Yicheng District, Zhumadian City 
Bank of China Zhumadian Branch: No.188, Wenming Road, Yicheng District, Zhumadian City
China Post Zhumadian Branch: Middle section of Leshan Road, Yicheng District, Zhumadian City