Henan, referred to as "Yu", comes from the pictogram of "the place where people lead elephants", so it was named Yuzhou in ancient times. Because it is located in the center of the "Nine States" in the world, it is also known as China, Central Plains, Zhongzhou, Zhongtu, and Shenzhou. Because it is located in the central and eastern part of the motherland, in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, and most of the territory is located south of the Yellow River, it is named Henan.
Henan, as its name suggests, has a long history and splendid culture. It is one of the main birthplaces of the Chinese nation and Chinese civilization, and is the main province where the four great inventions of ancient China were made. It has always been a geomantic treasure place for dynasties to establish or move their capitals. In history, more than 20 dynasties have established or moved their capitals here, and famous ancient capitals such as Luoyang, Kaifeng, Anyang, Zhengzhou, and Shangqiu were born.
Because of its special regional culture, Henan is home to many scenic spots and cultural relics, and its tourism resources are particularly rich. According to data from authoritative organizations, as of 2017, Henan has 6 25 world cultural heritage sites, 358 national key cultural relics protection units, 13 national AAAAA tourist attractions, and 133 national AAAA tourist attractions.
The more famous national AAAAA scenic spots include: Nanyang City Xixia Funiu Mountain Laojieling·Dinosaur Heritage Park Tourist Area; Luoyang Luanchuan Laojun Mountain·Jiguan Cave Tourist Area; Luoyang City Longtan Grand Canyon Scenic Area; Pingdingshan City Yaoshan Zhongyuan Giant Buddha Scenic Area; Jiaozuo City Yuntai Mountain Scenic Area; Anyang Yinxu Scenic Area; Luoyang City Longmen Grottoes Scenic Area; Luoyang Baiyun Mountain Scenic Area; Dengfeng City Songshan Shaolin Scenic Area; Kaifeng; Zhumadian City Chaya Mountain Scenic Area and other scenic spots.
In addition to the 5AAAAAA and scenic spots in the above-mentioned countries, Luoyang’s peonies are also a tourist ace in Henan. April to May every year is the time when peonies are in full bloom. Travelers who like to enjoy flowers must not miss it, because about Peonies have always been said to be "only peonies are the true beauty of the country, and they move the capital when they bloom."