Chinese Name: Zhumadian City (zh m din sh)

Population: 8,260,000

Area: 15,083 square kilometers (5,824 square miles)

Nationalities: Han

Administrative Division:1 district (Yicheng); 9 counties (Queshan, Biyang, Suiping, Xiping, Shangcai, Runan, Pingyu, Xincai, Zhengyang)

Seat of the City Government: No.108, Jiefang Lu, Yicheng District, Zhumadian City

Useful Telephone Numbers:
Tourist Complaints:0396-2625219
Weather Forecast: 121
Zip Code Inquiry: 184

Bank of China Zhumadian Branch: No.188, Wenming Lu, Yicheng District, Zhumadian City

China Post Zhumadian Branch: Middle section of Leshan Lu, Yicheng District, Zhumadian City

Location:Zhumadian City is situated in the south region of Henan Province, in neighborhood of Anhui Province in the east. Within the city, it borders upon Nanyang in the west, Zhoukou, Pingdingshan and Luohe in the north and Xinyang in the south.

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 (476BC-221BC), there were several vassal states. In 221BC, the Qin Dynasty (221BC-206BC) ended the independent regimes, and established counties in Zhumadian.

Physical Features:Plains makes up nearly seventy percent of the citys 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.

Climatic Features: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 14.6C -15C (58.3F-59F).

When to Go: April to May of spring and September to October of autumn are the best periods to visit Zhumadian.

Special Local Products: sesame, chestnut, Chinese mushroom, Piao pear, straw patchwork (straw painting)

Attractions:
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.

Nanhai-Buddhist Temple was first built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Through the restoration in 1992, it becomes the largest Buddhist temple in Asia.

Copper (Tongshan) Mountain is a scenic area combining mountain, islet, pool, waterfall, cave, temple, historic ruins, legend and tale from history. This comprehensive attraction is also worth visiting.

Travel Tips:
1. Zhumadian is no more than two hours' drive to Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport and Wuhan Tianhe International Airport. Beijing-Guangzhou Railway, together with the Beijing-Zhuhai Expressway and No.106, 107 national highways, runs through the city from the north to the south.

2. Located in the middle section of Xuesong Lu, Zhumadian Motorcoach Station operates buses to other cities of Henan, and long-distance buses to Wenzhou, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Ningbo and Changsha. The bus station also has secondary bus stations, the east station in Lianjiang Lu, and the west station in middle section of Leshan Lu, mainly operating buses eastward and westward. Additionally, the west bus station also supplies chartered buses.