Zhengzhou city - China

Zhengzhou (simplified Chinese: 郑州; pinyin: Zhèngzhōu; Postal map spelling: Chengchow), formerly called Zheng County (simplified Chinese: 郑县), is a prefecture-level city, and the capital of Henan province, People's Republic of China. It also serves as the political, economic, technological, and educational centre of the province, as well as being a major transportation hub for Central China. It lies on the southern plain of the Yellow River.
As an ancient Chinese capital and a traditional trading center, Zhengzhou maintains abundant cultural heritage that reflects its glorious history as well as the culture of Henan Province. Zhengzhou Confucius Temple, initially built in the Eastern Han Dynasty 1900 years ago, is one of the oldest Confucius Temples in China. Other important architectural heritage in the city includes the Remains of the Shang Dynasty, Town God Temple, and Erqi Memorial Tower. There are the remains of the Shang Dynasty capital city (3,600 years ago) in Zhengzhou's east side located around Shangcheng lu (商城路).
While it is not a tourist city, it is an example of a remarkably fast-changing city in China (without minor tourism clutter). The best known tourist attraction is the Shaolin Temple (少林寺), which is more than 50 miles southwest of downtown Zhengzhou. The Shaolin Temple is not only known as one of China's important Buddhist shrines, but also as the ancient center of Chinese kung-fu. When the temple was built in 495, the temple was originally designed to house Batuo, a celebrated Indian monk, who, after many years of spreading Buddhism, was later known as Fo Tuo, or Grand Monk. In 537, another famous Indian monk, named Boddhidharma, settled in the temple. According to legend, he created a primitive bare-hand combat routine called “xingyi boxing” after he had sat meditating in a cave for nine years. That started the kung-fu tradition at the temple.
Henan MuseumZhengzhou's most notable cultural institution is the Henan Museum (河南省博物院), one of China's most important museums. The provincial museum in particular requires at least a half day visit to do justice to the many impressive exhibits, which range from prehistoric times, including dinosaur bones, up through the Qing Dynasty. The admission price was 20 yuan, but has now been made free of charge.
Zhengzhou Zoo (动物园, Dong Wu Yuan) is located on Hua Yuan Lu (花园路). The newly built Zhengzhou Botanic Garden is at the western edge of Zhengzhou city.
There are large water, light and music shows on display in Zheng Dong Xin Qu (New Eastern District) during the weekend at 8.30 pm in the summer and 8:00 pm during the winter months. The show is about 25 minutes long and is free of charge. People would have to arrive before 8.00 for a seat. The show times can change from 8:00 and 8:30 without warning.
Located just north of the province's center and south of the Yellow River, Zhengzhou borders Luoyang to the west, Jiaozuo to the northwest, Xinxiang to the northeast, Kaifeng to the east, Xuchang to the southeast, and Pingdingshan to the southwest. It is geographically the center city of China.
Zhengzhou is situated to the south of the Yellow River where its valley broadens into the great plain and at the eastern extremity of the Xionger Mountains. Zhengzhou is at the crossing point of the north–south route skirting the Taihang Mountains and the mountains of western Henan and the east–west route along the southern bank of the Yellow River.
Close to the Yellow River to the north, bordering the Songshan Mountain to the west, and adjacent to the Huanghuai Plains to the southeast, Zhengzhou is in the region of 34°16'~34°58N and 112°42'~114°14'E, covering a total area of 7446.2 square kilometers , including city area of 1013.3 square kilometers and built area in central city area of 147.7 square kilometers.
The land descends from west to east. Its west is characterized by mountains & hills whereas the east is mostly of plains. There are 35 big and small rivers and streams, which belong to the two big water systems of the Yellow River and Huaihe River, respectively. The section of the Yellow River flowing through Zhengzhou extends 150.4 kilometers.
Climate
Zhengzhou experiences a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cwa). Zhengzhou has four clearly-defined seasons, with cool and dry winters, hot and humid summers, warm and early springs, and mild autumns. The area's climate is also monsoon-influenced, meaning that precipitation is heavily concentrated in the months of May to September. The city also has wetter and drier seasons, with the "wet season" falling between April and October and the drier season covering the remaining months. Zhengzhou has an annual average temperature of at 14.7°C, but its highest average monthly temperature is 27.3°C in July and it's coldest monthly average temperature is 0.7°C in January. The annual precipitation is about 630 mm, with on average 220 frost-free days and about 2200 hours of sunshine per year.