Editing Henan

{{Short description|Province in Central China}}
{{Other uses|Henan (disambiguation)|河南 (disambiguation){{!}}{{normal|河南}} (disambiguation)}}
{{Distinguish|Hunan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Henan
| native_name        = {{lang|zh|河南}}
| settlement_type    = [[Province of China|Province]]
| translit_lang1     = Name
| translit_lang1_type = {{nobold|Chinese}}
| translit_lang1_info = {{lang|zh|河南省}} ({{tlit|zh|Hénán shěng}})
| translit_lang1_type1 = {{nobold|Abbreviation}}
| translit_lang1_info1 = HA{{\}}HEN{{\}}{{linktext|lang=zh|豫}} ({{tlit|zh|Yù}})
| image_skyline      = {{Photomontage
| photo1a                 = The Songshan Buddhist Academy Lied in Mount Song.jpg
| photo2a                 = 龙门石窟主窟 - panoramio (1).jpg
| photo2b                 = Kaifeng.jpg
| photo3a                 = Fawang Temple Pagoda, Dengfeng.jpg
| photo3b                 = Songshanfawangsi.JPG
| spacing                 = 1
| position                = center
| size = 270
}}
| image_caption      = Clockwise: {{hlist|class=inline|[[Mount Song]]|[[Kaifeng]]|[[Fawang Temple]] in [[Dengfeng]]|[[Fawang Temple pagoda]]|[[Longmen Grottoes]]}}
| image_map          = Henan in China (+all claims hatched).svg
| mapsize            = 275px
| map_caption        = Location of Henan in China
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = China
| named_for          = {{ubl|{{linktext|lang=zh|河}} {{tlit|zh|hé}}{{snd}}[[Yellow River]]|{{linktext|lang=zh|南}} {{tlit|zh|nán}}{{snd}}south}}"south of the Yellow River"
| seat_type          = Capital {{nwr|{{nobold|(and largest city)}}}}
| seat               = [[Zhengzhou]]
| parts_type         = Divisions
| parts_style        = para
| p1                 = 17 [[Prefectures of China|prefectures]]
| p2                 = 159 [[Counties of China|counties]]
| p3                 = 2,455 [[Townships of China|townships]]
| government_type    = [[Provinces of China|Province]]
| governing_body     = [[Henan Provincial People's Congress]]
| leader_title       = [[Party Secretary of Henan|Party Secretary]]
| leader_name        = [[Liu Ning]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.cctv.com/2024/12/31/ARTIU8fxoN1th2Hm6RrPTzzK241231.shtml|title=河南省委主要负责同志职务调整 刘宁任河南省委书记|website=央视网|language=zh|date=2024-12-31|accessdate=2024-12-31}}</ref>
| leader_title1      = [[Henan Provincial People's Congress|Congress]] Chairman
| leader_name1       = [[Lou Yangsheng]] (titular)
| leader_title2      = [[Governor of Henan|Governor]]
| leader_name2       = [[Wang Kai (politician)|Wang Kai]]
| leader_title3      = [[Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference|CPPCC]] Chairman
| leader_name3       = [[Kong Changsheng]]
| leader_title4      = [[National People's Congress]] Representation
| leader_name4       = 174 deputies
| area_footnotes     = <ref name=mofcom>{{cite web |title=Doing Business in China |url=http://english.mofcom.gov.cn/article/zt_business/lanmub/ |publisher=Ministry of Commerce |access-date=5 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130805091244/http://english.mofcom.gov.cn/article/zt_business/lanmub/ |archive-date=5 August 2013}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 167000
| area_rank          = [[List of Chinese administrative divisions by area|17th]]
| elevation_max_m    = 2413.8
| elevation_max_point = [[Laoyachanao]]
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web|date=11 May 2021|title=Communiqué of the Seventh National Population Census (No. 3)|url=http://www.stats.gov.cn/english/PressRelease/202105/t20210510_1817188.html|access-date=11 May 2021|publisher=[[National Bureau of Statistics of China]]}}</ref>
| population_total   = 99,365,519
| population_as_of   = 2020
| population_rank    = [[List of Chinese administrative divisions by population|3rd]]
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_rank = [[List of Chinese administrative divisions by population density|7th]]
| demographics_type1 = Demographics
| demographics1_title1 = Ethnic composition
| demographics1_info1 = {{ubl|[[Han Chinese|Han]]: 98.6%|Others: 1.4%}}
| demographics1_title2 = Languages and dialects
| demographics1_info2 = {{hlist|[[Central Plains Mandarin]] | [[Jin Chinese|Jin]]}}
| demographics_type2 = [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] {{normal|(2023)}}<ref name="data2021">GDP-2021 is a preliminary data {{cite press release | url=http://data.stats.gov.cn/english/easyquery.htm?cn=E0102| title=Home - Regional - Quarterly by Province| publisher=China NBS| date=March 1, 2022| access-date=March 23, 2022}}; see also {{cite web|url=https://www.henan.gov.cn/2024/03-30/2967863.html |title=zh:2023年河南省国民经济和社会发展统计公报|publisher=henan.gov.cn|date=March 30, 2024|access-date=June 19, 2024}}</ref>
| demographics2_title1 = Total
| demographics2_info1 = {{CNY|5,913 billion ([[List of Chinese provincial-level divisions by GDP|6th]])}} {{bi|left=1|{{nwr|(US$839 billion)}}}}
| demographics2_title2 = Per capita
| demographics2_info2 = {{CNY|60,073 ([[List of Chinese provincial-level divisions by GDP per capita|25th]])}} {{bi|left=1|{{nwr|(US$8,525)}}}}
| iso_code           = CN-HA
| blank4_name_sec2   = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] {{normal|(2022)}}
| blank4_info_sec2   = 0.760<ref name="SHDI">{{cite web |title=Human Development Indices (8.0)- China |url=https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/table/shdi/CHN/?levels=1+4&years=2022&interpolation=0&extrapolation=0 |access-date=23 September 2024 |website=Global Data Lab}}</ref> ([[List of Chinese administrative divisions by HDI|25th]]){{snd}}{{color|#090|high}}
| website            = {{URL|henan.gov.cn}}
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| pic = Henan (Chinese characters).svg
| piccap = "Henan" in Chinese characters
| picupright = 0.4
| c = 河南
| l = South of the [[Yellow River]]
| altname = Abbreviation
| c2 = 豫
| p2 = Yù
| p = Hénán
| bpmf = {{bpmfsp|ㄏㄜˊ|ㄋㄢˊ}}
| w = {{tonesup|Ho2-nan2}}
| mi = {{IPAc-cmn|h|e|2|.|n|an|2}}
| suz = Ghôu-nóe
| j = Ho4-naam4
| ci = {{IPAc-yue|h|o|4|.|n|aam|4}}
| y = Hòh-nàahm
| tl = Hô-lâm
| psp = Honan
| bpmf2 = ㄩˋ
| w2 = {{tonesup|Yü4}}
| mi2 = {{IPAc-cmn|yu|4}}
| y2 = Yuh
| ci2 = {{IPAc-yue|j|yu|6}}
| j2 = Jyu6
}}

'''Henan'''{{efn|'''Henan'''; {{IPAc-en|UK|h|ɜː|'|n|æ|n}};<ref>{{cite dictionary |last1=Longman |first1=J. C. |dictionary=Longman Pronunciation Dictionary |year=2008 |publisher=Pearson |isbn=978-1405881173 |edition=3rd |entry=Henan}}</ref> or {{IPAc-en|h|@|'|n|æ|n}};<ref>{{Cite dictionary |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Henan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227133534/https://www.lexico.com/definition/henan |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 February 2021 |title=Henan |dictionary=[[Lexico]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}}</ref> {{IPAc-en|Us|h|ʌ|ˈ|n|ɑː|n}};<ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Henan}}</ref> {{lang-zh|c=河南}}; [[Chinese postal romanization|alternatively]] '''Honan'''}} is a [[Provinces of China|province]] in [[Central China]]. Henan is home to many heritage sites, including [[Yinxu]], the ruins of the final capital of the [[Shang dynasty]] ({{circa|1600|1050&nbsp;BC}}) and the [[Shaolin Temple]]. Four of the [[historical capitals of China]], [[Luoyang]], [[Anyang]], [[Kaifeng]] and [[Zhengzhou]], are in Henan.<ref>{{Cite web |script-title=zh:中国八大古都_共产党员网 |url=https://www.12371.cn/2015/06/18/ARTI1434618611228380.shtml |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=www.12371.cn |language=zh}}</ref>

While the province's name means 'south of the river',<ref>{{in lang|zh}} [http://www.people.com.cn/GB/shenghuo/1090/2435218.html Origin of the Names of China's Provinces] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427100058/http://www.people.com.cn/GB/shenghuo/1090/2435218.html |date=27 April 2016 }}, [[People's Daily Online]].</ref> approximately a quarter of the province lies north of the [[Yellow River]]. With an area of {{cvt|167000|km2}}, Henan covers a large part of the fertile and densely populated [[North China Plain]]. Its neighboring provinces are [[Shaanxi]], [[Shanxi]], [[Hebei]], [[Shandong]], [[Anhui]], and [[Hubei]].

Henan is China's [[List of Chinese administrative divisions by population|third-most populous province]] and the most populous among inland provinces, with a population of over 99 million as of 2020. It is also the [[List of first-level administrative divisions by population|world's seventh-most populous]] administrative division; if it were a country by itself, Henan would be the [[List of countries by population|17th-most populous in the world]], behind [[Egypt]] and [[Vietnam]]. People from Henan [[Anti-Henan sentiment|often suffer]] from [[Regional discrimination in China|regional discrimination]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Chris |last=Buckley|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/12/world/asia/china-henan-stereotypes-lawsuit-discrimination.html|title=Henan Province, a Butt of Jokes in China, Gets a Champion in Court|work=The New York Times|date=2016-10-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/china/2019/04/11/many-chinese-suffer-discrimination-based-on-their-regional-origin|title=Many Chinese suffer discrimination based on their regional origin|newspaper=The Economist|date=2019-04-11}}</ref>

Henan is the [[List of Chinese provincial-level divisions by GDP|5th-largest provincial economy]] of China, the second-largest in [[South Central China]] after [[Guangdong]], and the largest among inland provinces, with a nominal GDP of {{CNY|5.88 trillion}} (US$926 billion) as of 2021, ahead of the nation of Turkey ($815 billion).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2022-02-07 |title=Decoding China's 2021 GDP Growth Rate: A Look at Regional Numbers |url=https://www.china-briefing.com/news/chinas-2021-gdp-performance-a-look-at-major-provinces-and-cities/ |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=China Briefing News}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Turkiye  Data |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?locations=TR&year_high_desc=true |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=data.worldbank.org}}</ref> If it were a country, it would be the [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|18th-largest economy]] as of 2021.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=GDP (current US$) Data |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?year_high_desc=true |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=data.worldbank.org}}</ref> However, its [[List of Chinese provincial-level divisions by GDP per capita|GDP per capita]] is low compared to other eastern and central provinces.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=28 May 2019 |title=China dreams on hold: heartland city feels chill of economic slowdown |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-economy-henan-socialmobility-in-idUSKCN1SY017 |url-status=live |access-date=13 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190614074436/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-economy-henan-socialmobility-in-idUSKCN1SY017 |archive-date=14 June 2019}}</ref> The economy continues to grow based on aluminum and coal prices, as well as agriculture, [[heavy industry]], tourism and retail. [[High tech|High-tech]] industries and the service sector are concentrated around [[Zhengzhou]] and [[Luoyang]].

Henan hosts more than 150 institutions of higher education, ranking first in the [[Central China]] region.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |title=List of National Colleges and Universities |url=http://www.moe.gov.cn/jyb_xxgk/s5743/s5744/A03/202206/t20220617_638352.html |access-date=2022-08-07 |website=Government Portal |publisher=Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China}}</ref> As of 2023, three major cities in the province ranked in the top 200 cities in the world ([[Zhengzhou]] 76th, [[Kaifeng]] 154th and [[Xinxiang]] 195th) by scientific research output, as tracked by the [[Nature Index]].<ref name=":22">{{Cite web |title=Nature Index 2023 Science Cities |url=https://www.nature.com/nature-index/supplements/nature-index-2023-science-cities/tables/overall |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=Nature}}</ref>

==History==
Widely regarded as one of the cradles of Chinese civilization along with the provinces of Shanxi and Shaanxi, Henan is known for its historical prosperity and periodic downturns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=增强中华文明传播力影响力｜河南：行走中原大地 读懂中国文脉 |url=http://www.cppcc.gov.cn/zxww/2023/05/19/ARTI1684477076032423.shtml |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=www.cppcc.gov.cn}}</ref> The economic prosperity resulted from its extensive fertile plains and its location at the heart of the country. However, its strategic location also means that it has suffered from nearly all of the major wars in China. In addition, the numerous floods of the [[Yellow River]] have caused significant damage from time to time.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Storozum |first1=Michael J |last2=Zhen |first2=Qin |last3=Xiaolin |first3=Ren |last4=Haiming |first4=Li |last5=Yifu |first5=Cui |last6=Kui |first6=Fu |last7=Haiwang |first7=Liu |date=2018-08-02 |title=The collapse of the North Song dynasty and the AD 1048–1128 Yellow River floods: Geoarchaeological evidence from northern Henan Province, China |journal=[[The Holocene]] |language=en |volume=28 |issue=11 |pages=1759–1770 |doi=10.1177/0959683618788682 |bibcode=2018Holoc..28.1759S |issn=0959-6836 |doi-access=free |hdl=10356/137334 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> [[Kaifeng]], in particular, has been buried by China's Yellow River's silt seven times due to flooding.

===Antiquity===
Archaeological sites reveal that prehistoric cultures such as the [[Yangshao Culture]] and [[Longshan Culture]] were active in what is now northern Henan since the [[Neolithic Era]]. The more recent [[Erlitou culture]] has been controversially identified with the [[Xia dynasty]], the first and largely legendary Chinese dynasty that was established,<ref>{{Cite web |title=考古第一现场：神秘夏朝是否真实存在？真相只有一个-中新网 |url=https://www.chinanews.com.cn/cul/2021/02-22/9416419.shtml |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=www.chinanews.com.cn}}</ref> roughly, in the 21st century&nbsp;BC. Virtually the entire kingdom existed within what is now north and central Henan.

The Xia dynasty collapsed around the 16th century BC following the invasion of [[Shang dynasty|Shang]], a neighboring [[Ancient Chinese States|vassal state]] centered around today's [[Shangqiu]] in eastern Henan. The [[Shang dynasty]] (16th–11th centuries BC) was the first literate dynasty of China. Its many capitals are located at the modern cities of [[Shangqiu]], [[Yanshi]], and [[Zhengzhou]]. Their last and most important capital of [[Yinxu|Yin]], located in modern [[Anyang]], is where the first Chinese writing was created.

[[File:Shang-Orakelknochen excerpt adjusted for contrast.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.65|Shang dynasty [[oracle bone script]], the first form of [[Chinese writing]]]]
In the 11th century BC, the [[Zhou dynasty]] of [[Shaanxi]] arrived from the west and overthrew the Shang dynasty.<ref>{{Cite web |title=古代中国-中国国家博物馆 |url=https://www.chnmuseum.cn/portals/0/web/zt/gudai/detail2.html |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=www.chnmuseum.cn}}</ref> During the [[Western Zhou]] period (c. 1046 – 771 BC), the capital and political and economical center was moved away from Henan for the first time. The [[Spring and Autumn period]], a period of warfare and rivalry, began in 721&nbsp;BC. What is now Henan and all of China was divided into a variety of small, independent states, constantly at war for control of the central plain. Although regarded formally as the ruler of China, the control that Zhou king in Luoyang exerted over the feudal kingdoms had virtually disappeared. Despite the prolonged period of instability, prominent philosophers such as [[Confucius]] emerged in this era and offered their ideas on how a state should be run. [[Laozi]], the founder of [[Taoism]], was born in northern [[state of Chu|Chu]], part of modern-day Henan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=中国古代著名思想家、道家学派创始人老子 |url=http://ve.china-embassy.gov.cn/zwgx/whjl/qian560/ |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=ve.china-embassy.gov.cn}}</ref>

Later on, these states were replaced by seven large and powerful states during the [[Warring States period]], and Henan was divided into three states, the [[Wei (state)|Wei]] to the north, the [[state of Chu|Chu]] to the south, and the [[state of Han|Han]] in the middle. In 221&nbsp;BC, [[state of Qin]] forces from Shaanxi conquered all of the other six states, ending 800 years of warfare.

===Imperial era===
[[Ying Zheng]], the leader of Qin, crowned himself (220&nbsp;BCE) as the [[Emperor of China|first emperor of China]]. He abolished the feudal system and centralized all powers, establishing the [[Qin dynasty]] and unifying the core of the [[Han Chinese]] homeland for the first time. The empire quickly collapsed after the death (210&nbsp;BCE) of Ying Zheng and was replaced by the [[Han dynasty]] in 206&nbsp;BC, with its capital at Chang'an. Thus, a [[golden age]] of Chinese culture, economy, and military power began. The capital moved east to [[Luoyang]] in 25&nbsp;AD, in response to a coup in Chang'an that created the short-lived [[Xin dynasty]]. Luoyang quickly regained control of China, and the [[Eastern Han dynasty]] (25–220) began, extending the golden age for another two centuries.

The late [[Eastern Han dynasty]] saw war and rivalry between regional warlords. [[Xuchang]] in central Henan was the power base of [[Cao Cao]], who eventually succeeded in unifying all of northern China under the [[Cao Wei|Kingdom of Wei]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=三国时期曹操建魏都于许昌，其实早在春秋末期，这里就是魏国疆土_许国 |url=https://www.sohu.com/a/www.sohu.com/a/450894238_120784094 |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=www.sohu.com }}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Wei then moved its capital to Luoyang, which remained the capital after the unification of China by the Western [[Jin dynasty (265-420)|Jin dynasty]]. During this period Luoyang became one of the largest and most prosperous cities in the world, despite being repeatedly damaged by warfare.

[[File:Mural Painting of a Banquet Scene from Han Tomb in Tahut'ing.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|A late [[Eastern Han]] (25–220&nbsp;AD) [[Chinese painting|Chinese tomb mural]] showing lively scenes of a banquet, dance and music, acrobatics, and wrestling, from the [[Dahuting Han tombs]], on the southern bank of the [[Suihe River]] in [[Xinmi]]]]
With the fall of the Western Jin dynasty in the 4th and 5th centuries, nomadic peoples from the north invaded northern China and established many successive regimes in northern China, including Henan. These people were gradually assimilated into the [[Chinese culture]] in a process known as [[sinification]].

The short-lived [[Sui dynasty]] reunified China again in 589 with its capital back in Chang'an. It collapsed due to [[Emperor Yang of Sui China|Sui Emperor Yang's]] costly attempt to relocate the capital from Chang'an to Luoyang and the construction of many extravagant palaces there.<ref>{{Cite web |title=中国古代史 中国历史：中国是世界上最早诞生文明的国家之一，有近5000年的历史。中国古代史包括三个阶段：原始社会阶段（距今约170万年前-约公元前2070年）、奴隶社会阶段（约公元前2070年-公元前475年）和封建社会阶段（公元前475年-公元1840年）全文介绍_科技进步_中国管理科学研究院科技管理研究所 |url=http://ceshi.zgykjs.com/index.php?c=show&id=7371 |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=ceshi.zgykjs.com}}</ref> The succeeding [[Tang dynasty]] (618–907) kept its capital in [[Chang'an]], marking the beginning of China's second golden age, with Henan being one of the wealthiest places in the empire.

The Tang dynasty lasted for three centuries before it eventually succumbed to internal strife. In the [[Period of Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms]] (907–960) that followed, [[Kaifeng]] in eastern Henan became the capital of four dynasties. The [[Song dynasty]] that reunified China in 982 also had its capital at Kaifeng. Under Song rule, China entered another era of culture and prosperity, and Kaifeng overtook Luoyang and Chang'an as the largest city in China and in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Development |first=PodBean |title=Feeding and Supplying the World's Largest City: The Environmental Impact of Northern Song Kaifeng {{!}} The Chinese History Podcast |url=http://www.chinesehistorypodcast.com/e/feeding-and-supplying-the-world-largest-city-the-environmental-impact-of-northern-song-kaifeng/ |access-date=2023-09-15 |website=www.chinesehistorypodcast.com |language=en}}</ref> In 1127, however, the Song dynasty succumbed to [[Jin dynasty (1115–1234)|Jurchen]] ([[Jinn dynasty|Jin dynasty]]) invaders from the north in the [[Jin campaigns against the Song dynasty|Jin–Song war]], and in 1142 [[Treaty of Shaoxing|ceded]] all of northern China, including Henan. The Song government moved its capital to [[Hangzhou]] in Southern China, which, under the [[Southern Song dynasty]] (1127–1279) continued to enjoy relative economic and culture prosperity. A prolonged period of peace and cultural and economic prosperity in the Yangtze delta ''[[Jiangnan]]'' region (modern southern [[Jiangsu]], northern [[Zhejiang]], and Shanghai) made this the new center of Chinese culture and economy.

Kaifeng served as the Jurchen's "southern capital" from 1157 (other sources say 1161) and was reconstructed during this time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.san.beck.org/AB3-China.html#9|title=Ethics of China 7 BC To 1279 by Sanderson Beck|work=beck.org|access-date=6 February 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070204064227/http://san.beck.org/AB3-China.html#9|archive-date=4 February 2007|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.upkorea.net/news/photo/7345-2-7037.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=6 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070705112718/http://www.upkorea.net/news/photo/7345-2-7037.pdf |archive-date=5 July 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref> But the Jurchen kept their main capital further north, until 1214, when they were forced to move the imperial court southwards to Kaifeng in order to flee the [[Mongol]] onslaught. In 1234 they succumbed to combined Mongol and [[Song dynasty]] forces. Mongols took control, and in 1279 they conquered all of China, establishing the [[Yuan dynasty]] and set up the equivalent of modern Henan, with borders very similar to the modern ones. Neither its territories nor its role in the economy changed under later dynasties. Henan remained important in the [[Ming dynasty]] (1368–1644) and [[Qing dynasty]] (1644–1911) that followed, though its economy slowly deteriorated due to frequent natural disasters.

===Modern era===
The Qing dynasty was overthrown by the 1911 Revolution and then the Republic of China was established in 1912,<ref>{{Cite web |title=纪念辛亥革命100周年 |url=http://www.cppcc.gov.cn/zxww/xinhai100/jlmg/index.shtml |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=www.cppcc.gov.cn}}</ref> during which a man from Henan, [[Yuan Shikai]], played an important role and thus he became the first president of Republic of China.<ref>Shan, Patrick Fuliang (2018). ''Yuan Shikai: A Reappraisal'', The University of British Columbia Press. {{ISBN|9780774837781}}</ref> The construction and extension of the [[Pinghan Railway]] and [[Longhai Railway]] had turned [[Zhengzhou]], a minor county town at the time, into a major transportation hub. Despite the rise of Zhengzhou, Henan's overall economy repeatedly stumbled as it was the hardest hit by the many disasters that struck China in its modern era.

Henan suffered greatly during the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]]. In 1938, when the [[Imperial Japanese Army]] captured Kaifeng, the government led by [[Chiang Kai-shek]] bombed the [[Huayuankou, Henan|Huayuankou]] dam in Zhengzhou in order to prevent Japanese forces from advancing further.<ref>{{Cite web |title=花园口:抗战岁月里的黄河之殇-新华网 |url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2015-08/25/c_1116368992.htm |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=www.xinhuanet.com}}</ref> However, this caused massive flooding in Henan, [[Anhui]], and [[Jiangsu]] resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths. In 1942 Henan was hit by [[Chinese famine of 1942-43|a great famine]] resulting from a mix of drought, locusts and destruction caused by the war.<ref>{{Cite book |last=宋 |first=致新 |title=1942: 河南大饥荒 |publisher=湖北人民出版社 |year=2005年 |isbn=9787216043229 |pages=171 |language=Chinese |trans-title=1942: Henan Famine}}</ref>

In 1954, the new government of the People's Republic of China moved the capital of Henan from Kaifeng to [[Zhengzhou]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=【解密档案】开封到郑州省会大搬迁-手机大河网 |url=https://4g.dahe.cn/news/20180405293804 |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=4g.dahe.cn}}</ref> as a result of its economic importance. The PRC had earlier established a short-lived [[Pingyuan Province]] consisting of what is now northern Henan and western [[Shandong]] with [[Xinxiang]] as its capital. This province was abolished in 1952.<ref>{{Cite web |title=观察丨河南和山东之间的"平原省"为什么被撤销了？_澎湃号·政务_澎湃新闻-The Paper |url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_3850018 |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=www.thepaper.cn}}</ref>

In 1958, Yashan in [[Suiping County]], Henan, became the first [[people's commune]] of China, heralding the beginning of the "[[Great Leap Forward]]".<ref>{{Cite web |title=河南省 旅遊 - Henan Tour |url=http://cntour.weebly.com/9679-278272133530465-2605336938---henan-tour.html |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=大陸旅遊網China Tour Travel Website |language=zh}}</ref> In the subsequent famines of the early 1960s popularly attributed to the Great Leap Forward, Henan was one of the hardest hit and millions of people died.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.boxun.com/hero/dangshi/21_1.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091121045710/http://www.boxun.com/hero/dangshi/21_1.shtml|title=党史资料：中国大陆五十年非正常死亡调查|date=30 September 2002|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 November 2009|work=[[Boxun.com]]}}</ref>{{unreliable source?|date=January 2016}} Suffering under famine and economic chaos caused by the Great Leap, locals in Henan offered low-level resistance mostly through banditry.{{sfnp|Rummel|1991|pp=247–248}} In 1959, however, [[Spirit Soldier rebellion (1959)|a full peasant uprising]] erupted and was only defeated after twenty days of fighting.{{sfnp|Smith|2015|p=346}}

A destructive flooding of the [[Huai River]] in the summer of 1950 prompted large-scale construction of dams on its tributaries in central and southern Henan.
Unfortunately, many of the dams were not able to withstand the extraordinarily high levels of rainfall caused by [[Typhoon Nina (1975)|Typhoon Nina]] in August 1975. Sixty-two dams, the largest of which was the [[Banqiao Dam]] in [[Biyang County]] collapsed; catastrophic flooding, spread over several counties throughout [[Zhumadian]] Prefecture and further downstream, killed at least 26,000 people.<ref name=yi>Yi Si, "The World's Most Catastrophic Dam Failures: The August 1975 Collapse of the Banqiao and Shimantan Dams", in: Dai Qing ''et al'', [https://books.google.com/books?id=R9w2RfP-mtQC&pg=PA36 The River Dragon Has Come!: The Three Gorges Dam and the Fate of China’s Yangtze River and Its People] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207041824/https://books.google.com/books?id=R9w2RfP-mtQC&pg=PA36 |date=7 February 2016 }}, pp. 25–38.</ref><ref name="After 30 years, secrets, lessons of China's worst dams burst accident surface">{{cite news|url=http://english.people.com.cn/200510/01/eng20051001_211892.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060103183714/http://english.people.com.cn/200510/01/eng20051001_211892.html|title=After 30 years, secrets, lessons of China's worst dams burst accident surface|url-status=live|date=1 October 2005|archive-date=3 January 2006|work=[[People's Daily Online]]}}</ref> Unofficial human life loss estimates, including deaths from the ensuing epidemics and famine, range as high as 85,600,<ref name=yi/> 171,000<ref name=osnos>[[Evan Osnos]], "[http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/evanosnos/2011/10/faust-china-and-nuclear-power.html Faust, China, and Nuclear Power] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313134654/http://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-china/faust-china-and-nuclear-power |date=13 March 2016 }}". ''New Yorker'', 2011-10-12</ref> or even 230 000.<ref name=yi/> This is considered the most deadly dam-related disaster in human history.<ref name=yi/>

By the early 1970s, China was one of the poorest countries in the world, and Henan was one of the poorest provinces in China.<ref>{{Cite book |last=完世伟 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i0OhEAAAQBAJ&q=%E6%B2%B3%E5%8D%97%E5%86%B3%E8%83%9C%E5%85%A8%E9%9D%A2%E5%B0%8F%E5%BA%B7%E8%AE%BA |title=河南决胜全面小康论 |date=2016-01-01 |publisher=[[Social Sciences Literature Press]] |isbn=978-7-5201-0258-2 |language=zh}}</ref> In 1978, however, when the communist leader [[Deng Xiaoping]] initiated the [[open door policy]] and embraced capitalism, China entered an economic boom that continues today. The boom did not reach inland provinces such as Henan initially, but by the 1990s Henan's economy was expanding at an even faster rate than that of China overall.

In July 2021, high amounts of rainfall caused [[2021 Henan floods|flooding]], killing 302 and damaging amounting to 82 billion yuan.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Davidson |first=Helen |date=2022-01-23 |title=Chinese officials arrested for concealing true scale of flood death toll |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/23/chinese-provincial-officials-concealed-scores-of-deaths-from-flood-disaster |access-date=2024-03-18 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Luoyang - Boddhisatvas at Longmen Grotto.jpg|thumb|[[Longmen Grottoes]] in Luoyang]]
Henan has a diverse landscape with floodplains in the east and mountains in the west. Much of the province forms part the densely populated [[North China Plain]], an area known as the "breadbasket of China". The [[Taihang Mountains]] intrude partially into Henan's northwestern borders from [[Shanxi]], forming the eastern edge of [[Loess Plateau]]. To the west the [[Xionger Mountains|Xionger]] and [[Funiu Mountains]] form an extensive network of mountain ranges and plateaus, supporting one of the few remaining [[temperate deciduous forest]]s which once covered all of Henan. The renowned [[Mount Song]] and its [[Shaolin Temple]] is located in the far east of the region, near the capital city Zhengzhou. To the far south, the [[Dabie Mountains]] divides [[Hubei]] from Henan. The [[Nanyang Basin]], separated from North China Plain by these mountains, is another important agricultural and population center, with culture and history distinct from the rest of Henan and closer to that of Hubei's. Unlike the rest of northern China, [[desertification]] is not a problem in Henan, though sandstorms are common in cities near the Yellow River due to the large amount of sand present in the river. At 2413.8 meters above sea level, the highest point in Henan province is Laoyachanao ({{lang|zh|老鸦岔垴}}).<ref>{{Cite web |language=zh|url=http://dy.163.com/v2/article/detail/CTSRLRBH0524E1T0.html |title=河南山峰海拔排名，第一谁也没想到，你都去过几座？_网易订阅 |access-date=8 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408141523/http://dy.163.com/v2/article/detail/CTSRLRBH0524E1T0.html |archive-date=8 April 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Yellow River passes through central Henan. It enters from the northwest, via the [[Sanmenxia Reservoir]]. After it passes Luoyang, the mountains gave way to plains. Excessive amount of sediments are formed due to the silt it picks up from the Loess Plateau, raising the river bed and causing frequent floods which shaped the habitat of the region. More recently however, construction of dams and [[levee]]s, as well as the depletion of water resources have ended the floods. The [[Huai River]] in southern Henan is another important river, and has been recognized as part of the boundary dividing [[Northern and southern China|northern and southern Chinese climate and culture]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=淮河 |url=http://www.mwr.gov.cn/szs/hl/201612/t20161222_776385.html |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=www.mwr.gov.cn |language=zh |archive-date=1 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240401104657/http://www.mwr.gov.cn/szs/hl/201612/t20161222_776385.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Henan shares borders with six other provinces. It is bordered to the west by [[Shaanxi]], to the south by [[Hubei]], and to the north by [[Shanxi]] (northwest) and [[Hebei]] (northeast). To the east lie [[Shandong]] (northeast) and [[Anhui]] (southeast), whose borders meet at a narrow strip of land which separates Henan from [[Jiangsu]] to the east.

===Climate===
Henan has a [[temperate]] climate that is [[humid subtropical]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Cwa'' or ''Cfa'') to the south of the Yellow River and bordering on [[humid continental]] (Köppen ''Dwa'') to the north. It has a distinct seasonal climate characterised by hot, humid summers due to the East Asian [[monsoon]], and generally cool to cold, windy, dry winters that reflect the influence of the vast Siberian [[anticyclone]]. Temperatures average around the freezing mark in January and 27 to 28&nbsp;°C in July. A great majority of the annual rainfall occurs during the summer.

==Administrative divisions==
{{further|List of administrative divisions of Henan|List of township-level divisions of Henan}}
Henan is divided into seventeen [[prefecture-level division]]s: all [[Prefecture-level city|prefecture-level cities]]; along with one directly administered [[county-level city]] (a [[sub-prefecture-level city]]):

{|class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto 1em auto; width:90%; font-size:smaller; text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="9" |Administrative divisions of Henan
|-
|colspan="9" style="font-size:larger" | <div style="position: relative" class="center">
{{Image label begin|image=Administrative Division Henan.svg|width=630|link=|font-size=85%}}
{{Image label|x=500|y=360|scale=630/1050|text='''[[Zhengzhou]]'''}}
{{Image label|x=670|y=370|scale=630/1050|text='''[[Kaifeng]]'''}}
{{Image label|x=260|y=420|scale=630/1050|text='''[[Luoyang]]'''}}
{{Image label|x=400|y=520|scale=630/1050|text='''[[Pingdingshan]]'''}}
{{Image label|x=650|y=80|scale=630/1050|text='''[[Anyang]]'''}}
{{Image label|x=640|y=145|scale=630/1050|text='''[[Hebi]]'''}}
{{Image label|x=580|y=230|scale=630/1050|text='''[[Xinxiang]]'''}}
{{Image label|x=445|y=260|scale=630/1050|text='''[[Jiaozuo]]'''}}
{{Image label|x=790|y=125|scale=630/1050|text='''[[Puyang]]'''}}
{{Image label|x=550|y=465|scale=630/1050|text='''[[Xuchang]]'''}}
{{Image label|x=570|y=550|scale=630/1050|text='''[[Luohe]]'''}}
{{Image label|x=70|y=385|scale=630/1050|text='''[[Sanmenxia]]'''}}
{{Image label|x=300|y=680|scale=630/1050|text='''[[Nanyang, Henan|Nanyang]]'''}}
{{Image label|x=870|y=420|scale=630/1050|text='''[[Shangqiu]]'''}}
{{Image label|x=730|y=865|scale=630/1050|text='''[[Xinyang]]'''}}
{{Image label|x=740|y=540|scale=630/1050|text='''[[Zhoukou]]'''}}
{{Image label|x=600|y=695|scale=630/1050|text='''[[Zhumadian]]'''}}
{{Image label|x=320|y=270|scale=630/1050|text='''[[Jiyuan]]'''}}
{{Image label|x=100|y=100|scale=630/1050|text=<span style="color: #CCFF99;">'''█'''</span> <span style="color: grey;">'''Provincial administered<br>county-level divisions'''</span>}}
{{Image label end}}
</div>
|-
!! scope="col" rowspan="2" | [[Administrative division codes of the People's Republic of China|Division code]]<ref>{{cite web |language=zh-hans |url=http://files2.mca.gov.cn/cws/201502/20150225163817214.html |script-title=zh:中华人民共和国县以上行政区划代码 |publisher=[[Ministry of Civil Affairs]] |access-date=11 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402113603/http://files2.mca.gov.cn/cws/201502/20150225163817214.html |archive-date=2 April 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>
!! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Division
!! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Area in km<sup>2</sup><ref name="nj2013">{{cite book|language=zh-hans|author=Shenzhen Bureau of Statistics|publisher=[[:zh:中国统计出版社|China Statistics Print]] |script-title=zh:《深圳统计年鉴2014》|url=http://www.sztj.gov.cn/nj2014/indexce.htm|access-date=29 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512184740/http://www.sztj.gov.cn/nj2014/indexce.htm|archive-date=12 May 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
!! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Population 2020<ref>{{cite book| author1=Census Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China| author2=Population and Employment Statistics Division of the National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China | script-title=zh:中国2010人口普查分乡、镇、街道资料|date=2012|publisher=[[:zh:中国统计出版社|China Statistics Print]] |location=Beijing|isbn=978-7-5037-6660-2|edition=1}}</ref>
!! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Seat
!! scope="col" colspan="3" | Divisions<ref>{{cite book |language=zh-hans |author=Ministry of Civil Affairs |script-title=zh:《中国民政统计年鉴2014》|date=August 2014 |publisher=[[:zh:中国统计出版社|China Statistics Print]] |isbn= 978-7-5037-7130-9|author-link=Ministry of Civil Affairs }}</ref>
|-
!! scope="col" style="width:45px;"|[[District (China)|Districts]]*
!! scope="col" style="width:45px;"|[[Counties of the People's Republic of China|Counties]]
!! scope="col" style="width:45px;"|[[County-level city|CL cities]]
|- style="font-weight: bold"
! 410000 !! Henan Province
|167,000.00 ||99,366,019 ||[[Zhengzhou]] city ||54 ||82 ||21
|-
! 410100 !! [[Zhengzhou]] city
|7,532.56 ||12,600,574 ||[[Zhongyuan District]] ||6 ||1 ||5
|-
! 410200 !! [[Kaifeng]] city
|6,260.95 ||4,824,016 ||[[Gulou District, Kaifeng|Gulou District]] ||5 ||4 ||style="background:gray;"|
|-
! 410300 !! [[Luoyang]] city
|15,229.83 ||7,056,699 ||[[Luolong District]] ||7 ||7 ||style="background:gray;"|
|-
! 410400 !! [[Pingdingshan]] city
|7,909.42 ||4,987,137 ||[[Xinhua District, Pingdingshan|Xinhua District]] ||4 ||4 ||2
|-
! 410500 !! [[Anyang]] city
|7,354.11 ||5,477,614 ||[[Beiguan District]] ||4 ||4 ||1
|-
! 410600 !! [[Hebi]] city
|2,136.85 ||1,565,973 ||[[Qibin District]] ||3 ||2 ||style="background:gray;"|
|-
! 410700 !! [[Xinxiang]] city
|8,249.45 ||6,251,929 ||[[Weibin District, Xinxiang|Weibin District]] ||4 ||5 ||3
|-
! 410800 !! [[Jiaozuo]] city
|4,000.89 ||3,521,078 ||[[Jiefang District]] ||4 ||4 ||2
|-
! 410900 !! [[Puyang]] city
|4,187.90 ||3,772,088 ||[[Hualong District]] ||1 ||5 ||style="background:gray;"|
|-
! 411000 !! [[Xuchang]] city
|4,978.36 ||4,379,998 ||[[Weidu District]] ||2 ||2 ||2
|-
! 411100 !! [[Luohe]] city
|6,260.95 ||2,367,490 ||[[Yancheng District, Luohe|Yancheng District]] ||3 ||2 ||style="background:gray;"|
|-
! 411200 !! [[Sanmenxia]] city
|9,936.65 ||2,034,872 ||[[Hubin District]] ||2 ||2 ||2
|-
! 411300 !! [[Nanyang, Henan|Nanyang]] city
|26,508.69 ||9,713,112 ||[[Wolong District]] ||2 ||10 ||1
|-
! 411400 !! [[Shangqiu]] city
|10,700.23 ||7,816,831 ||[[Liangyuan District]] ||2 ||6 ||1
|-
! 411500 !! [[Xinyang]] city
|18,908.27 ||6,234,401 ||[[Shihe District]] ||2 ||8 ||style="background:gray;"|
|-
! 411600 !! [[Zhoukou]] city
|11,959.40 ||9,026,015 ||[[Chuanhui District]] ||2 ||7 ||1
|-
! 411700 !! [[Zhumadian]] city
|15,095.30 ||7,008,427 ||[[Yicheng District, Zhumadian|Yicheng District]] ||1 ||9 ||style="background:gray;"|
|- style = "background:lightgrey; height: 2pt"
|colspan = "13" |
|- bgcolor="lightyellow"
! 419001 !! [[Jiyuan]] city**
|1,893.76 ||727,765 ||[[Qinyuan Subdistrict, Jiyuan|''Qinyuan Subdistrict'']]|| style="background:gray;" | ||style="background:gray;"| ||1
|-
|colspan = "11" |<nowiki>*</nowiki> – including [[District (China)#Ethnic districts|Ethnic districts]]<br />
<nowiki>**</nowiki> – Directly administered county-level divisions (Jiyuan was formerly part of [[Jiaozuo]])
|}

{|class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed" style="text-font:90%; width:auto; text-align:center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"
! colspan="5" |Administrative divisions in Chinese and varieties of romanizations
|-
! English !! Chinese !! Pinyin
|-
| '''Henan Province''' || {{lang|zh|河南省}} || {{Transliteration|zh|Hénán Shěng}}
|-
| [[Zhengzhou]] city || {{lang|zh|郑州市}} || {{Transliteration|zh|Zhèngzhōu Shì}}
|-
| [[Kaifeng]] city || {{lang|zh|开封市}} || {{Transliteration|zh|Kāifēng Shì}}
|-
| [[Luoyang]] city || {{lang|zh|洛阳市}} || {{Transliteration|zh|Luòyáng Shì}}
|-
| [[Pingdingshan]] city || {{lang|zh|平顶山市}} || {{Transliteration|zh|Píngdǐngshān Shì}}
|-
| [[Anyang]] city || {{lang|zh|安阳市}} || {{Transliteration|zh|Ānyáng Shì}}
|-
| [[Hebi]] city || {{lang|zh|鹤壁市}} || {{Transliteration|zh|Hèbì Shì}}
|-
| [[Xinxiang]] city || {{lang|zh|新乡市}} || {{Transliteration|zh|Xīnxiāng Shì}}
|-
| [[Jiaozuo]] city || {{lang|zh|焦作市}} || {{Transliteration|zh|Jiāozuò Shì}}
|-
| [[Puyang]] city || {{lang|zh|濮阳市}} || {{Transliteration|zh|Púyáng Shì}}
|-
| [[Xuchang]] city || {{lang|zh|许昌市}} || {{Transliteration|zh|Xǔchāng Shì}}
|-
| [[Luohe]] city || {{lang|zh|漯河市}} || {{Transliteration|zh|Luòhé Shì}}
|-
| [[Sanmenxia]] city || {{lang|zh|三门峡市}} || {{Transliteration|zh|Sānménxiá Shì}}
|-
| [[Nanyang, Henan|Nanyang]] city || {{lang|zh|南阳市}} || {{Transliteration|zh|Nányáng Shì}}
|-
| [[Shangqiu]] city || {{lang|zh|商丘市}} || {{Transliteration|zh|Shāngqiū Shì}}
|-
| [[Xinyang]] city || {{lang|zh|信阳市}} || {{Transliteration|zh|Xìnyáng Shì}}
|-
| [[Zhoukou]] city || {{lang|zh|周口市}} || {{Transliteration|zh|Zhōukǒu Shì}}
|-
| [[Zhumadian]] city || {{lang|zh|驻马店市}} || {{Transliteration|zh|Zhùmǎdiàn Shì}}
|-
| [[Jiyuan]] city || {{lang|zh|济源市}} || {{Transliteration|zh|Jìyuán Shì}}
|}

These 17 prefecture-level cities and one directly administered [[county-level city]] of Henan are in turn subdivided into 157 [[Administrative divisions of the People's Republic of China#County level|county-level divisions]] (54 [[District of China|district]]s, 21 [[county-level cities]], and 82 [[County (People's Republic of China)|counties]]; the [[sub-prefecture-level city]] of Jiyuan is counted as a county-level city here). Those are in turn divided into 2454 [[Administrative divisions of the People's Republic of China#Township level|township-level divisions]] (1181 [[Town (China)|town]]s, 598 [[Townships of the People's Republic of China|township]]s, twelve [[ethnic township]]s, and 663 [[Subdistricts of China|subdistrict]]s).

===Urban areas===
{|class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style="font-size:90%;"
! colspan="6" | Population by urban areas of prefecture & county cities
|-
!#!!City!!style ="background-color: #aaaaff;"|Urban area<ref name ="2010PRCcensus"/>!!style ="background-color: #aaffaa;"|District area<ref name ="2010PRCcensus"/>!!style ="background-color: #ffaaaa;"|City proper<ref name ="2010PRCcensus">{{cite book |author=国务院人口普查办公室、国家统计局人口和社会科技统计司编 |date=2012 |script-title=zh:中国2010年人口普查分县资料 |location=Beijing |publisher=[[:zh:中国统计出版社|China Statistics Print]] |isbn=978-7-5037-6659-6 }}</ref>!!Census date
|-
|1||'''[[Zhengzhou]]'''||3,677,032||4,253,913||8,627,089||2010-11-01
|-
|2||[[Luoyang]]||1,584,463||1,926,079||6,549,941||2010-11-01
|-
|3||[[Xinxiang]]||918,078||1,047,088||5,708,191||2010-11-01
|-
|4||[[Anyang]]||908,129||1,146,839||5,173,188||2010-11-01
|-
|5||[[Nanyang, Henan|Nanyang]]||899,899||1,811,812||10,263,660||2010-11-01
|-
|6||[[Pingdingshan]]||855,130||1,034,042||4,904,701||2010-11-01
|-
|7||[[Kaifeng]]{{efn|name=Kaifeng|New district established after census: [[Xiangfu District|Xiangfu (Kaifeng County)]]. The new district not included in the urban area & district area count of the pre-expanded city.}}||725,573||896,117||4,676,483||2010-11-01
|- bgcolor="lightyellow" class="sortbottom"
|(7)||Kaifeng {{small|(new district)}}{{efn|name=Kaifeng}}||168,569||698,799||{{small|''see Kaifeng''}}||2010-11-01
|-
|8||[[Jiaozuo]]||702,527||865,413||3,540,101||2010-11-01
|-
|9||[[Xinyang]]||625,302||1,230,042||6,109,106||2010-11-01
|-
|10||[[Shangqiu]]||618,549||1,536,392||7,362,975||2010-11-01
|-
|11||[[Luohe]]||575,956||1,294,974||2,544,266||2010-11-01
|-
|12||[[Hebi]]||477,659||634,721||1,569,208||2010-11-01
|-
|13||[[Xuchang]]{{efn|name=Xuchang|New district established after census: [[Jian'an District|Jian'an (Xuchang County)]]. The new district not included in the urban area & district area count of the pre-expanded city.}}||466,341||498,087||4,307,488||2010-11-01
|- bgcolor="lightyellow" class="sortbottom"
|(13)||Xuchang {{small|(new district)}}{{efn|name=Xuchang}}||208,168||767,449||{{small|''see Xuchang''}}||2010-11-01
|-
|14||[[Puyang]]||465,980||655,674||3,598,740||2010-11-01
|-
|15||[[Zhumadian]]||447,559||721,723||7,231,234||2010-11-01
|-
|16||[[Dengzhou]]||415,082||1,468,157||{{small|''see Nanyang''}}||2010-11-01
|-
|17||[[Yongcheng]]||414,312||1,240,382||{{small|''see Shangqiu''}}||2010-11-01
|-
|18||[[Yuzhou, Henan|Yuzhou]]||372,815||1,131,896||{{small|''see Xuchang''}}||2010-11-01
|-
|19||[[Gongyi]]||366,265||807,911||{{small|''see Zhengzhou''}}||2010-11-01
|-
|20||[[Xinmi]]||359,148||797,256||{{small|''see Zhengzhou''}}||2010-11-01
|-
|21||[[Xiangcheng City|Xiangcheng]]||355,449||1,003,698||{{small|''see Zhoukou''}}||2010-11-01
|-
|22||[[Xinzheng]]||337,356||758,128||{{small|''see Zhengzhou''}}||2010-11-01
|-
|23||[[Jiyuan]]||334,697||675,757||675,757||2010-11-01
|-
|24||[[Linzhou, Henan|Linzhou]]||321,755||789,702||{{small|''see Anyang''}}||2010-11-01
|-
|25||[[Zhoukou]]||308,360||505,171||8,953,793||2010-11-01
|-
|26||[[Yanshi]]||300,743||666,696||{{small|''see Luoyang''}}||2010-11-01
|-
|27||[[Ruzhou]]||296,913||927,934||{{small|''see Pingdingshan''}}||2010-11-01
|-
|28||[[Dengfeng]]||293,028||668,637||{{small|''see Zhengzhou''}}||2010-11-01
|-
|29||[[Sanmenxia]]{{efn|name=Sanmenxia|New district established after census: [[Shanzhou District|Shanzhou (Shanxian County)]]. The new district not included in the urban area & district area count of the pre-expanded city.}}||285,153||325,628||2,234,018||2010-11-01
|- bgcolor="lightyellow" class="sortbottom"
|(29)||Sanmenxia {{small|(new district)}}{{efn|name=Sanmenxia}}||118,388||343,679||{{small|''see Sanmenxia''}}||2010-11-01
|-
|30||[[Changge]]||281,578||687,130||{{small|''see Xuchang''}}||2010-11-01
|-
|31||[[Xingyang]]||269,655||613,804||{{small|''see Zhengzhou''}}||2010-11-01
|-
|32||[[Huixian]]||261,767||740,435||{{small|''see Xinxiang''}}||2010-11-01
|-
|33||[[Lingbao City|Lingbao]]||231,101||721,049||{{small|''see Sanmenxia''}}||2010-11-01
|-
|34||[[Qinyang]]||223,647||367,113||{{small|''see Jiaozuo''}}||2010-11-01
|-
|35||[[Weihui]]||167,454||495,744||{{small|''see Xinxiang''}}||2010-11-01
|-
|36||[[Wugang, Henan|Wugang]]||147,521||313,828||{{small|''see Pingdingshan''}}||2010-11-01
|-
|37||[[Mengzhou]]||138,393||447,701||{{small|''see Jiaozuo''}}||2010-11-01
|-
|38||[[Yima, Henan|Yima]]||136,461||144,779||{{small|''see Sanmenxia''}}||2010-11-01
|}
{{notelist}}
{{Largest cities
|largest = Most populous
|country = Henan
|kind = cities
|stat_ref = Source: ''China Urban Construction Statistical Yearbook 2018'' Urban Population and Urban Temporary Population<ref>{{cite book |author=[[Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development]] of the People's Republic of China(MOHURD) |url=http://www.mohurd.gov.cn/xytj/tjzljsxytjgb/jstjnj/w02020032722244243052500000.xls |date=2019 |title=中国城市建设统计年鉴2018 |trans-title=China Urban Construction Statistical Yearbook 2018 |language=zh |location=Beijing |publisher=China Statistic Publishing House |access-date=30 November 2021 |archive-date=18 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718211023/http://www.mohurd.gov.cn/xytj/tjzljsxytjgb/jstjnj/w02020032722244243052500000.xls |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|list_by_pop =

|city_1 = Zhengzhou
|pop_1 = 6,261,900
|img_1 = Zhengdong CBD 01.jpg

|city_2 = Luoyang
|pop_2 = 2,359,800
|img_2 = Luo River Luoyang.jpg

|city_3 = Nanyang, Henan{{!}}Nanyang
|pop_3 = 1,604,700
|img_3 = 南阳油田翠湖公园 - panoramio - manoen.jpg

|city_4 = Kaifeng
|pop_4 = 1,023,000
|img_4 = 开封府风光 - panoramio (6).jpg

|city_5 = Shangqiu
|pop_5 = 964,800

|city_6 = Pingdingshan
|pop_6 = 964,500

|city_7 = Jiaozuo
|pop_7 = 801,000

|city_8 = Xinxiang
|pop_8 = 789,600

|city_9 = Anyang
|pop_9 = 760,000

|city_10 = Puyang
|pop_10 = 611,400

|city_11 = Luohe
|pop_11 = 610,300

|city_12 = Xinyang
|pop_12 = 609,200

|city_13 = Xuchang
|pop_13 = 565,800

|city_14 = Zhumadian
|pop_14 = 513,800

|city_15 = Sanmenxia
|pop_15 = 494,200

|city_16 = Hebi
|pop_16 = 490,200

|city_17 = Yongcheng
|pop_17 = 466,000

|city_18 = Yuzhou, Henan{{!}}Yuzhou
|pop_18 = 434,400

|city_19 = Zhoukou
|pop_19 = 431,300

|city_20 = Ruzhou
|pop_20 = 410,000
}}

== Demographics ==

{{Historical populations
|title       = Historical population
|1912<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:1912年中国人口|url=http://www.ier.hit-u.ac.jp/COE/Japanese/discussionpapers/DP97.9/fhyo2.html|access-date=6 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924032922/http://www.ier.hit-u.ac.jp/COE/Japanese/discussionpapers/DP97.9/fhyo2.html|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>  |28,518,000
|1928<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:1928年中国人口|url=http://www.ier.hit-u.ac.jp/COE/Japanese/discussionpapers/DP97.9/fhyo3.htm|access-date=6 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924032924/http://www.ier.hit-u.ac.jp/COE/Japanese/discussionpapers/DP97.9/fhyo3.htm|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> |30,566,000
|1936–37<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:1936–37年中国人口|url=http://www.ier.hit-u.ac.jp/COE/Japanese/discussionpapers/DP97.9/fhyo4.htm|access-date=6 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924032925/http://www.ier.hit-u.ac.jp/COE/Japanese/discussionpapers/DP97.9/fhyo4.htm|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> |34,290,000
|1947<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:1947年全国人口|url=http://www.ier.hit-u.ac.jp/COE/Japanese/discussionpapers/DP97.9/fhyo5.htm|access-date=6 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130913053600/http://www.ier.hit-u.ac.jp/COE/Japanese/discussionpapers/DP97.9/fhyo5.htm|archive-date=13 September 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> |29,654,000
|1954<ref name="census1954">{{cite web|url=http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjgb/rkpcgb/qgrkpcgb/t20020404_16767.htm |script-title=zh:中华人民共和国国家统计局关于第一次全国人口调查登记结果的公报 |publisher=[[National Bureau of Statistics of China]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805174810/http://www.stats.gov.cn/TJGB/RKPCGB/qgrkpcgb/t20020404_16767.htm |archive-date=5 August 2009 }}</ref> |44,214,594
|1964<ref name="census1964">{{cite web|url=http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjgb/rkpcgb/qgrkpcgb/t20020404_16768.htm |script-title=zh:第二次全国人口普查结果的几项主要统计数字 |publisher=[[National Bureau of Statistics of China]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120914173158/http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjgb/rkpcgb/qgrkpcgb/t20020404_16768.htm |archive-date=14 September 2012 }}</ref> |50,325,511
|1982<ref name="census1982">{{cite web|url=http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjgb/rkpcgb/qgrkpcgb/t20020404_16769.htm |script-title=zh:中华人民共和国国家统计局关于一九八二年人口普查主要数字的公报 |publisher=[[National Bureau of Statistics of China]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510075429/http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjgb/rkpcgb/qgrkpcgb/t20020404_16769.htm |archive-date=10 May 2012 }}</ref> |74,422,739
|1990<ref name="census1990">{{cite web|url=http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjgb/rkpcgb/qgrkpcgb/t20020404_16772.htm |script-title=zh:中华人民共和国国家统计局关于一九九〇年人口普查主要数据的公报 |publisher=[[National Bureau of Statistics of China]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120619002216/http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjgb/rkpcgb/qgrkpcgb/t20020404_16772.htm |archive-date=19 June 2012 }}</ref> |85,509,535
|2000<ref name="census2000">{{cite web|url=http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjgb/rkpcgb/qgrkpcgb/t20020331_15435.htm |script-title=zh:现将2000年第五次全国人口普查快速汇总的人口地区分布数据公布如下 |publisher=[[National Bureau of Statistics of China]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829052024/http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjgb/rkpcgb/qgrkpcgb/t20020331_15435.htm |archive-date=29 August 2012 }}</ref> |91,236,854
|2010<ref name="census2010">{{cite web|url=http://www.stats.gov.cn/english/newsandcomingevents/t20110429_402722516.htm |title=Communiqué of the National Bureau of Statistics of People's Republic of China on Major Figures of the 2010 Population Census |publisher=[[National Bureau of Statistics of China]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727021210/http://www.stats.gov.cn/english/newsandcomingevents/t20110429_402722516.htm |archive-date=27 July 2013 }}</ref> |94,023,567
}}
With a population of approximately 93.6&nbsp;million, Henan is the third most populous Chinese province after Guangdong and Shandong. It is also the fifth most populous sub-national division in the world. If it were a country by itself, it would be the twelfth most populous in the world, just behind Mexico and ahead of the Philippines. However, the [[hukou system]] shows Henan as the most populous province in China with over 103&nbsp;million people, as it counts the migrant Henanese laborers as residents of Henan, instead of the province they currently reside in. On the other hand, Guangdong is shown as having only 81&nbsp;million people, though the actual population is 95&nbsp;million due to the influx of migrants from other provinces.

The population is highly homogeneous with 98.8% of the population being [[Han Chinese|Han]]. Small populations of [[Mongols]] and [[Manchus]] exists in scattered rural communities as well as major urban centers.
Along with [[Jiangxi]], Henan has one of the most unbalanced gender ratios in China. As a result of the Chinese government's [[one-child policy]] (many parents do not want the only child to be female and abort the fetus), the gender ratio was 118.46 males for 100 females in 2000. Subsequently, aborting fetuses due to their female sex was banned in Henan and heavy fines are issued for those who violate the law. In addition, daughter-only families receive an annual allowance from the government.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200609/30/eng20060930_307662.html|title=China's most populous province legislates to curb gender imbalance|last=|access-date=23 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110914152026/http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200609/30/eng20060930_307662.html|archive-date=14 September 2011|url-status=live|work=[[People's Daily Online]]}}</ref> Despite these efforts the problem seems to have become far worse. Based on a 2009 British Medical Journal study, the ratio is over 140 boys for every 100 girls in the 1–4 age group;<ref>{{cite journal|title=China's excess males, sex selective abortion, and one child policy: analysis of data from 2005 national intercensus survey|first1=Wei Xing|last1=Zhu|first2=Li|last2=Lu|first3=Therese|last3=Hesketh|date=9 April 2009|journal=BMJ|volume=338|pages=b1211|doi=10.1136/bmj.b1211|pmid=19359290|pmc=2667570}}</ref> this might be a strong exaggeration, as many families with more than one child do not register their daughters to the hukou in order to escape fines.

===Religion===
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religion in Henan (2012)<ref name="CFPS2012">China Family Panel Studies 2012: {{cite web |url=http://iwr.cass.cn/zjwh/201403/W020140303370398758556.pdf |script-title=zh:当代中国宗教状况报告——基于CFPS（2012）调查数据 |publisher=[[CASS]] |language=zh-cn |date=3 March 2014 |pages=13, 24 |access-date=7 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809051625/http://iwr.cass.cn/zjwh/201403/W020140303370398758556.pdf |archive-date=9 August 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|label1 = Non religious and [[Chinese folk religion|traditional faiths]]
|value1 = 86.1
|color1 = Honeydew
|label2 = [[Buddhism in China|Buddhism]]
|value2 = 6.4
|color2 = Yellow
|label3 = [[Protestantism in China|Protestantism]]
|value3 = 5.6
|color3 = DodgerBlue
|label4 = [[Catholicism in China|Catholic]]
|value4 = 0.5
|color4 = DarkOrchid
|label5 = [[Islam in China|Islam]]
|value5 = 1.3
|color5 = Green
|label6 = Others
|value6 = 0.2
|color6 = GreenYellow
}}
According to a 2012 survey<ref name="CFPS2012"/> only around 13% of the population of Henan belongs to organised religions, the largest groups being [[Buddhism in China|Buddhists]] with 6.4%, followed by [[Protestantism in China|Protestants]] with 5.6%, [[Islam in China|Muslims]] with 1.3% and [[Catholicism in China|Catholics]] with 0.5%. Henan has some important centres of [[Chinese Buddhism]], the [[White Horse Temple]] and the famous [[Shaolin Monastery]].

Henan has also the largest [[Christianity in Henan|Christian population]] by numbers and percentage of any province of China,<ref name="CFPS2012"/> 6.1% of the province's population {{As of|2012|lc=y}}, corresponding to approximately 7&nbsp;million Christians. A 2009 survey reported the share of Christians to be 9.33%.<ref name="Wang2015">China General Social Survey 2009, Chinese Spiritual Life Survey (CSLS) 2007. Report by: [https://baylor-ir.tdl.org/baylor-ir/bitstream/handle/2104/9326/WANG-THESIS-2015.pdf?sequence=1 Xiuhua Wang (2015, p. 15)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925123928/https://baylor-ir.tdl.org/baylor-ir/bitstream/handle/2104/9326/WANG-THESIS-2015.pdf?sequence=1 |date=25 September 2015 }}</ref>  In 2019, Communist officials demolished the [[True Jesus Church (Caidu)|True Jesus Church]] near Zhumadian.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.christianpost.com/world/china-authorities-forcibly-demolish-illegal-church-elderly-congregants-injured.html |title=China: Authorities forcibly demolish 'illegal' church; elderly congregants injured |date=15 October 2019 |access-date=9 February 2020}}</ref>  In 2020, Communist officials demolished the [[Sunzhuang Church]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kumar |first=Anugrah |date=2020-06-27 |title=China: 200 communist officials demolish church, beat Christians |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/china-200-communist-officials-demolish-church-beat-christians.html |access-date=2023-09-15 |website=The Christian Post |language=en-US}}</ref>

The reports didn't give figures for other types of religion; 86% of the population may be either irreligious or involved in [[Chinese folk religion|worship of nature deities]], [[Confucianism]], [[Taoism]] and [[Chinese salvationist religions|folk religious sects]] (for example, a sect that is endogenous to Henan is the [[Tianxian miaodao]]). According to a 2007 survey, approximately 8% of the Henanese believe in and are involved in [[Chinese ancestral religion|ancestor veneration]], the traditional Chinese religion of the lineages organised into [[lineage church]]es and [[ancestral shrine]]s.<ref name="Wang2015"/>
{{multiple image
|align        = center
|direction    = horizontal
|width        = 150

|image1    = 关林光照日月牌匾 行摄梓地.jpg
|caption1  = Detail with incense burner at the Guanlin, Temple Mausoleum of [[Guan Yu|Guandi]] in [[Luoyang]].

|image2    = Indian Temple in White Horse Temple.jpg
|caption2  = Indian style pavilion of the [[White Horse Temple]], the first Buddhist temple in China.

|image3    = City god temple in Anyang.JPG
|caption3  = Temple of the [[Chenghuangshen]] (City God) of [[Anyang]].

|image4    = Lszydfyj.png
|caption4  = The [[Spring Temple Buddha|Zhongyuan Buddha]] (Great Buddha of the Central Plains) of the Temple of the Spring in [[Lushan County, Henan|Lushan]] is currently the second [[List of tallest statues|tallest statue]] in the world.
}}
{{clear}}

==Politics==
{{main|Politics of Henan|List of current Chinese provincial leaders}}
The Government of Henan is structured in a dual party-government system like all other governing institutions in mainland China.

The [[Governor of Henan]] is the highest-ranking official in the People's Government of Henan. However, in the province's dual party-government governing system, the Governor has less power than the Henan [[Chinese Communist Party]] Provincial Committee Secretary, colloquially termed the "Henan [[Chinese Communist Party Committee Secretary|CCP Party Chief]]".

==Economy==
[[File:View near Caizhai, Xiping, Zhumadian.jpg|thumb|Farmland in [[Xiping County]], [[Zhumadian]]]]
Henan has seen rapid development in its economy over the past two decades, and its economy has expanded at an even faster rate than the national average of&nbsp;10%. This rapid growth has transformed Henan from one of the poorest provinces to one that matches other central provinces.

Henan is the [[List of Chinese provincial-level divisions by GDP|5th-largest provincial economy]] of China, the second largest in [[South Central China]] after Guangdong, the largest in [[Central China]] and the largest among inland provinces, with a nominal GDP of 5.88&nbsp;trillion RMB (US$926&nbsp;billion) as of 2021, ahead of the GDP of Turkey of 815 billion.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> If it were a country, it would be the [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|18th-largest economy]] as well as the [[List of countries and dependencies by population|17th most populous]] as of 2021.<ref name=":1" /> However, [[List of Chinese provincial-level divisions by GDP per capita|per capita GDP]] is low compared to other eastern and central provinces.<ref name=":3" />

Henan is a semi-industrialized economy with an underdeveloped [[service sector]]. Agriculture has traditionally been a pillar of its economy, with the nation's highest wheat and [[sesame]] output and second highest rice output, earning its reputation as the breadbasket of China. Henan is also an important producer of beef, cotton, maize, pork, [[animal oil]], and corn.

Although Henan's industry has traditionally been based on [[light textiles]] and [[food processing]], recent developments have diversified the industry sector to [[metallurgy]], petrol, cement, [[chemical industry]], [[machinery]] and [[electronics]].

[[Mining industry of China|Mining-related industries]] are a major part of Henan's economy.<ref name=":12">{{Cite book |last=Zhan |first=Jing Vivian |title=China's Contained Resource Curse: How Minerals Shape State-Capital-Labor Relations |date=2022 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |isbn=978-1-009-04898-9 |location=Cambridge, United Kingdom}}</ref>{{Rp|page=23}} Henan has the second largest [[molybdenum]] reserves in the world. Coal, aluminum, [[alkaline metals]] and [[tungsten]] are also present in large amounts in western Henan. Henan houses some of the biggest [[limestone]] reserves in China estimated over 24&nbsp;billion tons.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2018-10/22/5333589/files/01d0517b9d6c430bbb927ea5e48641b4.pdf |title=China Mineral Resources |editor-last1=Wei |editor-first1=Tiejun |author1=Ministry of Natural Resources|author-link1=Ministry of Natural Resources of the People's Republic of China|publisher=Geological Publishing House |location=Beiijing |date=22 October 2018 |access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref> Export and processing of these materials is one of the main sources of revenues.

Henan has planned its economy around the provincial capital of Zhengzhou, and it is hoped that the province may become an important transportation and manufacturing hub in the years to come.<ref name="thechinaperspective.com">{{cite web |title=China Economy @ China Perspective |url=http://www.thechinaperspective.com/topics/province/henan-province/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101105956/http://www.thechinaperspective.com/topics/province/henan-province/ |archive-date=1 November 2012 |access-date=31 October 2011 |work=thechinaperspective.com}}</ref>

In July 2021, [[2021 Henan floods|extreme flooding]] inflicted an estimated US$12.7&nbsp;billion<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3142360/china-floods-more-75-million-people-henan-now-affected/|title=China floods: people still searching for missing relatives after official says four died in road tunnel|work=scmp.com|date=24 July 2021|access-date=26 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725045833/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3142360/china-floods-more-75-million-people-henan-now-affected|archive-date=25 July 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> of economic damage in Henan.

==Transportation==
{{multiple issues|section=yes|
{{unreferenced section|date=July 2014}}
{{expand section|date=July 2014}}
}}
Henan has some of the most advanced transportation system in China due to its flat terrain and its location at the heart of [[Rise of Central China|central China's construction boom]]. The [[Jingguang Railway|Jingguang]] and [[Longhai Railway]], the nation's two most important railways, run through much of the province and intersect at [[Zhengzhou]]. Other railway hubs such as [[Shangqiu]], [[Xinxiang]], and [[Luohe]] have also become important centers of trade and manufacturing as a result. Zhengzhou is also an important hub of China's [[high-speed rail]]way network with railway lines connecting the city from 8 directions with all preferecture-level cities in Henan and other important cities in the country. [[Zhengzhou East Railway Station]] is one of the largest high speed railway stations in China and the world. Henan's expressway system is highly developed and the total length is approximately {{convert|5000|km|abbr=on}}, the highest total for any Chinese province. The state of air transport is less stellar, the only 3 public airports are located in [[Xinzheng]] (near Zhengzhou), [[Luoyang]], and [[Nanyang, Henan|Nanyang]].

==Culture==
{{main|Zhongyuan culture}}
* Most of Henan speaks dialects of the [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]] group of dialects spoken in northern and southwestern China. Linguists put these dialects into the category of "[[Zhongyuan Mandarin]]". The northwestern corner of Henan is an exception, where people speak [[Jin Chinese|Jin]] dialects instead. The dialects of Henan are collectively called "the [[Henan dialect]]" in popular usage, with easily identifiable stereotypical features.
*[[Yu opera]] is the local form of [[Chinese opera]]; it is also well-known and popular across the rest of China. [[Henan Quju]] and [[Henan Yuediao]] are also important local opera forms.
*[[Henan cuisine]] is the local cuisine, with traditions such as the [[Water Banquet|Luoyang Shuixi]] ([[Luoyang]] "Water Table", consisting entirely of various soups, etc.); [[Xinyang Duncai]] ([[Xinyang]] brewed vegetables), and the traditional [[Kaifeng cuisine]].
*Important traditional art and craft products include: [[Junci]], a type of porcelain originating in [[Yuzhou City|Yuzhou]] noted for its unpredictable colour patterns; the [[jade carving]]s of [[Zhenping County, Henan|Zhenping]]; and [[Luoyang]]'s [[Tangsancai]] ("Tang Three Colours"), which are earthenware figurines made in the traditional style of the [[Tang dynasty]].

==Tourism==
Henan is located in the Yellow River valley where ancient people lived. Intricate pottery, writing and musical instruments of the [[Peiligang Culture]] and [[Yangshao Culture]] arose during [[neolithic]] times. Three of the [[Seven Ancient Capitals of China]] are in Henan: [[Luoyang]], [[Kaifeng]] and [[Anyang]]. 16 historical sites in Henan are [[Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level|protected at the national level]] and 267 more at the provincial level.

[[File:WhiteHorseTemple.jpg|thumb|[[White Horse Temple]]]]
*[[Baligou]] in Xinxiang
*[[Gaocheng Astronomical Observatory]] in Dengfeng, the oldest astronomical observatory in China.
*[[Longmen Grottoes]], near Luoyang, a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]] since 2000.
*[[Mount Jigong]], on the southern border.
*[[Mount Mangdang]] in Shangqiu
*[[Mount Song]], near [[Dengfeng]], one of the Five Sacred Mountains of China.
*[[Shaolin Temple]], on Mount Song.
*[[Songyue Pagoda]]
*[[White Horse Temple]] in Luoyang
*[[Yinxu]] in [[Anyang]], a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]].
*[[Youguo Temple]] with the [[Iron Pagoda]]
*[[Yuntai Mountain (Henan)|Yuntai Mountain]] in Jiaozuo

==Colleges and universities==
{{See also|List of universities and colleges in Henan}}
[[File:Auditorium of Henan University.jpg|thumb|Henan University]]

Henan is considered one of China's leading provinces in education. The province hosts more than 156 higher education institutions, ranking first in the [[Central China]] region, ranked second in [[South Central China]] after [[Guangdong]] and third among all Chinese provinces/municipalities after [[Jiangsu]] and [[Guangdong]].<ref name=":02" />

As of 2023, three major cities in the province ranked in the top 200 cities in the world ([[Zhengzhou]] 76th, [[Kaifeng]] 154th and [[Xinxiang]] 195th) by scientific research output, as tracked by the [[Nature Index]].<ref name=":22" /> Along with Jiangsu, Henan is one of only two Chinese provinces with at least three major cities that are among the top 200 in the world by scientific research output.<ref name=":22" />

*[[Anyang Institute of Technology]]
*[[Henan Agricultural University]]
*[[Henan College of Traditional Chinese Medicine]]
*[[Henan Medical University]]
*[[Henan Normal University]]
*[[Henan Polytechnic University]]
*[[Henan University of Economics and Law]]
*[[Henan University of Science and Technology]]
*[[Henan University of Technology]]
*[[Henan University]]
*[[Huanghe Science and Technology University]]
*[[Luoyang Institute of Technology]]
*[[Nanyang Institute of Technology]]
*[[Nanyang Teachers College]]
*[[North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power]]
*[[Pingdingshan Normal College]]
*[[Shangqiu College]]
*[[Shangqiu Normal College]]
*[[Sias University]]
*[[Xinxiang College]]
*[[Xinxiang Medical University]]
*[[Zhengzhou Grain College]]
*[[Zhengzhou Institute of Aeronautical Industry Management]]
*[[Zhengzhou Textile Institute]]
*[[Zhengzhou University of Light Industry]]
*[[Zhengzhou University of Technology]]
*[[Zhengzhou University]]
*[[Zhongyuan Institute of Technology]]

==Notable individuals==
{{more citations needed|section|date=June 2021}}
*[[Chen Sheng]], (known in some sources as Chen She) and [[Wu Guang]] (both died 209&nbsp;BC or 208&nbsp;BC), leaders of the first rebellion against Qin dynasty
*[[Chen Zhong]], Olympic gold medalist in [[Taekwondo]]
*[[Cheng Hao]] (1032–1085) and brother [[Cheng Yi (philosopher)|Cheng Yi]] (1033–1107), [[Neo-Confucianism|Neo-Confucian]] philosophers
*[[Deng Ai]] (?−264), an officer of [[Cao Wei]] during the Three Kingdoms period
*[[Deng Yaping]] (born 5 February 1973), four-time Olympic gold medalist.
*[[Du Fu]] (712–770), considered one of the greatest of Chinese poets
*[[Du Wei (footballer)|Du Wei]] (born 9 February 1982), professional football player
*[[Fan Zhen]] (c. 450–515), a Chinese philosopher of the [[Southern Qi dynasty]], remembered today for the treatise ''Shen Mie Lun'' (''On the Annihilation of the Soul'')
*[[Feng Yi]], a general of the Eastern [[Han dynasty]]
*[[Feng Youlan]] (1895–1990), philosopher
*[[Gao Yaojie]], medical doctor
*[[Ge Xin'ai]] (born 30 June 1953) [[Table Tennis]] World Champion (1975, 1977, 1979)
*[[Han Fei]] ({{Circa|280}}–233&nbsp;BC), [[Legalism (Chinese philosophy)|Legalist]] philosopher
*[[Han Yu]] (768–824), one of China's best known prose writers and poets
*[[Hui Shi]] (380&nbsp;BC−?), philosopher
*[[Jia Aoqi]], sanshou fighter and professional kickboxer
*[[Jia Yi]], a Chinese poet and statesman of the [[Han dynasty]]
*[[Kong Hongxing]], sanshou fighter
*[[Lao Zi]] (Lao Tzu: dates uncertain), founder of [[Daoism]]
*[[Li Shangyin]] (813–858), poet
*[[Li Tang (painter)|Li Tang]] ({{Circa|1080|1130}}), painter
*[[Liang Jun (activist)|Liang Jun]] (born 1945), teacher and women's rights activist
*[[Lie Yukou]] (c. 4th century BC), Daoist philosopher
*[[Liu Guoliang]], member of the Chinese table tennis team
*[[Mozi|Mo Zi]], founder of [[Mohism]]
*[[Ruan Ji]] (210–263), poet
*[[Sima Yi]] (179–251), a general, military strategist, and politician of [[Cao Wei]] during the Three Kingdoms period
*[[Su Qin]]
*[[Tang of Shang|Shang Tang]], the first ruling king of the [[Shang dynasty]]
*[[Wei Rui]], sanshou fighter and professional kickboxer
*[[Xu Shen]] (c.58−c. 147), editor of the [[Shuowen Jiezi]]
*[[Xu Shu]] one of [[Liu Bei]]'s advisors during the [[Three Kingdoms]] period of China.
*[[Xuan Ni]], greatly admired official of the Ming Dynasty
*[[Xun You]] an advisor to Cao Cao during the Three Kingdoms period
*[[Xun Yu]] (styled-named Wenruo), an advisor to [[Cao Cao]] during the Three Kingdoms period
*[[Yuan Shikai]] (1859–1916), second [[President of the Republic of China]]
*[[Yuan Shizhong]], (died 1643), rebel leader
*[[Yue Fei]] (1103–1142), a noted Chinese patriot and general who fought for the Southern Song dynasty against the Jurchen
*[[Zhang Heng]], an [[astronomer]], mathematician, inventor, [[geographer]], artist, poet, [[wikt:statesman|statesman]], and [[literary]] scholar of the Eastern Han dynasty
*[[Zhang Jian (judge)|Zhang Jian]] (born September 1955), judge<ref>{{Cite web|title=张坚同志当选安徽省高级人民法院院长-中国法院网|url=https://www.chinacourt.org/index.php/article/detail/2013/01/id/888428.shtml|access-date=2021-09-14|website=www.chinacourt.org|archive-date=14 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914151921/https://www.chinacourt.org/index.php/article/detail/2013/01/id/888428.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*[[Zhang Zhilei]], professional heavyweight boxer
*[[Zhang Zhongjing|Zhang Ji]] (style-named [[Zhang Zhongjing]]) (150–219), an [[Eastern Han]] physician, the author of the [[Shanghan Zabing Lun]]
*[[Zhao Manqin]] (born 1953), musician and educator
*[[Zhao Ziyang]] (17 October 1919 − 17 January 2005), former [[Premier of the People's Republic of China|Premier]] and [[General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party|CCP Secretary]]
*[[Zhong You]] (151–230), a politician and calligrapher in Wei dynasty of San guo
*[[Zhu Ting (volleyball)|Zhu Ting]], sixteenth captain of China National Women's Volleyball Team
*[[Zhuang Zhou|Chuang Tzu]] (born 369&nbsp;BC), Daoist philosopher

== Sports teams ==
Professional sports teams in Henan include
* [[Chinese Basketball Association]]
** [[Henan Dragons]]
* [[Chinese Super League]]
** [[Henan F.C.]]

==See also==
{{Portal|China}}
* [[List of Major National Historical and Cultural Sites in Henan]]
* [[Zhengzhou]]

==References==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Works cited ===
* {{cite book |last = Rummel |first = Rudolph J. |author-link = Rudolph J. Rummel|title= China's Bloody Century: Genocide and Mass Murder Since 1900 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=4FXn22NKptcC|date= 1991 |publisher= Transaction Publishers |location= New Brunswick; London |isbn=0-88738-417-X }}
* {{cite book |last=Smith |first=S. A. |chapter=Redemptive Religious Societies and the Communist State, 1949 to the 1980s |editor1=Jeremy Brown |editor2=Matthew D. Johnson |title=Maoism at the Grassroots: Everyday Life in China's Era of High Socialism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KRTRCgAAQBAJ |date=2015 |publisher=Harvard University Press |location=Cambridge, Mass. |isbn=978-0674287204 |pages=340–364}}
* [http://info.hktdc.com/mktprof/china/henan.htm Economic profile for Henan] at [[Hong Kong Trade Development Council|HKTDC]]

==External links==
{{Commons category|Henan}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
* [http://www.henan.gov.cn/ Henan Government website] {{in lang|zh}}

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Henan
|North     = [[Hebei]]
|Northeast = [[Shandong]]
|East      = 
|Southeast = [[Anhui]]
|South     = [[Hubei]]
|Southwest = 
|West      = [[Shaanxi]]
|Northwest = [[Shanxi]]}}

{{Henan topics}}
{{Henan}}
{{Province-level divisions of the People's Republic of China}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Henan| ]]<!--Please leave the empty space.  See [[WP:EPONYMOUS]]-->
[[Category:Central China]]
[[Category:Provinces of the People's Republic of China]]