Henan

Area: 167,000sq.km/64,500sq.mi

Population: 89.49 million. Capital: Zhengzhou

Henan, one of China's most densely populated provinces, lies in central China, on the lower reaches of the Huanghe river, between 110°22' and 116°38'E and 31°23' and 36°22'N. Henan means ''south of the river'', because most of the province does lie south of the Huanghe.

Henan can be divided into two topographical areas, the hilly region in the west and parts of the North China Plain in the east. Three river systems flow through the province - the Huanghe in the north, the Huaihe in the south and the Tanghe and Taohe in the southwest. The climate is largely continental, being cold and dry in winter and humid in summer. Average January temperatures are 22°C (28°F) in the north and plus 2°C (36°F) in the south, while in July temperatures on the plains average 28°C (82°F). In spring Henan suffers from long periods of drought and violent sandstorms which cause considerable damage.

Signs of settlements dating back to Neolithic times (the Yang-shao culture) have been discovered in Henan. It is believed that the Shang dynasty (16th-11th C BC) had its capital city near Anyang after 1384 BC From the 8th to the 3rd C BC. Luoyang was the capital of the Zhou rulers, and, alternating with Chang'an, it remained so until the 10th C AD. Subsequently Kaifeng was the capital for a short time.

The only mineral of any importance to Henan is coal. Much of the soil is very fertile (the result of extensive and rich loess deposits), 60-70 per cent of the land under cultivation being found in the east of the province. The main crops are wheat, oleaceous plants, maize, sorghum, soya beans and fruit as well as cotton and tobacco. In addition Henan is a major producer of sesame seeds, walnuts and tea, and has a long tradition of silk manufacture.