Capital of Henan Province
Zhengzhou lies in the north of Henan province, south of the Huanghe and east of the Songshan rivers.
Zhengzhou is one of China's oldest cities. Archaeological digs have revealed important Neolithic finds and the ruins of a
3500 year-old town wall built in the Shang period (16th-11th C BC). The total length of this wall was more than 7km/4.5mi, it was 9m/30ft high and over 30m/99ft at the base. Zhengzhou expanded considerably under the Western Zhou (11th C 2770 BC). It was given its present name in 559 BC After the construction of the two above-mentioned railroad lines in the early 20th C. Zhengzhou enjoyed rapid economic growth. It played a central role in the 1923 rail strike, the ''Strike of February 7th''. As well as being the political, cultural and business center of Henan province it is also an important north Chinese industrial center (metalworking, machinery).