Jiaozuo (焦作)

1. Introduction

Jiaozuo City, abbreviated as Jiao, historically known as Shanyang, Huaizhou, Huaiqing, etc., is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Henan Province, People's Republic of China. It is located in the northwestern part of Henan Province. The city borders Xinxiang City to the east, Zhengzhou City to the south, Luoyang City to the southwest, Jiyuan City to the west, and is adjacent to Jincheng City of Shanxi Province to the north. Situated at the southern foot of the Taihang Mountains and on the northern bank of the Yellow River, it is thus called Shanyang. The terrain is higher in the northwest and lower in the southeast. The Yellow River flows along its southern edge. The city covers a total area of 3,972 square kilometers with a total population of approximately 3.53 million. Jiaozuo is an important city on the Jiaotai–Jiaoliu Railway Line, a member of the Central Plains Urban Agglomeration, and is also recognized as an Excellent Tourist City of China and a National Garden City. The Municipal People's Government is located at No. 889 Renmin Road, Jiefang District.

This region is one of the early centers of activity for the Huaxia civilization, with existing archaeological sites from the Peiligang Culture, Yangshao Culture, and Longshan Culture. Jiaozuo is rich in cultural heritage, being the fiefdom of Emperor Xian of Han after his abdication, and the hometown and main activity area of historical and cultural figures such as Sima Yi, Han Yu, Li Shangyin, and the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove including Shan Tao and Xiang Xiu. It is also the birthplace of Tai Chi.

In the early 20th century, the British began large-scale coal mining here, gradually forming an industrial area. Jiaozuo City was established in 1956. By the end of the 20th century, as coal resources depleted, Jiaozuo shifted its focus to developing a tourism economy, creating several national 5A-level tourist attractions such as Yuntai Mountain, Qinglong Gorge, Qingtian River, and Shennong Mountain. Its successful socioeconomic transformation is known as the "Jiaozuo Phenomenon."

2. Historical Origins of the Name

There are two accounts regarding the name's origin: First, it is said to be named after the kiln industry workshops operated by the Jiao family in this area. Second, during the Hongwu period of the early Ming Dynasty, a group of immigrants relocated from under the big locust tree in Hongtong County, Shanxi. Upon arriving, they found an abundance of jujube fruits that could serve as sustenance, leading them to settle here. To commemorate these "jujubes" (焦枣, jiāo zǎo), people used "焦枣" as the place name, which later evolved into "焦作" (Jiāozuò).

3. History

3.1 Ancient History

Legend holds that during the Xia Dynasty, the area belonged to Jizhou and was known as Tanhuai.

During the Shang Dynasty, it was the location of states such as Dan and Ke. In the Western Zhou Dynasty, it comprised the fiefdoms of Dan, Yong, Yu, and Wen, later falling under the direct jurisdiction of the royal domain (under the direct control of the Zhou Son of Heaven). In the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, it was part of the Nanyang region of the State of Jin, and during the Warring States period, it was territory of the States of Wei and Han.

In the Qin Dynasty, it belonged to Sanchuan Commandery. In the Western Han Dynasty, it was part of Henei Commandery in Jizhou. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, it was under Henei Commandery in the Sili Province. In the Three Kingdoms period, it was part of Henei Commandery in Jizhou under the State of Wei. In the Jin Dynasty, it was divided among Henei Commandery, Ji Commandery, and Xingyang Commandery in Sizhou. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, it was divided between Henei Commandery and Xingyang Commandery in Sizhou. In the Northern Wei Dynasty, it was divided among Henei Commandery and Wude Commandery in Huaizhou, and Ji Commandery and Donghengnong Commandery in Sizhou. In the Sui Dynasty, it was divided among Henei Commandery, Ji Commandery, and Xingyang Commandery.

In the Tang Dynasty, it was divided among Henei Commandery in Huaizhou of Hebei Circuit, Mengzhou under the Heyang Sancheng Envoy, Henan Commandery in Henan Prefecture of Henan Circuit, and Xingyang Commandery in Zhengzhou. During the Five Dynasties period, it was divided among Huaizhou, Mengzhou, Zhengzhou, and Kaifeng Prefecture. In the Northern Song Dynasty, it was divided among Henei Commandery in Huaizhou of Hebei West Circuit, Jiyuan Commandery in Jingxi North Circuit, the Fengning Army system in Zhengzhou of Jingxi Circuit, and Kaifeng Prefecture in the capital region.

On December 10, 1126, the Jin general Wanyan Zonghan captured Huaizhou (Qinyang). The defending general Huo Anguo and others resisted resolutely, leading Wanyan Zonghan to exterminate Huo Anguo's entire family.

In the Yuan Dynasty, it was divided among Huaiqing Route and Mengzhou in Yannan Hebei Circuit, and Bianliang Route in Henan Jiangbei Province. During the Ming Dynasty, it was divided between Huaizhou Route under the Henan Provincial Administration Commission and Kaifeng Prefecture. In the Qing Dynasty, it belonged to Huaizhou Prefecture in Henan Province. In 1913, Henei County was renamed Qinyang County. In 1927, the eastern part of Qinyang County was separated to establish Bo'ai County.

3.2 Modern and Contemporary History

In 1898, the British Peking Syndicate and the Henan Yufeng Company signed the "Agreement between the Yufeng Company and the Peking Syndicate on Mining, Iron Smelting, and Transport of Various Minerals in Henan" in Beijing. Utilizing new technologies for surveying and excavation, they quickly dominated the local coal market. The number of employees in the coal mines rapidly grew from an initial three thousand to eighty-four hundred by the time of the Xinhai Revolution. To resist the Peking Syndicate, thousands of small coal mines in Jiaozuo united to form the Zhongyuan Company, competing with the Syndicate's mines.

Yuan Shikai placed great importance on the coal mining operations in Jiaozuo and personally facilitated the merger of the Peking Syndicate and the Zhongyuan Company. In June 1915, the Fuzhong General Company was established, with designated areas for each to operate. By 1924, the raw coal output of the Jiaozuo coal mines had exceeded 1.6 million tons, ranking third nationally after the Kailuan and Fushun mines. The Fuzhong Company's workforce had grown to over twenty thousand, making Jiaozuo the largest industrial area in Henan Province.

In July 1925, coal miners in Jiaozuo launched a strike in response to the May Thirtieth Movement, persisting for over seven months. Eventually, the British side recognized the trade union's right to represent the workers and accepted their demands, which included wage increases, no unjustified dismissals, and compensation for losses incurred during the strike. On September 8, 1945, Jiaozuo City was established. In March 1948, it was changed to Jiaozuo County. On October 15, 1949, it was redesignated as the Jiaozuo Mining Area, under the administration of the Xinzhou Administrative Commissioner's Office of Pingyuan Province. On November 15, 1952, with the dissolution of Pingyuan Province, the Jiaozuo Mining Area was placed under the Xinzhou Administrative Commissioner's Office of Henan Province. On July 9, 1956, it was re-established as Jiaozuo City.

By the late 20th century, Jiaozuo's coal resources were depleted. However, due to its relatively large educated population and substantial capital stock within the province, Jiaozuo was able to gradually develop other industries, maintaining its per capita income among the highest in Henan Province.

4. Geography

Jiaozuo City borders Shanxi Province to the north with the Taihang Mountains and faces Zhengzhou and Luoyang across the Yellow River to the south. Its geographical coordinates lie between 35°10′–35°21′ north latitude and 113°4′–113°26′ east longitude. The jurisdiction spans approximately 32.5 kilometers from east to west and 19.7 kilometers from north to south. The topography consists of four parts: low mountains, hills, slopes, and plains, with elevations ranging from 85 to 940 meters. The terrain height decreases from northwest to southeast.

4.1 Hydraulic Resources

Jiaozuo's terrain is high in the northwest and low in the southeast. The Yellow River flows along its southern edge, and the Qin River traverses the city diagonally. Other rivers include the Mang River, Qingtian River, Dan River, and Dasha River. There are 23 rivers with a drainage area exceeding 100 square kilometers, along with two major artificial canals: the Yinqin Canal and the Guangli Canal. Larger reservoirs include the Qunying Reservoir, Qingtianhe Reservoir, Baiqiang Reservoir, and Shunjian Reservoir, indicating abundant surface water resources. Jiaozuo is also a natural groundwater catchment basin, with proven groundwater reserves of 3.54 billion cubic meters. The central route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project also passes through Jiaozuo.

4.2 Mineral Resources

Jiaozuo boasts a relatively wide variety of mineral resources with substantial reserves and good quality. Over 40 types of mineral resources have been surveyed, accounting for 25% of the mineral types discovered in Henan Province. Proven reserves exist for more than 20 types, including coal, limestone, bauxite, refractory clay, and pyrite. Among these, the coalfield extends from Xiuwu in the east to Bo'ai in the west, bordering Wuzhi to the south, spanning 65 kilometers east-west and 20 kilometers north-south, with retained reserves of 3.24 billion tons of high-quality anthracite. Refractory clay is mainly distributed on the southern side of the Taihang Mountains from Xiuwu to Qinyang, characterized by shallow burial and easy extraction, with a refractoriness of 1650–1770°C. Proven reserves are 46.869 million tons, accounting for 9.5% of the province's retained reserves. Iron ore is primarily distributed in Jiaozuo and Qinyang, with retained reserves of 27.26 million tons and industrial reserves of 7.406 million tons, mainly magnetite with an iron content of 32%. Pyrite retained reserves are 34.755 million tons, constituting 41% of the provincial reserves, with good washing and separation properties, mainly located in the Fengfeng mining area, where the ore body is 3000 meters long and 300-600 meters wide. Limestone is widely distributed with large reserves: industrial reserves of 3.3 billion tons and prospective reserves of 10 billion tons, with a stable thickness over 30 meters and a calcium oxide content of 52–54%. It is mainly distributed in the northern mountainous area, covering 500 square kilometers. Additionally, Jiaozuo has mineral resources such as copper, iron, quartz, marble, aluminum, zinc, phosphorus, and antimony.

4.3 Flora and Fauna

Jiaozuo is home to over 190 species of wild animals, including macaques, leopards, tigers, roe deer, musk deer, foxes, and blue sheep, of which more than 20 are rare animals under state protection. Jiaozuo belongs to the North China deciduous vegetation zone, with 143 families and 875 species of woody plants, and 69 families and 469 species of herbaceous plants. Rare tree species under state protection include yew, katsura tree, mountain white tree, ginkgo, eucommia, and wingceltis. Major food crops include wheat, corn, and rice, while major cash crops include peanuts, cotton, soybeans, and Huai medicinal herbs. The 18,000-mu bamboo forest is the largest in North China. The "Four Major Huai Medicinals" (Huai yam, Huai achyranthes, Huai rehmannia, and Huai chrysanthemum, all China Geographical Indication products) are renowned both domestically and internationally, exported to over twenty countries and regions in Southeast Asia, Europe, and America.

4.4 Climate

Jiaozuo is located on the northern edge of the northern subtropical zone, characterized by a subtropical monsoon climate with strong continental influences. The four seasons are distinct: winters and springs see little snow and rain, with drought and frequent winds; summers are hot and rainy, with precipitation coinciding with heat. Due to the sloping terrain and the barrier effect of the Taihang Mountains, a foehn effect occurs, resulting in temperatures higher than in cities like Xinxiang and Zhengzhou. The average annual temperature in the plains is 14.9°C, while in the mountainous areas it is 2–3°C lower. The extreme maximum temperature is 43.3°C, and the extreme minimum temperature is -17.8°C. The average annual rainfall is 551.6 mm, the frost-free period is 231 days, and the annual sunshine duration is 2422.7 hours.

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual | |---------------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|----------------| | Avg High °C | 6 | 9.5 | 15.1 | 22.4 | 27.8 | 32.3 | 32.1 | 30.8 | 27.2 | 22 | 14.4 | 8 | 20.6 | | Avg High °F | 42.8 | 49.1 | 59.2 | 72.3 | 82.0 | 90.1 | 89.8 | 87.4 | 81.0 | 71.6 | 57.9 | 46.4 | 69.1 | | Avg Temp °C | 1.3 | 4.6 | 9.8 | 16.9 | 22.3 | 26.8 | 27.7 | 26.5 | 22.2 | 16.6 | 9.3 | 3.3 | 15.6 | | Avg Temp °F | 34.3 | 40.3 | 49.6 | 62.4 | 72.1 | 80.2 | 81.9 | 79.7 | 72.0 | 61.9 | 48.7 | 37.9 | 60.1 | | Avg Low °C | -2.7 | 0.3 | 5.0 | 11.5 | 16.8 | 21.4 | 23.7 | 22.7 | 17.7 | 11.7 | 4.7 | -0.7 | 11.0 | | Avg Low °F | 27.1 | 32.5 | 41.0 | 52.7 | 62.2 | 70.5 | 74.7 | 72.9 | 63.9 | 53.1 | 40.5 | 30.7 | 51.8 | | Avg Precip mm | 7.5 | 10.6 | 22.3 | 23.6 | 50.4 | 65.1 | 137.4 | 112.6 | 60.8 | 34.0 | 20.1 | 7.2 | 551.6 | | Avg Precip in | 0.30 | 0.42 | 0.88 | 0.93 | 1.98 | 2.56 | 5.41 | 4.43 | 2.39 | 1.34 | 0.79 | 0.28 | 21.71 | | Avg Rel Hum (%) | 55 | 55 | 55 | 56 | 59 | 59 | 74 | 76 | 71 | 64 | 60 | 56 | 62 |

5. Administrative Divisions

Jiaozuo City administers 4 municipal districts, 4 counties, and has jurisdiction over 2 county-level cities.

• Municipal Districts: Jiefang District, Zhongzhan District, Macun District, Shanyang District
• County-level Cities: Qinyang City, Mengzhou City
• Counties: Xiuwu County, Bo'ai County, Wuzhi County, Wen County

Additionally, Jiaozuo City has established the following economic management zones: Jiaozuo Urban-Rural Integration Demonstration Zone, Jiaozuo High-Tech Industrial Development Zone.

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | |-------------------|-------------------|-------------------------|----------------|-------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------|---------------| | 410800 | Jiaozuo City | Jiāozuò Shì | 3,972.58 | 3,521,078 | Jiefang District | 454000 | 56 | 34 | 18 | | 410802 | Jiefang District | Jiěfàng Qū | 67.72 | 347,382 | Minsheng Subdistrict| 454000 | 9 | | | | 410803 | Zhongzhan District| Zhōngzhàn Qū | 125.08 | 107,281 | Lifeng Subdistrict | 454000 | 10 | | | | 410804 | Macun District | Mǎcūn Qū | 118.33 | 120,560 | Macun Subdistrict | 454000 | 7 | | | | 410811 | Shanyang District | Shānyáng Qū | 234.43 | 510,251 | Xincheng Subdistrict| 454000 | 12 | 2 | 1 | | 410821 | Xiuwu County | Xiūwǔ Xiàn | 621.79 | 248,585 | Chengguan Town | 454300 | | 5 | 3 | | 410822 | Bo'ai County | Bó'ài Xiàn | 427.61 | 350,140 | Hongchang Subdistrict| 454400 | 2 | 5 | 2 | | 410823 | Wuzhi County | Wǔzhì Xiàn | 797.92 | 661,341 | Mucheng Subdistrict | 454900 | 4 | 5 | 6 | | 410825 | Wen County | Wēn Xiàn | 481.3 | 393,838 | Wenquan Subdistrict | 454800 | 4 | 5 | 2 | | 410882 | Qinyang City | Qìnyáng Shì | 594.9 | 447,487 | Qinhuai Subdistrict | 454500 | 4 | 6 | 3 | | 410883 | Mengzhou City | Mèngzhōu Shì | 503.49 | 334,213 | Huichang Subdistrict| 454700 | 4 | 6 | 1 |

6. Economy

6.1 Agriculture

Jiaozuo's main crops include wheat, corn, rice, cotton, oilseeds, and other cash crops. It is a major commercial grain base in Henan Province, one of the country's famous high-yield grain regions, and an excellent wheat seed breeding base. Since 2009, Jiaozuo has begun to develop specialized agriculture. In Qinyang City, there are 32 "One Village, One Product" specialized villages, with a vegetable cultivation area of 185,000 mu. The pears and grapes from the Ziling Xianhong Fruit Industry Professional Cooperative have been recognized as famous brand products in Henan Province. Mengzhou has established three core agricultural demonstration zones: Guanghui Park, New Zealand Red Pear Park, and Beikaiyi Apple Park. Bo'ai County has developed specialized vegetable agriculture, opening up 120,000 mu of standardized production fields and constructing 21,000 solar greenhouses and plastic sheds. Wuzhi County has currently formed 91 specialized agricultural villages and 2 specialized townships. Xiuwu County has made edible mushroom cultivation, agritourism, and high-efficiency agriculture its pillar industries and established the Xixia Manor Modern Agricultural Park. In 2009, it was designated as a provincial-level key county for animal husbandry development. Wen County focuses on the production and processing of the "Four Great Huai Medicinal Herbs": Chinese yam, chrysanthemum, rehmannia, and achyranthes, developing 2,000 mu of green food production fields. Four types of Huai medicinal products have been certified as green food by relevant provincial departments.

6.2 Industry

Jiaozuo's industry has evolved from a single coal-based sector into a new industrial city centered on five major clusters: energy, chemicals, non-ferrous metal smelting and processing, automotive parts manufacturing, and deep processing of agricultural products. Its industrial added value above designated scale, total profits and taxes, and comprehensive efficiency index all rank among the top three in the province.

Furthermore, Jiaozuo's abundant resources and convenient transportation have attracted substantial domestic and foreign investment. A number of well-known enterprises, both domestic and international, have established operations in Jiaozuo, including AES (USA), Princeton (UK), Korea Electric Power Corporation, Singapore RB Company, China Resources (Hong Kong), Inner Mongolia Mengniu, Heilongjiang Zhongzhi, Gansu Lanao, Jiangsu Jiahua, Nantong Yuanda Real Estate, Shanghai Junli, Beijing Ruilian, Xiamen Heavy Industry, Chery, China Ordnance Equipment Group, and China North Industries Group Corporation. Their investments span sectors such as power generation, environmental protection, food processing, metallurgy, and real estate.

7. Transportation

Located on the vital passage north and south of the Yellow River and at the strategic juncture between Shanxi and Henan provinces, Jiaozuo has been an important distribution center for goods in northwestern Henan since ancient times, as well as a key gateway from the Central Plains into Shanxi. Four railways—Jiaozhi, Jiaotai, Jiaoxin, and Yuehou—traverse the region, with two major freight marshalling yards at Yueshan and Daiwang. The railway network in Jiaozuo is well-developed and has long served as a crucial national freight route, providing essential transportation support for shipping Shanxi coal and Jiaozuo's own coal resources out of the region. The expressways connect with national trunk highways, achieving the goal of "expressway access to every county." The total road mileage in the city reaches 4,953 kilometers, with a road density of 121.6 kilometers per 100 square kilometers, surpassing both the provincial and national averages. The early completion of the Zhengzhou-Jiaozuo-Jincheng Expressway opened a new inland route from the Central Plains into Shanxi in the modern era. The Jiaozuo-Zhengzhou intercity railway officially opened on June 26, 2015, with the shortest travel time of 34 minutes for the entire journey.

7.1 Railways

• Jiaoliu (Jiaozuo–Liuzhou)
• Jiaotai (Jiaozuo–Taiyuan)
• Jiaoxin (Jiaozuo–Xinxiang)
• Houyue (Yueshan–Houma)
• Zheng-Tai High-Speed Railway (Zhengzhou–Taiyuan)
• Jiaoluoping High-Speed Railway (Jiaozuo–Qinyang–Luoyang–Pingdingshan, under construction)

7.2 Tourist Express Routes

From 2010 to 2015, Jiaozuo planned six main tourist express routes with a total length of 324.446 km, intended to consist of: Lindeng Line, Changfu Line, Huozhi Line, Yunzheng Line, Jiaotong Line, and the Jiaozuo to Xingyang Yellow River Bridge. These six routes are arranged in two horizontal and four vertical lines, forming a circular network of tourist express routes that will connect all major scenic spots across the city.

7.3 Expressways

The Zheng-Jiao-Jin Expressway, Chang-Ji Expressway, Ji-Luo Expressway, and Jiao-Tong Expressway pass through the area. Local expressways are linked with national trunk highways, achieving the goals of "expressway access to every county," "secondary roads to every township," and "paved roads to every village." By the end of 2013, the total length of expressways in operation reached 204 kilometers.

8. Education

8.1 Higher Education

• Henan Polytechnic University. The predecessor of China University of Mining and Technology, the Jiaozuo School of Mining and Railways, was established here and later renamed Jiaozuo Institute of Technology. The former site of Jiaozuo Institute of Technology was subsequently occupied by the Central South Coal Mining School, which was renamed Henan Polytechnic University in 2004.
• Jiaozuo University

8.2 Secondary Education

• Jiaozuo No. 1 High School
• Jiaozuo No. 11 High School
• Qinyang No. 1 High School
• Qinyang Yongwei School
• Wuzhi County No. 1 High School
• Wen County No. 1 Senior High School
• Xiuwu County No. 1 High School

9. Population

By the end of 2022, the city's permanent resident population was 3.5235 million, of which the urban permanent resident population was 2.2674 million, and the rural permanent resident population was 1.2561 million. The urbanization rate of the permanent resident population was 64.35%, an increase of 0.62 percentage points from the end of the previous year. The annual birth rate was 7.65‰; the death rate was 7.42‰; and the natural growth rate was 0.23‰.

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population was 3,521,078. Compared with the 3,540,101 people from the Sixth National Population Census, the total population decreased by 19,023 over the ten years, a decline of 0.54%, with an average annual growth rate of -0.05%. Among them, the male population was 1,775,405, accounting for 50.42% of the total population; the female population was 1,745,673, accounting for 49.58% of the total population. The sex ratio of the total population (with females as 100) was 101.7. The population aged 0-14 was 658,766, accounting for 18.71% of the total population; the population aged 15-59 was 2,197,420, accounting for 62.41% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 664,892, accounting for 18.88% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 467,473, accounting for 13.28% of the total population. The urban population was 2,219,389, accounting for 63.03% of the total population; the rural population was 1,301,689, accounting for 36.97% of the total population.

9.1 Ethnic Groups

Among the city's permanent resident population, the Han ethnic group population was 3,451,008, accounting for 98.01%; the population of various ethnic minorities was 70,070, accounting for 1.99%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han ethnic group population decreased by 17,059, a decline of 0.49%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.04 percentage points; the population of various ethnic minorities decreased by 1,964, a decline of 2.73%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.04 percentage points.

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10. Culture

10.1 Dialect

The Jiaozuo dialect lies at the junction of Henan dialect (Central Plains Mandarin) and Shanxi dialect (Jin Chinese). The urban area commonly uses Henan dialect and Mandarin, while the county areas predominantly use the Jiaozuo dialect.

10.2 Tourism

Jiaozuo boasts abundant tourism resources. It is home to 3 national 5A-level scenic areas, 4 national 4A-level scenic areas, and 4 national 3A-level scenic areas. The Taihang Mountains stretch over a hundred kilometers within Jiaozuo, featuring more than 1,000 scenic spots distributed from east to west. In February 2006, the World Tourism Evaluation Center and the Global Secretariat of the World Tourism Promotion Summit awarded Jiaozuo Tourism Service the "World Outstanding Tourism Service Brand," making Jiaozuo the first city in China to receive this honor. The China National Sports Administration and the Henan Provincial Government hold the China Jiaozuo International Tai Chi Exchange Competition in Jiaozuo every four years, which also attracts a large number of tourists.

10.3 Natural Landscapes

• Yuntai Mountain, located north of Xiuwu County, was ranked first among provincial-level scenic spots in Henan in 1987. The Laotan Gully Waterfall, connecting the sky above with the stone plateau below, has a drop of over 310 meters and is spectacular. Wenpan Gorge is hailed as the "Bonsai Gorge." Cultural attractions include the tomb of Emperor Xian of Han and the Summer Resort Platform, the hermitage and writing site of the "Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove" at Baijia Rock, along with relics such as Ji Kang's Sword-Quenching Pool, Liu Ling's Sobering Platform, and Sun Deng's Howling Platform. Zhuyu Peak, with an elevation of over 1,300 meters, is the area where the famous Tang Dynasty poet Wang Wei wrote his poem "Thinking of My Brothers on Mountain-Climbing Day." After an on-site inspection of Yuntai Mountain, Dr. Ed, Director of the Earth Sciences Division of UNESCO, known as the "Father of World Geoparks," remarked:

  "I must admit that Yuntai Mountain is a unique and incomparable geopark. It impresses me as a musical movement, a Beethoven symphony, the most beautiful symphony of mountains and waters."

• Qingtian River, located within Bo'ai County, was approved as a provincial-level scenic area by the Henan Provincial Government in 1990. In 1997, it was rated as one of the "Top Ten Scenic Spots in Henan." The Qingtian River Scenic Area, covering 45.2 square kilometers, consists of five major areas—Ancient Path, Daquan Lake, Yueshan Temple, Shifo Beach, and Fenghuang Ridge—comprising 108 scenic spots.
• Qunying Lake, situated at the forefront of the Taihang Mountains, covers an area of approximately 25 square kilometers, spanning the boundaries of Jiaozuo urban area, Xiuwu County, Bo'ai County, and Jincheng City in Shanxi Province. The scenic spots within Qunying Lake are concentrated and evenly distributed. It features deep and serene rivers and lakes, perilous high mountains and gorges, widespread cliffs and karst caves, and towering strange peaks and rocks. The area includes temples, ancient trees, plateaus, lawns, forests, flowers, and various wild animals and plants, along with numerous historical sites and Chinese mythological legends. The Qunying Lake Dam, with a height of 100.5 meters, is the highest masonry dam in China.
• Wanxian Mountain consists of four parts: Guoliang, Nanping, Luojie Village, and Sanhu. The Guoliang Tunnel is 1,200 meters long, and the natural stone pillars left during its excavation form lighting windows under the cliff. Inside the Red Dragon Cave, White Dragon Cave, and Yellow Dragon Cave of the Wanxian Mountain Scenic Area, stalactites hang upside down in various shapes and forms, each unique and vivid.

10.4 Cultural Landscapes

• Ancient City of Yu State: Located east of Yutai Village, 15 kilometers northwest of Qinyang County. The Yu State was the fiefdom of Marquis E during the Shang Dynasty. During the Western Zhou period, Marquis E moved south, and King Wu of Zhou enfeoffed this land to his son, Yu Shu. Currently, only the northern wall of the site remains, measuring 820 meters in length from east to west, 17-22 meters in width, and 2-7 meters in height. Outside the northwest corner of Yu City lies the ancient tomb complex of the Yu State, which remains unexcavated. About 1 kilometer northwest of Yu City, there is a small town built during the Warring States period and renovated during the Qing Dynasty. The stone inscriptions on the four city gates bear names such as "Yingxu" and "Ancient Yu City." Although little of the city wall remains, stone relics inscribed with "Ancient Yu City" are preserved. It became one of the first batch of provincial-level cultural relic protection units in Henan in June 1963.
• Cliff Carvings of Zhaijian Valley Taiping Temple: Located on the cliffs of Xuangu Mountain, 30 kilometers northwest of Qinyang County, on the northern side of the Taihang Mountains. There are three caves and six niches, carved with statues of Bodhisattvas, Buddhist monks, Taoist priests, heavenly kings, and diamond sutras. One cave features 1,251 statues carved on its four walls, dating from the Tang to Qing dynasties. It became one of the first batch of provincial-level cultural relic protection units in Henan in June 1963.
• Han Yu's Tomb: Located 6 kilometers west of Mengzhou City, north of the Luoyang-Changping Highway, at the foot of the southern slope of Zijin Mountain. It is a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit in Henan and a national 3A-level tourist attraction, covering an area of over 100 mu. It is the tomb of Han Yu, the foremost of the Eight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song dynasties.
• Yueshan Temple: Located in Yueshan Town, Bo'ai County, originally named Mingyue Mountain Temple. Its main attractions include Lianhuan Well, Seven-Star Pagoda, Wangjing Platform, Golden Rooster Crow, and Canggong Cave. Historically, Yueshan Temple was known as one of the three major temples in the Central Plains alongside White Horse Temple and Shaolin Temple. It is the birthplace of Bajiquan and the largest Buddhist activity site in northern Henan.
• Jiaying Temple: Located 12 kilometers southeast of Wuzhi County, 35 kilometers from Jiaozuo urban area, covering a total area of 9.3 square kilometers. It was built by Emperor Yongzheng to worship the River God and honor历代治河功臣 (meritorious officials in river management throughout history). Construction began in the first year of Yongzheng's reign (1723) and took four years to complete. The complex includes the Mountain Gate, Imperial Stele Pavilion, Hall of Meritorious Officials in River Management, Central Hall, and Yu Wang Pavilion.
• Jiaozuo Film and Television City: It showcases the historical features of Huaxia culture during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, recreating the style of rammed-earth platforms from the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. Many historical dramas set from the Three Dynasties and ancient times to the Wei and Jin dynasties have been filmed here. Located on Fenghuang Mountain in the northern suburbs of Jiaozuo City, it is a large-scale film and television production base jointly built by China Central Television and the Jiaozuo Municipal Government. It is 1 kilometer from Jiaozuo urban area, covers an area of 2 square kilometers, and has a building area of 150,000 square meters, ranking first among the four major film and television cities in China.
• Jiaozuo Museum.

10.5 National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units

• Fucheng Site
• Tomb of Zhu Zaiyu
• Three Saints Pagoda of Tianning Temple
• Miaole Temple Pagoda
• Jiaying Temple
• Cisheng Temple
• Ancient City of Shanyang
• Dangyangyu Kiln Site
• Tomb of Han Yu
• Shengguo Temple Pagoda
• Baijia Rock Temple Pagoda
• Qinyang North Great Mosque
• Thousand Buddha Pavilion
• Qingtian River Cliff Carvings
• Xubao Ancient City Site
• Xijincheng Site
• Shangcun Site
• Ancient City of Yu State
• Zenling Tomb of Emperor Xian of Han
• Tomb of Xu Heng
• Main Hall of Yaowang Temple
• Xiansheng Wang Temple
• Ancient Architectural Complex of Zhaibuchang Village
• Qinglong Palace
• Xiguan Mosque
• Zhaijian Valley Taiping Temple Grottoes
• Arabic Inscription Stele of Shuinguan Mosque

11. Sister Cities

Kyrgyzstan Jaiyl District (2001) Poland Lublin (2005) Brazil Paliçosa (2007) South Korea Chungju City (2013) Canada Thunder Bay (2017)

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Liberated Areas

Wuzhi County

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