City Introduction

Jiaozuo possesses rich tourism resources,ideal geographic location and historical and cultural heritage left over a few thousand years make its rich and distinctive sights. Yuntai Mountain, the first national AAAAA-level scenic spot, leads the list of natural beauties, with Hongshixia (redstone gorge) receiving the most acclaim. In addition, it boasts such scenic spots as Qing Tian River, Qing Long Cape, and Shen Nong Mountain which belong to the Taihang Mountain Range, as well as historical and cultural sites like Jiaying Taoist Temple, JiaoZuo Film and TV City and memorial park of Han Yu.

 

 

 

 

History and Culture

It’s where the Chinese ancestors lived and the original places of mythology of ancient China like Pan Gu who created heaven and earth, Fuxi –Nvwa marriage, Nvwa mending the sky, Yellow Emperor with the mandate of heaven defeating tribal leader Chiyou and Da Yu who tamed the flood. By the end of primitive society, Huaichuan civilization at the middle reaches of the Yellow River had already drew the attention of various tribes and emerged as the heartland of Huaxia people (Chinese people). Jiaozuo was the launch pad of Shangtang Revolution, the frontline base of King Wu on his expedition against despotic Zhou, the basis for Emperor Guangwu of Later Han dynasty’s revival ambition, as well as the sacred place of metaphysical idle talk and Tai Chi culture. China’s water conservancy and vacation resort cultures can find their roots here; China’s 46 family names and three major Japanese surnames Sakagami, Kura, Harada can trace their origin in Jiaozuo. The site of Shennong tasting various kinds of herbal medicines, distinguishing corns and offering sacrifice to the Heaven and peregrination destination of Sun Simiao, King of Medicine, signify Jiaozuo as the birthplace of ancient agriculture and traditional Chinese medicine. The large quantity of ceramics unearthed and the Dangyangyu ceramics site lend evidence to Huaichuan as the cradle of ceramic culture; Xia Xiao Zheng issued by Da Yu, China's first calendar reflecting the development of animal husbandry and agriculture in Xia; Tai Chi that originated at Chenjiagou, and fist positions of baji and yuan (ape) from the Yueshan temple and Jingying temple frame a burgeoning era of Yellow Emperor when China’s farming, residential building, fishing and hunting, weaving, water storage and pottery-making took shape and Chinese people’s creativity flourished. The Yellow Emperor harbored great respect for “science,” bestowing official title and awards to inventors. He would appoint someone with specialties to take charge of a particular field, best utilizing their talents. Jiaozuo was used to be the fiefdom of Ning. Ning, a person’s name, was the tribal chief of Jiaozuo area. The area was also called “Ning Yi” (Ning Fiefdom). Today, Xiuwu is short for “Ning” and Yuntai Mountain, “Ning Beishan” (the mountain stands to the north of Ning), which can be traced back to the cultural origin.

 

 

 

 

Natural Environment

Located at the northwestern part of Henan Province, in the foothills at the southern end of the Taihang Mountains, Jiaozuo sits 112°43′31″ to 113°38′35″east longitude and 34°49′03″ to 35°29′45″north latitude, bordering with Shanxi Province to the north, overlooking Zhengzhou across the Yellow River to the south, and neighboring Xinxiang city and Luoyang to the east and west respectively. Its jurisdiction covers a total area of 4,071.0 km2, 102.05km from east to west and 75.43km from north to south, with downtown area of 424 km2 It is located at the transitional area between Taihang Mountain and Yubei Plain. Its topography consists of plain and mountainous region, with terrain tilting southeastward from the northwestern direction, and gradually descending north to south. The landscape exhibits pronounced feature of stepwise regression from mountainous region in the north to flat plain to the south. Its landform features (from north to the south): Mountainous region-hilly land-diluvial plain with mountains looming behind- low-lying area-Xunfeng Mountain highland-Qin River flood land- Yellow and QinRiver alluvial plain-ancient Yellow River flood land-Qingfeng Mountain highland-Yellow River flood land (Yellow River ribbon-shaped diluvial plain)

 

 

 

 

Climate Change

At middle latitude, Jiaozuo falls in the category of temperate continental monsoon climate, with cold winter, warm summer, pleasant spring and cool autumn. It enjoys four distinct seasons, rain and heat occurring simultaneously. Average annual temperature is 15.2℃ (that of administered counties and cities: 14.2-14.6℃); annual precipitation is 568.5 mm (that of administered counties and cities: 538.2-586.9 mm); precipitation of flood season (June – August) makes up 51 to 58% of annual amount.

 

 

 

 

Useful Information

Transportation route and road Jiaozuo has three bus terminals:

1. Long-distance passenger transport east station, on the intersection between Jiefang road and northeastern corner of Wenchang road. It mainly operates medium-to-long distance routes across provinces and cities like Jiaozuo to Xinxiang, Zhengzhou, Luoyang, Jinan, Jincheng (highway), Changzhi (highway), Jiyuan (highway), Yuanyang, Changyuan, Hebi, Daokou, Jiaohu, Anzhuang, Kaifeng, Yongcheng, Luohe, Lingbao, Mengzhou and Wulongkou. Multiple muni buses can get to the long-distance passenger transport east station

2. Jiaozuo long-distance bus terminal, located at the southern end of Tanan road. As the central bus station of Jiaozuo, it not only operates intra-provincial lines but also routes to Guangzhou, Xi’an, Beijing and Tianjin, as well as lines to Hefei, Xiangfan and Shenzhen. Muni lines of 7, 13, 16, 18, 21, 23 and 37 can get to Jiaozuo long-distance bus terminal

3. Jiaozuo tour bus terminal, located on the eastern side of Tongma. Its name implies its role as the gathering point of tour bus and coach. Passengers can board bus here bound for Yuntai Mountain and other scenic spots in the surrounding area of Jiaozuo. It’s fast and convenient.

It reachable by multiple muni bus lines Jiaozuo – Yuntai Mountain:

1. One Jiaozuo-Yuntai Mountain muni bus leaves every morning at 7:30 with running time of 30 minutes; bus fare of 15 yuan and running time are subject to road condition and season. One Xinxiang- Yuntai Mountain mini bus apiece leaves at 7:30 am and 1:20 pm each day.

2. Passengers can ride bus No.21 to railway station, then transferring to bus No.3 to get off at Fangzhuang before taking a tax to climb the Yuntai Mountain. Taxi fare: 50 yuan.

3. Spend 60 yuan riding taxi to Yuntai Mountain from downtown Jiaozuo.

Zhengzhou – Yuntai Mountain:

A single Zhengzhou – Yuntai Mountain departure at 7:20 am; Yuntai Mountain- Zhengzhou at 4:40 pm each day. It’s not very convenient. Railway: On the key node of passage across the Yellow River, Jiaozuo is the transit hub between Shanxi and Henan Province, a vital materials distribution center in the northwestern part of Henan. Three passenger arteries of Jiaozuo-Liuzhou, Jiaozuo-Taiyuan and Jiaozuo-Xinxiang pass through its domain, accessible by railway transportation. There is no direct railway line between Zhengzhou and Jiaozuo, with less frequent departures. It’s more costly than road; as a result, we don’t recommend riding train. Air travel: Jiaozuo doesn’t have an airport. The single-dparture shuttle bus bound for Zhengzhou Xinzheng airport departs at 8:00 am each day from Dongfanghong Square of downtown Jiaozuo; it returns from Zhengzhou Xinzheng airport at 5:00 pm each day. Fare: 50 yuan/person Passengers can spend 20 yuan riding Zhengzhou Xinzheng airport-bound bus to Zhengzhou passenger transport terminal with running time of 40 minutes, and then changing to Jiaozuo-bound bus for 40 yuan with running time of 2 hours.

 

 

 

 

Notes

The best time to Yuntai Mountain, and notices: Considering the tourists crowds, you’d better book hotel reservation in advance when traveling on holidays and weekends. Considering holiday crowd, traffic congestion, and associated problems of ticket checking in and sightseeing, you’d better depart early. In the event of tight schedule, you could skip Wanshan Temple and rhesus monkey valley. Power outage often occurs because power shortage on Yuntai Mountain. Wear water-proof clothes and anti-slip shoes when you travel to Yuntai Mountain. Considering lower temperature in morning and evening, you’d better prepare a thin coat.