Henan Province is considered the cradle of Chinese civilization and the heartland of the Chinese nation, serving as the historical and cultural center of China. From the Xia and Shang dynasties onwards, more than 20 dynasties have established or moved their capitals to this central region. Among the eight great ancient capitals of China, four are located in Henan: Luoyang, Kaifeng, Anyang, and Zhengzhou. Henan is also the birthplace of numerous philosophical schools, including Daoism, Mohism, Legalism, and the School of Names, as well as the origins of Central Plains culture, Heluo culture, Chinese characters, surname culture, root-seeking culture, martial arts, and opera culture. Henan holds the top spot in China for its number of underground cultural relics, museum collections, and nationally protected heritage sites.

One of the most famous landmarks in Henan is the Shaolin Temple on Mount Song, renowned worldwide as a Buddhist monastery and the birthplace of Shaolin Kung Fu. It has become a cultural symbol representing China on the global stage. Another significant site is the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, a treasure trove of Chinese stone-carving art and one of the four major grottoes in China.

Yinxu in Anyang is the archaeological site of the late Shang dynasty capital, recognized as the first confirmed ancient capital in Chinese history. Meanwhile, the Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden in Kaifeng is a large-scale theme park that recreates the scenes depicted in the famous painting “Along the River During the Qingming Festival.” It vividly brings to life the bustling splendor of ancient Bianjing, now Kaifeng, showcasing its historical grandeur.