If you could pick only one place to understand China, it would be Henan. Cradle of Chinese civilisation, hometown of oracle‑bone inscriptions and one of the eastern starting‑points of the Silk Road, Henan boasts four ancient capitals, multiple UNESCO World Heritage Sites and geoparks, as well as magnificent landscapes. While studying here, your classroom stretches far beyond campus walls.
Why Henan?
Located in central China, Henan enjoys convenient high‑speed‑rail connections. Beijing, Xi’an and Wuhan are all reachable within two hours, yet the cost of studying here is much lower than in first‑tier cities. Universities including Zhengzhou University and Henan University offer international‑student scholarships covering Chinese‑language courses, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programmes. Most importantly, half of China’s history you read about in textbooks took place on this land.
Lessons on‑site at the birthplace of civilisation
At the Yin Ruins in Anyang, you may get close to 3,000‑year‑old oracle‑bone inscriptions — the origin of Chinese characters and the only surviving writing system among the world’s four ancient scripts. The Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, feature over 100,000 statues stretching one kilometre along the Yi River, forming a stone‑carved chronicle of Chinese sculpture.
In Kaifeng, Millennium City Park brings the famous Northern‑Song painting Along the River During the Qingming Festival to life. Stepping inside, you become part of the artwork. Beneath Kaifeng’s Dragon Pavilion lie the ruins of six successive imperial capitals.
A journey of kung‑fu, zen and spiritual culture
At the foot of Mount Song in Dengfeng lies the Shaolin Temple, a global sacred site for martial‑arts lovers. Shaolin Kung‑fu is inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List. International students can join special martial‑arts training programmes and begin each day amid morning bells and evening chants. The White Horse Temple in Luoyang, China’s first official Buddhist temple, is known as “the cradle of Chinese Buddhism”. Nearby, Guanlin is the burial site of Guan Yu, the legendary Three‑Kingdoms general. Exploring these two sites offers deep insight into the spiritual world of Chinese people.
Nature as your classroom
Henan is far more than history. Yuntai Mountain Geopark in the north features the spectacular Red‑Stone Gorge, nicknamed “Landscape‑in‑a‑pot”. The Daimei Mountain Geopark in Xin’an records 1.2‑billion‑year geological changes and serves as a natural outdoor laboratory for geology and geography students.
- Funiu Mountain Geopark: Home to dinosaur‑egg fossils and primeval forests, a treasure‑house for biology and ecology research.
- Baiyun Mountain: Host to Yuhuangding, the highest peak in the Central Plains, famous for sea‑of‑clouds views, waterfalls and alpine lakes with scenery changing across four seasons.
- Red Flag Canal: Known as the “Man‑made Heavenly River”, a great 20th‑century engineering wonder and a living textbook of Chinese spirit.
- Cockscomb Cave: The finest karst cave in northern China, a natural geology classroom.
- Chongdugou & Muzhaling: Bamboo forests, waterfalls and ancient woodlands, ideal relaxing getaways in the Central Plains.
- Yunmeng Mountain, Liulong Mountain & Shiyazi Mountain: Secluded western‑Henan sites where the ancient strategist Guiguzi once taught his disciples, offering wonderful off‑the‑beaten‑path hiking trails.
- “During weekdays we learn Chinese language and history; on weekends we step right into our textbooks.” — An international student studying in Luoyang
A vivid, authentic student life
Henan hosts wonderful festivals year‑round: the Luoyang Peony Festival, Kaifeng Chrysanthemum Fair, Shaolin International Martial‑arts Festival and many more. Affordable local delicacies such as spicy soup, braised noodles and steamed soup dumplings fit comfortably into international‑student budgets. From Zhengzhou, you can reach Shaolin Temple in one hour and the Longmen Grottoes in two hours. Taking a weekend trip to an ancient millennium‑old capital becomes a regular part of student life in Henan.
