Chinese Kun Fu Expetts in Shaolin Temple China.

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Henan

Affluent Chinese may roll their eyes at the mention of slow-moving and impoverished Henan (河南, Hénán), but the province’s heritage takes us back to the earliest days of Chinese antiquity. Ancient capitals rose and fell in Henan’s north, where the capricious Yellow River (Huáng Hé) nourished the flowering of a great civilisation.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • SHAOLIN TEMPLE, CHINA - JANUARY 10, 2017: The Chinese architect building with local people, Henan; Shutterstock ID 2051641661; your: Bridget Brown; gl: 65050; netsuite: Online Editorial; full: POI Image Update

    Shaolin Scenic Area

    Henan

    The largely rebuilt Shaolin Temple is a commercialised victim of its own incredible success. A frequent target of war, the ancestral home of wǔshù was…

  • Luoyang, China - June 19, 2008: Tourists take photos in front of the massive stone carvings of Buddha at the Longmen Grottoes.

    Longmen Grottoes

    Henan

    The ravaged grottoes at Longmen constitute one of China’s handful of surviving masterpieces of Buddhist rock carving. A sutra in stone, the epic…

  • Temple of the Chief Minister

    Temple of the Chief Minister

    Henan

    First founded in AD 555, this frequently rebuilt temple vanished along with Kaifeng in the early 1640s, when rebels breached the Yellow River’s dykes…

  • Ancient Tombs Museum

    Ancient Tombs Museum

    Henan

    This superb but little-visited museum has three main exhibits: 20 reconstructed tombs (spanning five main dynasties, or over 1000 years), re-created using…

  • Long Corridor in the Cliffs

    Long Corridor in the Cliffs

    Henan

    This tunnel on the cusp of Guoliang village offers a closer perspective on the plunging cliffs, with dramatic views carved through the rock. The tunnel…

  • Chinese Kun Fu Expetts in Shaolin Temple China.

    Shaolin Temple

    Henan

    The largely rebuilt Shaolin Temple is a commercialised victim of its own incredible success. A frequent target of war, the ancestral home of wǔshù was…

  • White Horse Temple

    White Horse Temple

    Henan

    Although its original structures have all been replaced and older Buddhist shrines may have vanished, this vast, active monastery outside Luoyang is…

  • Taishi Shan

    Taishi Shan

    Henan

    Arguably the best hike in the area, Taishi Shan serves as a much quieter counterpoint to Shaolin Temple. It's not for slackers, however; like all Chinese…

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Articles

Latest stories from Henan

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Colourful Buddhas and animal motifs adorn the grottoes at Yungang © Mark Brandon / Shutterstock

Art

China’s Buddhist caves: the enduring art of the Silk Road

Mar 22, 2019 • 8 min read

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