Zhengzhou offers great base from which to explore sights and sounds of Henan province and the surrounding region

Zhengzhou is fast becoming the major logistics hub for central China, making it an ideal location for visitors who want to be able to take in all of the sights and sounds of Henan province and the surrounding region. The city itself has three remarkable sites, the Henan Provincial Museum, Shang dynasty ruins and Erqi Square. The museum is a treasure trove of artefacts reflecting thousands of years of history and civilisation, while the square shows off Zhengzhou's more modern identity, paying homage to the Communist Party and also serving as the central night market and daytime park for Zhengzhou's residents.

The ruins demonstrate the enduring strength of the Chinese civilisation and its ancient roots in cities beside the Yellow River. The Hang dynasty ruled this part of China more than 4,000 years ago and is considered one of the earliest civilisations in the world.

But the best of what Zhengzhou has to offer is just a short drive outside the city centre. Mount Song and the famed Shaolin Temple are but an hour's drive away, near the small city of Dengfeng. There are many bus connections to Dengfeng from Zhengzhou, as well as private car and taxi services. The temple is one of the oldest in the country and famous for its martial arts and Zen Buddhist tradition. Near the temple and also at the foot of Mount Song is the Songshan Academy, founded more than 1,000 years ago. The academy is open to visitors and provides an intriguing glimpse into the Confucian values and education system that produced so many learned men over the centuries.

Another martial arts related site is the village of Chenjiagou, the birthplace of tai chi. This small community near Zhengzhou has been the centre of martial arts and kung fu for tai chi practitioners for centuries. Only an hour from Zhengzhou, this village and the martial arts school in the centre of town are incredibly important to Chinese martial arts and a great place to visit for those interested in Chinese culture.

Also just an hour away is the city of Kaifeng. For a look back at China's historical and imperial legacy, Kaifeng as a wonderful place to visit. From Zhengzhou it is easy to access the Yellow River, long revered as China's mother river. The Yellow River flows close by Zhengzhou and there are numerous parks and restaurants along the riverside with great views of the most important waterway to Chinese civilisation. Zhengzhou's role as the central hub for most of the traffic coming in and out of Henan province has led to great strides for the tourism industry. Places that would ordinarily be difficult to visit for those from outside Henan and China are now accessible due to improvements in road and rail connections, better transport options, and upgrades to the food and hospitality sector.