Shangqiu, Administrative center in eastern Henan, China
Shangqiu is a major administrative center in eastern Henan, located on the North China Plain. The city sits at the junction of important railway lines that connect multiple regions across the country.
The city served as the first capital of the Shang Dynasty around 1600 to 1046 BC, establishing it as a birthplace of Chinese civilization. This period set the foundation for the region's later cultural and political development.
The Suiyang old town displays residential houses and courtyards from the Ming Dynasty, with their traditional construction methods still visible to visitors. Walking through these structures offers a glimpse into how people organized their living spaces in that era.
The city is accessible via multiple railway lines that connect it to other parts of China, making arrival and departure straightforward. Its central location makes it easy to travel onward to other destinations.
Legend credits Cangjie, a mythical figure, with inventing Chinese characters in this very location. This connection makes the city a symbolic birthplace of the Chinese writing system.
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