HENAN WHERE CHINA
BEGAN
Unravel the
lesser known Henan
If you are looking to take the
off-beaten path, Henan, in China promises a unique experience
If you haven't heard of
Henan, blame it on the enormity of China or on other great cities that have
overshadowed it. Located in central China, Henan is an ancient gem not to be
overlooked. Once upon a time it was China's cultural, economical, and political
capital. Deemed as the 'Cradle of Chinese Civilization', the remains of some of
the earliest human settlements have been unearthed here, some of which date
over 8000 years back! Henan, also known as the 'Cultural and Natural Museum of
China' has over 1.3 million pieces of relics that are housed in the national
museum in Henan. Of the 45 world heritage sites to date, three can be found in
Henan Province: the Longmen Grottoes, Yin Xu and the "Historic Monuments
of Dengfeng." Four of the Eight Great Ancient Capitals of China, Luoyang,
Anyang, Kaifeng, and Zhengzhou are also located in Henan. Xi'an which houses
the tens of thousands of life-sized terracotta soldiers and horses; as well as
the mysterious Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor is less than a two hours train
journey from Henan.
Home to the world's most famous Buddhist monastery, Henan's
Shaolin Temple established in 495 A.D. is the birthplace of Chinese Kung Fu and
has been recognised as the origin of Chan Buddhism. World over, multiple movies
have been produced with Kung Fu warriors engaging in spectacular fighting
skills, however the beginnings of Shaolin stem from a far more tranquil
resplendence. The first version of Kung Fu was merely a form of calisthenics to
refresh the bodies and minds of the Shaolin monks. But from these beginnings,
the infusion of the monks' devotion transcended their simple exercises into one
of the most formidable martial art the world has ever seen. Today, it is a
pilgrimage site for martial arts clubs across the globe.
Food is an integral part of any travel experience and Henan
caters to all genres of foodies - including vegetarians! Did you know the monks
at the Shaolin monastery are vegetarians and that there is a cuisine known as
Shaolin vegetarian food that combines seasonal produce with staples such as
bamboo shoots, mushrooms, soybean products and fresh fruit? Other popular
vegetarian dishes to try in Henan are Kaifeng Chao Liang Fen and Mashed Sweet
Potato.
For those who prefer alternatives to vegetarian food, the Yellow
River Croaker is a popular seafood item. Another delicacy to try here is the
Kaifeng Tao Si Bao - a traditional poultry dish, commonly referred to as “Four
Treasure,” uses chicken, duck, pigeon and quail. The quail is stuffed in the
pigeon, which is stuffed in the chicken and then stuffed in the duck!
If you want to go traditional, try the Luoyang Shui Xi
(literally means the water banquet), a traditional feast served over a thousand
years ago. One third of the courses consist of soup, hence the name. First
called Wu Empress Banquet, the name was changed during the Song Dynasty to
Water Banquet. The Tang court astrologer, Yuan Tiangang, had foresaw Wu Zetian
becoming the empress. However, unable to divulge this prediction, he created
the 24 course Water Banquet to symbolize a different part of Wu Zetian’s life.
Each dish is served one after the other, symbolizing the water flowing.
With breath-taking landscape, rich cultural and historical
heritage and great food options in Henan, tourists are in for a wholesome
treat.
ET12APR18
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