Name: The People's Republic of China
Capital: Beijing
Largest City: Shanghai
President: Xi Jinping

Land Area: 9.59 million square km.
Area Comparative: slightly larger than the U.S.
Population: 1,357,380,000 (2013 estimate)
Climate: extremely diverse; ranging from tropical in south to subarctic in north

Currency: Renminbi (Yuan) (¥) (CNY)
Exchange Rate: 6.24 Renminbi = 1.00 USD
GDP: $9.469 trillion (2013 estimate)

China is a country that inspires both awe and reverence. It is a country of contrasts: rich and poor, open spaces and planned communities, the modern and the ancient. It is a nation rich in culture, just waiting to be explored!

Henan Province lies in the heart of China. The eastern portion is flat and is part of the North China Plain, one of the most densely populated areas on Earth. Indeed, Henan is the most populous province in China, with over 100 million people. The mountainous west and southwest is more remote and has vast expanses of forest. The Yellow River (Huang He) flows through Henan and is considered the mother river of China. 

Henan is also the birthplace of the Chinese nation, the cradle of China's 5000-year-long civilization. From around the 21st century B.C. to the 12th century A.D., more than 200 emperors from over 20 dynasties set up their capitals in (or moved their capitals to) Henan, making it the ancient political, economic, and cultural center of China. Henan's famous historical and cultural cities include Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, Luoyang, Anyang, Nanyang, Shangqiu, Sanmenxia, Pingdingshan, and Xinxiang.

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