周口市

Why this place

Zhoukou is the place from which the Chen surname — one of the largest Chinese surnames — is said to descend, and its Chen family temple draws people from all over the world who come to trace their ancestry. It is a flat, agricultural city in eastern Henan.

What to see

• The Chen Mausoleum (Chen Hugong tomb) and the surname-origin park at Huaiyang
• The Fu Xi mausoleum at Huaiyang — the legendary emperor's tomb, and a major pilgrimage site
• The Shaying River and the old county towns of the plain

What to eat

• Henan plain cooking — braised meats, wheat noodles and pickles
• Huaiyang is known for its 'Chenzhou' braised dishes

Best time

April–May and September–October; the Fu Xi festival is in the second lunar month