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驻马店市

zhù mǎ diàn · Zhumadian

The central plain's farming heartland, and the Chayashan mountains

Why this place

Zhumadian is a farming city in southern Henan, and its Chaya Mountain is one of the strangest landscapes in the province — a cluster of huge granite boulders piled into a maze, which is why it is sometimes called the first of the 'rock' mountains.

What to see

  • Chaya Mountain and its granite boulder fields
  • The Suya Lake and the reservoirs of the plain
  • The old county towns and the Song-dynasty kiln sites of the area

What to eat

  • Henan wheat cooking — noodles, steamed buns and braised dishes
  • Zhumadian is known for its sesame seed oil and its small sesame cakes

Best time

April–May and September–October

河南省 · Henan China Guide