logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2024
57m 16s

AT#923 - Travel to Central China

CHRIS CHRISTENSEN
About this episode

Hear about travel to Central China as the Amateur Traveler talks to Larry Fan, who was born in the city of Zhengzhou and recently returned to explore his birth country.

Why should you go to Central China?

Larry says, ”

“I think it’s particularly special because it’s considered the cradle of Chinese civilization. Xi’an was the first imperial capital of China. Zhengzhou also happened to be one of the first capitals of the Shang dynasty. Kaifeng and Luoyang, which are two other cities I’ll talk about, had also served as capitals of China during various times. It’s a very influential area for Chinese civilization and often not as much talked about versus places like Beijing, Shanghai. Etc. ”

Larry recommends a 7-10 day itinerary for visiting central China, covering historical and cultural highlights in Henan Province and Xi’an. Here’s the detailed breakdown of his suggested itinerary:

Days 1-2: Zhengzhou (Capital of Henan Province)

Day 1: Zhengzhou City Tour

  1. Henan Museum
  • Spend 2-3 hours learning about the region’s history from the Shang to Tang dynasties.
  1. Guancheng Muslim District
  • Visit the Beidajie Mosque (North Big Mosque), a Yuan dynasty mosque with Chinese architectural influences.
  • Try local food like Xi’an torn bread with lamb soup (羊肉泡饃).
  1. Shang Dynasty Relic Park
  • Explore ruins of the Shang Dynasty’s capital, including city walls over 3,000 years old.
  1. People’s Park
  • Relax in the park and experience local activities like dancing and exercise.
  1. Erqi Memorial Tower (Feb 7th Square)
  • Learn about the area’s historical ties to railroad workers and admire the twin tower.
  1.  Zhengdong New Area (CBD)
  • Visit the modern Central Business District featuring the iconic Corncob Building.


...

https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-central-china/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Up next
Jul 5
AT#952 - Travel to Samoa
Hear about travel to the island nation of Samoa as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jonty Crane from Jonty Travels about his recent trip biking around the country. Why should you go to Samoa? Jonty says, "Samoa is a small island in the Pacific. If you imagine a tropical Pacific para ... Show More
1h 6m
Jun 28
AT#951 - Travel to Northern Iceland
Hear about travel to Northern Iceland as the Amateur Traveler talks to Monika from PlanPackExplore.com about her recent trip through the center of Iceland to the less-visited northern part of the country. Why should you visit Northern Iceland? Monika says, "I'm a self-proclaimed ... Show More
58m 45s
Jun 21
AT#950 - Rafting the Grand Canyon with Western River Expeditions
Hear about rafting the Grand Canyon for seven days as the Amateur Traveler talks about this bucket list trip sponsored by Western River Expeditions. In this solo (but not really solo) episode of Amateur Traveler, host Chris Christensen recounts a seven-day rafting adventure down ... Show More
1h 15m
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2021
Toby Lincoln, "An Urban History of China" (Cambridge UP, 2021)
In An Urban History of China (Cambridge UP, 2021), Toby Lincoln offers the first history of Chinese cities from their origins to the present. Despite being an agricultural society for thousands of years, China had an imperial urban civilization. Over the last century, this urban ... Show More
1h 32m
Jun 9
[BEST OF] The History of Modern China
From the Taiping and Boxer Rebellions, to the Chinese Revolution and Civil War, through the Long March and the rise of Mao Zedong, to the Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution, all the way to Deng's Reform and China today, Professor of East Asian and Global History Dr. Ken H ... Show More
7 h
Jan 2024
Season 3, Episode 3: Jessica Rawson, Life and Afterlife in Ancient China
Join Professor Jeffrey Sachs and Jessica Rawson, one of the world’s most eminent scholars of China, as they discuss Rawson’s book, Life and Afterlife in Ancient China. Listen in to learn about the roots of Chinese civilization through the stories of twelve grand tombs, each helpi ... Show More
44m 21s
Jul 2024
Delhi
In episode eight of our series exploring the great historical cities of Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas, travel writer Paul Bloomfield is joined by Professor Chandrika Kaul as they guide us through the bustling streets, markets, temples, mosques, and forts of Delhi. Togethe ... Show More
29m 40s
Jan 2020
China in the Middle East: Part One
In the first episode of our new podcast miniseries, China in the Middle East, Jon Alterman gives an overview of Chinese policy in the Middle East and how the Middle East fits into China’s worldview. Jon also sits down with Doug Paal, Dean Cheng, Sulmaan Khan, and Evan Medeiros fo ... Show More
21m 38s
Mar 2025
The Forbidden City
Nestled deep in the heart of Beijing, the Forbidden City stands as one of the world’s greatest architectural marvels. Built in the early 15th century as the secretive seat of imperial rule, it’s the largest palace complex anywhere in the world, and the biggest wooden structure on ... Show More
1h 5m
Jan 2024
Boxer Rebellion and the End of China
In the Boxer Rebellion of 1900, a Chinese secret organization called the Society of the Righteous and Harmonious Fists led an uprising in northern China against the spread of Western and Japanese influence there. The rebels, referred to by Westerners as Boxers because they perfor ... Show More
55m 26s
Jul 2024
Cairo
In episode six of our series exploring the great historical cities of Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas, travel writer Paul Bloomfield is joined by Professor Doris Behrens-Abouseif as they journey through the diverse historic quarters of Cairo. Together, they explore its root ... Show More
42m 45s
Mar 2024
Pinyin: The man who helped China to read and write
In 1958, a brand new writing system was introduced in China called Pinyin. It used the Roman alphabet to help simplify Chinese characters into words. The mastermind behind Pinyin was a professor called Zhou Youguang who'd previously worked in the United States as a banker. Pinyin ... Show More
9m 50s