Huaihai Plain

Located on the Central Plains in the middle eastern part of China, Henan, literally "to the south of the River" in Chinese, got its name by having most of her area to the south of the Yellow River. It is also named "Central Plains" or "Central China", with the short form of "Yu". The Yellow River sees Taihang Mountains lying to its north, from northeast to southwest, as well as the east stretch of Qinling Mountain range lying to its south.

As a channel connecting the east and the west, the Yellow River basin, through which the famous Silk Road extends westward along with the second Eurasia Continental railway system consisting of Longhai railway and Lanxin railway, connects with the Central Shaanxi Plain and reaches out directly into the Northwest China, and then to west Asia.

The west part of Henan is higher than the east, geographically. In the west stand the Taihang Mountains and the Yuxi Mountains, the latter being the eastern extension of the Qinling Mountain range which fans out eastward. The Funiu Mountain, 1000-2000 meters above sea level, is recognized as the roof of Henan. In the southern part of the province lie the Tongbai Mountains and the Dabie Mountains with an average height of less than 1000 meters. They serve as the watershed of the Huaihe River and the Yangtze River. Along the Yellow River between the Taihang Mountains and the Yuxi Mountains disperse hilly loess lands. In the center of Henan stands the towering Songshan Mountain. In the east part of the province stretches the vast Huanghuai Plain.

Henan is located in the transition belt from the subtropical zone to the temperate zone. It has a mild climate with an annual average temperature of 9.5 to 15.5°C from north to south, a moderate annual rainfall of 1380.6 to 526.0 millimeters, and a frost-free period of 265 to 332 days.

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