Xuchang
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Xuchang (许昌) is a city in central Henan Province 82 kilometers from the provincial capital Zhengzhou in China.
Understand
The name of the city dates back all the way to the Spring and Autumn period of the Zhou Dynasty, and it was named after a tribal leader "xuyou".
The city has served as capital of the Wei Kingdom in the Three Kingdoms period.
Xuchang served as the warlord Cao Cao's de facto capital during the late Eastern Han Dynasty. After finding the old capital Luoyang ravaged by war, Cao moved the imperial court and Emperor Xian to what is now Xuchang in 196.
In 220, Cao Cao's son and successor Cao Pi officially declared the city as the capital of the newly established state of Cao Wei. The city was renamed "Xuchang", meaning "Xu Rising". The Wei emperors held court at Xuchang until the capital was moved to Luoyang in the 220s.
Get in
Xuchang is on the main Beijing - Guangzhou Railway line which traverses Guangdong, Hunan, Hubei, Henan, Hebei provinces and Beijing. The line carries normal trains and high-speed G trains.
Xuchang has two train stations: the older Xuchang Train Station that accommodates slower trains, and the new high-speed-rail Xuchang East Railway Station.
The high-speed train from Zhengzhou is a 20-minute ride, while Anyang is an hour and a half ride. The slow trains from Zhengzhou take an hour, and 3½ hours from Anyang.
Some long-distance buses from Luoyang stop in Xuchang.
Get around
Like in all major cities around Henan Province, the local buses cost only 1 Yuan.
See
Spring and Autumn Pavilion (春秋楼)(Chunqiu lou). In front of Chunqiu Square. The Spring and Autumn Tower is a Ming and Qing style building complex located in the middle section of the Wenmiao Qian Jie in downtown Xuchang. It was built in 1271 for the general Guanyu of the Shu Kingdom. Entrance fee: ¥22.
Wenfeng Tower (文峰塔) Built in Ming Dynasty, its considered a cultural relic here in the province. As of July 2017, it is under renovation. Very near to Xuchang museum.
Baling Bridge(灞陵桥)
Do
Xuchang Museum Archeological findings from the area can be found here. Items from the paleolithic Xuchang man can be found here, as well as items from the Spring and Autumn period and Eastern Han Dynasty. Good for understanding a bit of the Bronze Age in China.
Hucheng Canal is an ancient canal that frames an old neighborhood inside weidu district. Weidu meaning capital of Wei. North from the main train station, about 2 or 3 minutes walk. Check out lotus blossom during July - August.
Buy
Eat
Food here are mainly the same dishes found throughout Henan Province. Those include Hui Mian (烩面), Hu La Tang (胡辣汤), Daokou Shaoji (道口烧鸡), Xiao Su Rou (小酥肉).
Barbecue here is not recommended. If you want a good one, go to the provincial capital, Zhengzhou. Restaurant chains include: Xiaofeiyang (小肥羊), Burger King, and Pizza Hut.
Drink
Kou le (口乐). A local soda beverage made of sweet-sour plum juice. It was intent to be known as the local Coca-Cola, hence the name Kou Le (Coca-Cola in Chinese is Ke le).
Sleep
Connect
Go next
Yuzhou (禹州)is a small county level city 40 minutes by bus towards northwest. Take a walk around the old city moat, and see what remains of the old city walls in the Northeast.
Provincial capital Zhengzhou to the north.