Explore Zhengzhou, China

The provincial city of Zhengzhou is a rapidly modernising metropolis with few relics remaining from its ancient past following the heavy bombing it received in the Second World War. The ancient city was the capital of Shang Dynasty 3,500 years ago, when porcelain and the Chinese technique of bronze smelting were comparatively more developed. A green ceramic glaze pot unearthed in Zhengzhou has been identified as the oldest example of porcelain in China. Zhèngzhōu is a great place to base yourself when visiting the Shàolín Temple, known as the cradle of Chinese martial arts and the inspiration for many Kung Fu movies.