Xuchang

Xuchang (许昌 Xǔchāng) is a city in central Henan Province 82 kilometers from the provincial capital Zhengzhou in China. Zhoukou in the east, Luohe in the south, Pingdingshan in the west, Zhengzhou in the north and Kaifeng in the northeast.

Understand
Xuchang City, prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Henan Province, anciently known as Xuzhou (许州), also known as Liancheng (莲城), Xudu (许都), Weidu (魏都), the former capital of Hanwei (汉魏故都).

History
Xuchang City is located in the Central Plains, has a long history, is the important birthplace of Chinese culture, the Central Plains city cluster, one of the core cities of the Central Plains Economic Zone. The ancient cultures of Xuchang include prehistoric culture series, Han culture series, Three Kingdoms culture series, temple architecture culture series, and Jun porcelain culture series. 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.

Climate
Xuchang City belongs to the northern warm-temperate monsoon climate zone, rich in heat resources, abundant rainfall, abundant sunshine and long frost-free period. The general characteristics of the city's climate in the four seasons are: dry and sandy in the spring, hot and rainy in the summer, sunny and cool in the autumn, and cold and little rain and snow in the winter. The average annual temperature ranges from 14.3℃ to 14.6℃.

By plane
The nearest airport is Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport in Zhengzhou. There are direct buses from the airport to Xuchang.Xuchang City is 50 kilometres from Xinzheng International Airport.

By train
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. In 2019, Xuchang was connected to the Zhengzhou-Fuyang high-speed railway line.

Xuchang has three train stations:



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.

In the near future, it will also be possible to catch a metro train from Zhengzhou. Zhengzhou's Metro Line 17, which is expected to be completed in 2022, will link Zhengzhou to Xuchang via Zhengzhou Airport. The terminus of the line will be the Xuchang East Railway Station.

By bus
Some long-distance buses from Luoyang stop in Xuchang. Xuchang Central Bus Station is just a couple hundred meters east of Xuchang Railway Station.

Get around
Like in all major cities around Henan Province, the local buses cost only ¥1.

Eat
Food here are mainly the same dishes found throughout Henan Province. Those include Huì Miàn (烩面), Hú Là Tāng (胡辣汤), Dàokǒu Shāojī (道口烧鸡), Xiǎo Sū Ròu (小酥肉).

Barbecue here is not recommended. If you want a good one, go to the provincial capital, Zhengzhou. Restaurant chains include: Xiǎoféiyáng (小肥羊), Burger King, and Pizza Hut.

Drink
Kǒu lè (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).

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.