With nearly 100 million people, Henan is the most populous province of China. It borders Hebei to the north, Shandong to the northeast, Anhui to the southeast, Hubei to the south, Shaanxi to the west, and Shanxi to the northwest.

Henan is often called Zhongyuan (zhongyuán) or Zhongzhou ( zhongzhou), literally "central plains" or "midland"; this name is also broadly applied to the entire North China Plain. Henan is traditionally regarded as the source of Chinese civilization.

Henan’s total economic output is the sixth largest in China. The speed of economic development has increased by an average of about 10 percent each year for the past twenty years -- since its reform and opening to the outside. In 2003, its nominal GDP was US$ 85 billion, including 21 percent for the first industry, 48 percent for the second industry, and 31 percent for the tertiary industry.

An industrial system with light textile, food, metallurgy, petrol, building materials, chemical industry, machinery and electronics as the main body has been formed. In 2002, the industrial sale total was US$ 44,600,000,000. Nearly 100 products, such as coal, industrial cord fabrics, fridges, aluminium, color glass cases, gold, meat products, tyres, chemical fibres, glass, cement, generated energy, etc take up an important part in the national market.

Henan is actively trying to build an open economy. Twelve air ports, railway ports and road ports have been built. In 2002, the import and export total was US$ 3,200,000,000, including US$ 2,100,000,000 for export. 7111 foreign enterprises have been approved, foreign funds of US$ 10,640,000,000 have been used in contracts and the actual foreign fund used are US$ 5,300,000,000. Foreign exchanges are increasing continuously. Friendly provincial relationships have been established with 16 states(districts) in the U.S.A, Japan, Russia, France, Germany, etc. Some cities of Henan Province have established friendly relationships with thirty-two foreign cities.

Henan is an agricultural province, leading the provinces of China in wheat and sesame production, and is third place overall in terms of total grain output. Cotton, rice, and maize are also important crops in Henan.

There are several important centers of coal production in Henan, including Pingdingshan, Yima, and Jiaozuo. Luanchuan County in western Henan is an important center of molybdenum extraction. Electricity generation is another important industry of Henan.

The first literate dynasty of China, the Shang Dynasty (16th century BC - 11th century BC), was centered in Henan. Their last capital, Yin, was located at the modern city of Anyang, Henan.

Most of Henan speaks dialects of Mandarin. Linguists put these dialects into the category of "Zhongyuan Mandarin". The northwestern corner of Henan is an exception, where people speak Jin dialects instead. The dialects of Henan are collectively called "the Henan dialect" in popular usage, with easily identifiable stereotypical features.

Spring Festival is the biggest festival among the Hans' people. The Sweeping-tomb Day, Dragon Boat Day and Mid-autumn are also important days.

Cooking arts are very important, the ways and tastes are very colorful and rich. Rice and flour are the main staple-food. Vegetables, meat, fishes, eggs are very popular food. Three times of having meals are conventional.

Poem takes important role in the history. Songs of Chu originated in the Warring States Period, the representative poet is Qu Yuan, the patriotic poet (340 B.C-278 B.C), when he was dead, the people created Dragon Boat Festival to remember him. Li Bai (701-762), Du Fu (712-770), Su Shi (1037-1101), Lu You (1125-1210), Xin Qiji (1140-1207) and others were all famous poets in ancient China, the works of whose are still popular nowadays.