Stretching along the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, Henan served as the political and cultural heartland of ancient China. More than 20 dynasties established capitals in Henan, leaving behind monumental sites such as the Erlitou Ruins, believed to be the capital of the middle and late Xia Dynasty (c. 21st century-16th century BC), in Luoyang; the Shang Dynasty capital ruins in Zhengzhou; the Yinxu Ruins, the late Shang capital, in Anyang; and the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) capital in Kaifeng.

Today, these former capitals are no longer silent relics of the past. Through digital technologies, immersive performances, museum upgrades and heritage conservation projects, they are being transformed into dynamic cultural destinations attracting visitors from around the world.

Longmen Grottoes welcomed 8.51 million visitors in 2025 and is expected to receive more than 9 million this year. Benefiting from China's 10-day visa-free transit policy, the number of overseas visits to the site in 2025 has surged eightfold from 2024.

In Anyang, the Yinxu Ruins is home to China's earliest known writing system: jiaguwen, or oracle bone inscriptions. It has become a key destination for visitors seeking to explore the origins of Chinese civilization. Interactive exhibitions and live performances recreate Shang Dynasty rituals and storytelling traditions, bringing ancient history to life.

Henan Museum in Zhengzhou, one of China's earliest museums, has also become a major cultural landmark. Housing more than 170,000 artifacts, the museum showcases relics ranging from an 8,000-year-old bone flute to Shang bronze ware and Tang Dynasty treasures, offering visitors a panoramic view of Chinese civilization.

To strengthen the cultural tourism sector, Henan has rolled out a series of policies and development plans. Provincial authorities have issued guidelines for building Yellow River Ancient Capitals cultural tourism and introduced measures to stimulate tourism consumption and foster new cultural business models.

The province is also cultivating emerging sectors including immersive performances, digital cultural products and creative tourism experiences. Henan enterprises in cultural and related industries above designated size generated revenue of more than 224 billion yuan ($32.9 billion) in 2025, while the revenue of new cultural business formats reached 51.3 billion yuan with a year-on-year increase of 27.5 percent.

Tourism is increasingly becoming a source of employment and rural vitalization. From homestays and cultural workshops to intangible heritage performances and countryside tourism projects, local residents are finding new opportunities linked to the booming visitor economy.

Across the province, themed campaigns such as Henan, Where China Began and the 2025 Weibo Travel Night are helping traditional culture resonate with younger audiences and international travelers alike.

Henan has also strengthened its global outreach. In 2025 alone, the province hosted multiple international tourism and cultural promotion events and organized overseas marketing campaigns targeting key markets. The province received 935,000 overseas visits in 2025, up 60.5 percent year-on-year.

Meanwhile, new media platforms are amplifying Henan's appeal. Videos, livestreams and social media campaigns centered on archaeology, museums and ancient capitals have generated billions of online views, helping the province build a fresh and accessible cultural image.

For many visitors, traveling through Henan is not only a journey through ancient capitals but a way to understand the continuity of Chinese civilization. As heritage sites are revitalized and tourism development reaches deeper into communities, Henan is demonstrating how cultural preservation can generate economic vitality, enrich public life and strengthen cultural confidence.

fanzitong@chinadaily.com.cn