Along China's living heartland

It has been a long time since I was in primary and secondary school, but from what I remember, not much Chinese history was taught in the United States. However, one of the few things I remember learning was some chapters in my elementary school textbook that touched on early great river civilizations — Mesopotamia along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, Ancient Egypt along the Nile River, the Indus Valley Civilization along the Indus River, and, of course, Ancient China along the Yellow River — which served as my earliest exposure to China and its history.

Little did I know, as I studied how these mighty rivers served crucial roles in the development of early human settlements, that I would one day visit Henan province, where the ever-changing Yellow River and fertile Central Plains gave birth to Chinese civilization some 5,000 to 7,000 years ago.

As part of the "Meet in Zhongyuan, Discover China Through Henan — 2026 China Storyteller Partnerships Henan Tour", I was able to explore both Zhengzhou and Luoyang to learn more about the origins of early Chinese civilization, as well as Henan's modern-day development into a manufacturing hub.

In Zhengzhou, where my trip began, a visit to the Dahecun Site Museum brought me closer to the roots of Chinese civilization than a textbook ever could. While it chronicles the earliest breaths of Yangshao culture — a vast and influential ancient culture and the first Neolithic archaeological culture discovered in China — the museum itself is less than a year old.

The museum showcases hundreds of pieces of Yangshao pottery, along with tools and other artifacts, thoughtfully displayed to guide visitors through the culture's evolution, while also incorporating immersive exhibits that take you back in time to witness scenes of ancient settlements, fishing and hunting, pottery-making and grain harvesting.

In sharp contrast, I also paid a visit to BYD's factory to learn more about its cutting-edge production lines and innovative Blade Battery design, and visited its racetrack to get an up-close look at the Yangwang U9 — a fully electric hypercar built under BYD's luxury sub-brand.

Initially, I was disappointed to learn that a professional driver would be taking me around the track. Afterward, I understood why. I climbed into the passenger seat, buckled up, and told the driver, "As fast as you can".

He said nothing. We took off and slowly made our way to the first straightaway where the drive would begin. Without a word, the driver floored the accelerator. Without a sound, I was sucked back into the seat as I watched the speedometer climb past 130 kilometers per hour in what felt like an instant.

I lost track of how fast we were going — certainly north of 200 km/h — before we started into the turns, the tires squealing and skipping as the car handled the high-speed maneuvers with ease, the seat intuitively adjusting itself to support me through it all. And just as quickly as it began, it was over.

Once again, I must put my ego aside and admit defeat. Last time, it was Fanjing Mountain in Guizhou province that made me back down before I reached its terrifyingly high summit. This time, I was humbled by the U9 and must concede that, in hindsight, it is probably a good thing a pro was behind the wheel and not me.

Had I been allowed behind the wheel, my name might have appeared in an obituary rather than at the top of this article, as I would have woefully underestimated the power of that vehicle and ended my life in a not-so-fiery — thanks to BYD's super-safe Blade Battery — blaze, well, I guess, thud of glory.

And I know what you're thinking,"Tom, no one is forcing you to admit these embarrassing things", and you would be right.

But, it's my commitment to the truth that makes me the intrepid journalist worthy of your admiration. Before moving on to the second leg of the trip in Luoyang, I would be remiss if I didn't mention Zhengzhou's ecological conservation efforts at Beilonghu Wetland Park.

As much as we ooh and ahh over the technological advancements of our era — electric supercars, AI humanoid robots, advanced manufacturing — just as important is the preservation of natural assets that people can enjoy and where wildlife can thrive.

The park features a wetland birdwatching area, ecological islands, flower gardens, and wooden boardwalks winding through the landscape.

In addition to providing a lovely environment where families can spend their leisure time, Beilonghu Wetland Park is also a hot spot for bird-watchers, as the park serves as a crucial habitat for migratory birds from Siberia and the Mongolian Plateau during the winter months — attracting black-headed gulls, swans, great bustards, black storks, egrets, grey herons, and rare bird species such as the Chinese merganser and the reed parrotbill.

I wish I could have spent more time there, but Luoyang called.

While the rest of the tour group visited the Luoyang Bearing Group and YTO Group Corporation to learn more about China's bearing industry and agricultural modernization, I spent the day at the Han-Wei Luoyang Ancient City Site Museum shooting a video for China Daily.

Dubbed the "Oriental Capital of Museums", Luoyang is home to more than 100 museums, which house hundreds of thousands of cultural relics. At less than a year old, the Han-Wei Luoyang Ancient City Site Museum is the city's newest addition to its ever-growing family of museums, and it is a beauty.

From its design, layout and lighting to the amazing relics on display, the museum offers a wonderful experience, which was made even more special by the kind and knowledgeable staff members who aided Russian content creator Ira Nova and me in our scavenger hunt.

We searched for the real-life relics that items in the gift shop were based on — a truly fun and unique experience.

The trip concluded with a visit to the Longmen Grottoes — a UNESCO World Heritage Site holding over 100,000 carvings of Buddhist iconography in the limestone cliffs that flank both sides of the Yi River. The carvings date back to the late Northern Wei (386-534) and Tang (618-907) dynasties — when Luoyang was the country's capital — and are a must-see.

Standing before these massive carvings and seeing the detail and character given to each figure filled me with wonder and a deeper appreciation for the beauty of life.

To me, the carvings represent the best of humanity: the human capacity to love and the lengths we will go to express it.

In this case, the Longmen Grottoes were carved to express love and worship for Buddhist figures, and while I'm not a religious man, I can appreciate the sentiment. While every city I've been to in China has its own unique character, there is a consistent thread connecting all of them: the country's commitment to marrying its economic and technological development with the preservation of its environment and culture.

Both Zhengzhou and Luoyang are no different in that regard. From the cradle of Chinese civilization to one of the country's most important agricultural and industrial bases, Henan has remained a vital part of China through the ages and a dedicated steward of its ancient history and culture.

As is always the case with these tours, they leave you wanting more. With so much more to see than could fit into five days, I'll certainly be returning to Henan in the future.