Chinese Name: 安阳市 (ān yáng shì)
Area: 7,413 square kilometers (2,862 square miles)
Administrative Division: 4 districts (Beiguan, Wenfeng, Yindu, Long'an); 4 counties (Anyang, Tangyin, Huaxian, Neihuang); 1 county-level city (Linzhou)
Seat of the City Government: Renmin Lu, Beiguan District
Useful Telephone Numbers: Tourist Complaints: 0372-3688002, 3680000
Weather Forecast: 121
Zip Code Inquiry: 184
Bank of China Anyang Branch: Wenfeng Lu, Yindu District
China Post Anyang Branch: 1, Yingbin Lu, Beiguan District
Location: Anyang City lies in the northernmost section of Henan Province and is separated from Shanxi Province by the Taihang Mountains in the west and from Hebei Province by the Zhanghe River in the north. The capital city of the province, Zhengzhou is 170 kilometers (106 miles) south of the city.
History: Anyang is one of the eight great ancient capitals of ancient China, making it an important focal-point of the Chinese nation and culture. It was authorized as the capital city of the Shang Dynasty (16th - 11th century BC) in the 14th century BC. This is the site where over 150,000 oracle bones were discovered. The name of Anyang first appeared in history during the Warring States Period (476BC-221BC).
Physical Features: The city stands at the base of the eastern foothills of the Taihang Mountains. Its terrain basically slopes downward from west to east. The western part of the city belongs to the Taihang Mountains, while eastern part is a part of the North China (Huabei) Plain.
Climate: Situated in the warm northern temperate zone, the city enjoys a continental monsoon climate. Its annual average temperature falls around 14 degrees centigrade (57.2 degree Fahrenheit), and the rainfall is mainly concentrated in July and August.
When to go: The city is chilly in winter and hot in summer, therefore, spring and autumn are the best seasons to visit the city.
Special Local Products: Chinese dates of Neihuang County, hawthorn, walnut, pear, chestnut
Yin Ruins: Yin is the ancient name for present-day Xiaodun village, where inscriptions on bones and tortoise shells, the oldest characters in the world, were discovered in 1899. The ruins cover a total area of 24 square kilometers (9 square miles), preserving a great number of bronze, stone, bone and jade articles. The 87-kilogram Simuwu four-legged square bronze caldron is the biggest bronze article in the world.
Grand Taihang Canyon lies to the west of Linzhou City at the eastern foot of the southern Taihang Mountains. The relative relief reaches 1000 meters (3,281 feet). Spectacular peaks, cliffs, gorges and waterfalls generate this outstanding natural scenery in North China. People have lived there since the remote Shang Dynasty, and the residence building there are all made of locally quarried stone, integrating them well with the surrounding landscape.
Other Scenic Spots: Museum of Yin Ruins, Gaoge Temple, Wenfeng Pagoda
Beijing-Guangzhou Railway runs through the city and it has trains going north to Beijing and south to Zhengzhou and Wuhan. The railway station of the city in the west end of Jiefang Lu. The long-distance bus station of Anyang is just located in the east side of the railway station (West section of Heping Lu). Through the expressway, Zhengzhou can be reached from Anyang in three hours.