Zhumadian City, Henan Province

Zhumadian City, known in ancient times as "Yicheng," in south-central Henan Province, is a city steeped in the fabric of Chinese civilization and a modern high-speed transportation network. While not renowned for its magnificent mountains and rivers, its central location connects north and south, east and west. The Beijing-Guangzhou Railway and the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway, like a network of ancient post roads, have ensured a continuous flow of travelers for thousands of years. Upon first encounter with Zhumadian, you'll notice its vast plains and the Huai River's tributaries. Lakes flow through the fields, and the feng shui of its feng shui influences gently shape a thriving agricultural landscape. Suya Lake Reservoir, like a mirror, reflects lotus flowers and the blue sky. Like a mirror within the countryside, it quietly bears witness to the changing seasons and the scale-like crops.   Focusing on the interplay between people and history, the "Ancient Springs World" exhibition hall at the Zhumadian City Museum uses artifacts and murals to piece together fragments of the legends of Fuxi, Liang Zhu, Li Si, and the ancient post roads. Mount Jixia, nestled in the wilderness, reflects the beauty of a "Central Plains bonsai" with its peculiar peaks and rocks, its misty heights and poetic stone forests.  In this city, often labeled a regional joke, its most valuable quality lies not in its gimmicks but in the way its post station culture, despite its introspective approach, manages to expand warmly. It humbly sits between highways and ancient roads, supporting rice fields and industry with pragmatism, and composing a rhythm truly unique to central Henan with its quietly growing wisdom.