Henan, also Ho-nan, Honan province in eastern China. Henan is one of China's most densely populated provinces. Its terrain comprises mountains in the west and densely populated plains in the east. The Huang He (Yellow River) crosses the northern part of the province.

The city of Lo-yang in Honan served intermittently as the national capital of China from 771 BC to AD 937. With the fall of the T'ang dynasty in the latter year, K'ai-feng became the national capital and remained so until the Northern Sung dynasty was overthrown by the Mongols in 1127.

Wheat is the leading crop; cotton, tobacco, peanuts, and sesame are also grown. Coal is mined, and hydroelectricity is produced in conjunction with irrigation and flood-control projects on the Huang He. Manufactures include textiles, iron and steel, heavy machinery, and aluminum. Major cities include the capital, Zhengzhou, Luoyang, and Kaifeng.

Major industrial towns are Luoyang, Zhengzhou, Pingdingshan, Nanyang, Xinyang, Zhumadian, Luohe, Zhoukou, Xuchang, Suixian, Xinxiang, Jiazuo and Puyang.

Area 167,000 sq km (64,500 sq mi); population 92,560,000.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------