Dengzhou

Introduction

Dengzhou is a county-level city in Nanyang, Henan, in China's southwest Henan province, close to the borders with Hubei and Shaanxi. Formerly known as Deng County, it sits at the geometric centre of the triangle formed by Zhengzhou, Wuhan and Xi'an, roughly equidistant from all three.

Most of the city's territory is rural, with a compact urban core at its heart. That position between three major provincial capitals makes Dengzhou a natural stopover if you are travelling across central China rather than a destination in itself.

Three days in Dengzhou

Day one: Begin in Dengzhou itself, a city in Henan, China, formerly known as Deng County. Take your time getting oriented before planning onward travel, since the places you can reach from here include Nanyang, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, and the neighbouring provinces of Hubei and Shaanxi.

• Dengzhou
• Henan
• Formerly Deng County

Day two: Use the day to travel toward Nanyang or Zhengzhou, both of which appear among the places connected to this part of China. Most of what you see will depend on which direction you choose, so decide early and keep the journey simple.

• Nanyang
• Zhengzhou

Day three: Head further afield to Wuhan, or cross into Hubei or Shaanxi if your route allows. That gives you a sense of how Dengzhou sits among these destinations, and you can return with a clearer idea of what to explore next.

• Wuhan
• Hubei
• Shaanxi