North China comprises Hebei, Shandong, Henan, Shanxi and Shaanxi Provinces, as well as Beijing and Tianjin mu-nicipalities. The region is in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River and is spread over the Loess Plateau in the west and the North China Plain in the east. The Yellow River, the cradle of Yellow River culture integral to Chinese civilization, plays a crucial role in this region.

North China: Long Historical and Cultural Traditions

North China is one of the birthplaces of Chinese civiliza-tion. Cultural relics unearthed in the region prove that the Peking Man, discovered in Zhoukoudian village, and the Lantian Man, unearthed in Shaanxi, are the oldest inhabit-ants of the land. They lived 500,000-600,000 and 800,000 years ago, and are the ancestors of the modern Chinese people. 

Humans inhabited vast areas of North China even in the Neolithic age, between 500,000 and 600,000 years ago. Excavated cultural relics show ancient man in China had de-veloped a primitive form of agriculture and livestock breed-ing. The Banpo Site, discovered in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi, is a typical representative of Neolithic culture.

The Mausoleum of Emperor Huangdi, the legendary founder of the Chinese nation, is in the Qiaoshan Mountain in Huangling county of Shaanxi. Trails of three generations of the ancient Chinese emperors, including Yao, Shun and Yu, who succeeded Huangdi, can still be found in the lower reaches of the Fenhe River.

The foundations of the Xia (2070-1600 BC) and Shang dy-nasties (1600-1046 BC) were laid in North China, too. They form the earliest serfdom in the country. The Yin Dynasty ruins unearthed at Xiaodun village in Anyang, Henan, con-firm that it was the country's capital during the late Shang Dynasty when China entered an advanced serfdom state and developed bronze smelting. The unearthed characters engraved on animal bones prove 3,000-odd Chinese charac-ters took initial shape at that time. The ambitious Emperor Qinshihuang, based on the Weihe Plain (in present-day Shaanxi), established the unified Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) in North (Northwest) China, too.[1]

The highest points of Chinese feudal society: the Western Han Dynasty and the Tang Dynasty both chose Chang'an (present-day Xi'an) as their capital, leaving behind numer-ous historical relics there. In the period that followed, the North China Plain became one of China's most economically developed regions, playing host to political capital of many dynasties. Five of the China's seven ancient capitals are in the region: Xi'an, Beijing, Anyang, Luoyang and Kaifeng, the last three being in Henan. Among these, Xi'an is a big tourist destination, known for its historical relics and only next in importance to Beijing. Pit No.1 and No.2 of Emperor Qinshihuang's Terracotta War-riors and Horses, discovered near the Tomb of Qinshihuang in Xi'an, were opened to the public after long and meticulous years of excavation and classification. The Terracotta Warriors and Horses are often referred to as the "Eighth Wonder of the World."

Traditional Chinese culture, with a long history, has two important sources: Confucian-ism, propagated by Confucius, and Taoism, preached by Lao Zi. Confucius (551-479 BC),[2] whose given name is "Qiu" and who at times is referred to as "Zhongni," was a great thinker, politician, educationist, and the founder of Confucianism. Legend has it that Confucius had 3,000 disciples, including more than 70 who were to become fa-mous later. The Confucian philosophy is reflected mainly in such classics as the The Analects, The Doctrine of the Mean, The Great Learning and the Works of Mencius, compiled by the Confucius' disciples after their Master's death. Confucius and his greatest disciple and philosophical successor, Men-cius, traveled to deliver lectures mainly in Zouxian county of Qufu in Shandong. Their philosophy, also called the "Doctrine of Confucius and Mencius," became part of main-stream traditional Chinese culture after being compiled by scholars and practiced and propagated by rulers through the ages. It has had great influence on Chinese culture, and even the culture of the entire orient. Con-fucius is considered one of the "world's 10 outstanding ancient thinkers."

Lao Zi was a great thinker during the Spring and Autumn Period. The found-er of Taoism's real name was "Li Er," and he liked to call himself "Dan" so his disciples called him "Lao Dan" (Elder or Teacher Dan). It is said that he was once a government official responsible for managing book collections but resigned to lead an ordinary life. During his early years, Lao Zi carried out academic ac-tivities in Luoyang, capital of the Zhou Dynasty, writing the important philo-sophical text, Dao De Jing.[3]

Confucius and Lao Zi, both born and brought up in North China, have exerted great influence on Chinese culture for more than 2,000 years and are pertinent to a certain extent even for today's society.

The well-preserved Temple of Confucius in Qufu has become a big tourist destination where people have of-fered respects to the Master for generations. The Cemetery of Confucius where the Master's offspring are buried, the Kong Family Mansion where Confucius' descendants lived and the temple are known a as the "Three Kong" tourist at-tractions. The Temple of Mencius, the Meng Family Mansion and the Cemetery of Mencius, though smaller in size, in the southern part of Zouxian county have the same shape and layout as the "Three Kong" sites. The two ancient heritages received great attention of the Chinese rulers and scholars as the "hometowns of Confucius and Mencius "and the" cradle of great culture. "And they are sill considered precious his-torical relics despite being rebuilt several times.

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Five Yue

"Yue" in Chinese means lofty mountains. Ancient Chinese people called five high mountains respectively stuated in Central China's east, south, west, north and middle parts “Five Yue”, which are Taishan Mountain (East Yue), located in Taian, Shandong Province, Huashan Mountain (West Yue), located in Hengyang, Hunan Province, Hengshan Mountain (North Yue), located in Hengyang, County Shanxi Province, and Songhan Mountain (Middle Yue), located in Dengfeng, Henan Province. The "Five Yue" have be-come Chinese plaes of interest integrating spectacular natural views and cultural landscape with Buddhist and Daoist features.

The lofty Taishan Mountain, just north of Qufu, is part of the North China Plain. A famous Chinese saying goes: "When one looks from the peak of Taishan Mountain, the world below seems to be suddenly small. "Taishan Mountain is the most famous of China's " Five Yue," with Yuhuangding, its main peak, being 1,545 m in altitude. Dai Temple, at the foot of Taishan Mountain, ranks among China's largest ancient architectures, and is host to many fa-mous tablet inscriptions. And both sides of the path running up the Taishan Mountain is full of numerous historical cliff inscriptions.

Note: 

[1] The North China Plain is an alluvial plain, shaped mainly by the Yellow River, Huaihe River and Haihe River. It is among China's earliest developed agricultural regions.

[2] Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, Henan Province. Work started on the grottoes 1,500 years ago, and it has more than 100,000 statues.

[3] Taishan Mountain is an natural and cultural heritage of the world.