Zhengzhou's newest business district is still undergoing transformation. [Photo by James Whitehead/chinadaily.com.cn]

Future of Zhengzhou

The sun heightens and dips westward. The bus drives eastward to Zhengzhou’s freshest district – once labeled China’s biggest ghost town, with layers upon layers of developed yet deserted tower blocks, clear roads and untouched parks. The 58-square-mile zone may not be buzzing, but it’s no longer lying dormant. As the capital of Henan, and with a rapidly growing population now around 8 million, the miles of road and stack of houses won’t remain silent for long.

The corn-shaped pagoda towers out of the man-made lake, and over the five golden eggs of the museum, as well as the exhibition center crafted into a gigantic black paper fan.

As modern-day Zhengzhou continues building upward, historic Zhengzhou remains in the underworld. Sweeping the ancient plains of China, under forests of trees and steel, pieces of civilization lay dormant, including art and tombs.

For such a historic region, Zhengzhou’s success remains in the air and earth. While the peaks of the city are rising, it must dig deeper for its tombs of history.

Time Out Beijing held its first Time Out Tour outside of Beijing on September 20-21.