Xinzheng () is a county-level city of Henan Province, China. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Zhengzhou, the provincial capital. The city has a population of 600,000 people and covers an area of , of which is urban. History Xinzheng is considered one of the birthplaces of the Chinese nation. More than 8000 years ago, neolithic people of Peiligang culture lived in the vicinity. The legendary Yellow Emperor was said to have been born in Xinzheng 5000 years ago. During the Zhou dynasty it was the capital of the state of Zheng and later, the state of Han, after the conquest of the former by the latter. It was the seat of government for the Qin dynasty, from about 221 BCE, which is considered the beginning of a unified China. The word qin (), which is pronounced similar to "chin", is thought to be the basis for the word "China." Historically, this prefecture was an integrated part of Zhengzhou. However, in 1994, the Henan Provincial Council authorized the incorporation of Xinzheng into a separate municipality. Administrative divisions As 2012, this city is divided to three subdistricts, nine towns and three townships. Subdistricts Towns Townships Climate Education Xinzheng has one of the largest concentrations of foreign teachers in central China due to the presence of Sias International University. The school has over 27,000 students and over 120 foreign teachers and their 40 dependent family members. Along with Sias University, the city is also home to another university: ShengDa. Economy Xinzheng has a diversified economy, though agriculture and heavy industry dominate the economic landscape. Agriculture Xinzheng's agriculture involves the cultivation of maize, cotton, tobacco and other industrial crops. The city is well known for its jujube or Chinese Date. At harvest time, large quantities of these fruits are sold in markets, as well as on the side of the roads into the town. Industry Xinzheng is home to several industrial factories, namely cigarette factories, which are located near the center of town. In 2006, more than US$2 billion was invested in a nearby industrial project, although the status of this investment is currently unknown. Mining coal locally has also been an important source of income. Impact of educational institutions Two large private universities, ShengDa University and Sias International University play a major role in the local economy as well. ShengDa has 14,000 students, and Sias University has over