Henan is the cradle of the Chinese nation and civilization and birthplace of the Yellow Emperor, common ancestor of all Chinese. It's the place where the ancient Silk Road began in the East and home for all Chinese. Throughout the 5,000-year history of the Chinese civilization, Henan has been the country's political, economic and cultural center for over 3,000 years. Of the top eight ancient capitals in China, four are located in Henan, and 73 of the 100 most common Chinese surnames originate in the province.