Archeological discoveries of Paleolithic Age expose that human settlers moved to this area as early as eighteen thousand years ago. Agriculture, stock raising and pottery making were well developed here forty-five hundred years ago. Before it was absorbed by Chu State in the Warring State Period (476BC-221BC), there were several vassal states. In 221BC, the Qin Dynasty (221BC-206BC) ended the independent regimes, and established counties in Zhumadian. Plains makes up nearly seventy percent of the city's territory. In addition, there are also mountains, hills and hillocks. The terrain generally declines from the west to the east. Low mountains and hills are distributed in the west region of Zhumadian, while the east region is vast plain. Zhumadian lies between the subtropical and warm temperate zones enjoying a continental monsoon climate. It has moderate weather, enough sunshine, rich rainfall and distinct four seasons.