Several days ago, I received a letter from Gazette’s editor. She asked me whether I could write a passage to introduce my hometown, I felt very happy to accept this assignment because I always wanted to have a chance to introduce my lovely hometown to Korean and other foreigners. It is a great honor for me. But I think I will not write an expository writing, I just want to write a prose.

My hometown is Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan province which locates in the central of China. As far as I am concerned, the biggest allure of this city is her character----mediocrity. You may wonder how could a city’s character is mediocrity because so many cities own their distinct and special characters. I will introduce the history of my hometown first.

In history, Zhengzhou was not the capital of Henan province until 1954. At that time, Zhengzhou was only a small town and the population was only a very few. After 1954 when the central government decided that Zhengzhou to be the new capital, innumerable people from all over the whole country moved to the city. They came here and settled down here and worked here and of course, married here. They, the people from other places, generally were the majority of this city. Because they were from different places, they had different personalities. There was not a character to be the dominating one. How time flies! More than 50 years pasted. In the 50 years, different personalities and characters influenced each other, they conflicted and compromised and at last they mixed. So today you can not find a distinct character of this city.

Because of mediocrity, the city always opens her door to welcome people from wherever; Because of mediocrity, the city always opens her door to welcome every different culture; Because of mediocrity, the city always opens her door to welcome messages allover the world. Because of mediocrity, the city is unique; Because of mediocrity, the city is diversified; Because of mediocrity, the city is tolerant; Because of mediocrity, the city is compatible.

No matter where you are from, no matter what accent you have, no matter how long you’ve been in this city, you will immediately feel that you are the master of this city. No one will discriminate you, no one will expel you, no one will say "Hey! Stranger!"
This is my hometown, a city must have splendid and glorious future; a city owns mediocrity as her character.