Pingdingshan is a working city in central Henan, built around coal and named for the flat-topped hill on its northeastern edge. It is not pretty in the way Luoyang or Kaifeng can be, and the centre feels more industrial than ancient. The reason to come is the wider prefecture: old Buddhist temples, mountain scenery on the Funiu edge, and one of China's more startling modern religious monuments.
The headline sight is the Spring Temple Buddha, a colossal Vairocana statue in Lushan County. Nearby Yaoshan gives the city its strongest mountain excursion, while Xiangshan Temple is the best historic stop close to town. The Yexian County Yamen adds a rare surviving Ming government office to the mix.
This is a selective stop, not an automatic one. If you are crossing southern Henan and have a car or driver, Pingdingshan can fill a very good day. If you are relying on casual wandering in the city centre, it is easier to stay in Zhengzhou, Luoyang, or Kaifeng.