Nanyang has a long history and culture and outstanding people. Fossils and cultural relics unearthed from Xinghua Mountain ape-man site in Nanzhao and many primitive social sites show that human ancestors thrived on this land hundreds of thousands of years ago. About seven or eight thousand years ago, our ancestors created a splendid historical civilization on this land with diligence and wisdom. The Zhou emperors attached great importance to this rich land, and once enfeoffed Shen, Lu, Xie, Li, Guo, Zeng, Yong and Xu. Chu was established in the Spring and Autumn Period, and Nanyang County was established in the thirty-fifth year of Xiangwang in the Warring States Period (272 BC), and the name "Nanyang" was used. It has a history of more than 2200 years. Although the dynasties have changed repeatedly and the division has continued, the name Nanyang has always been preserved. In the long river of history, it has enriched her meaning more and more, and fully demonstrated her strong vitality in the evolution of the times. In this land, the vast working people have been bred, and many great figures have appeared, which have made due contributions to the development and progress of human society and created certain wealth for society. Therefore, Nanyang has become a famous place at home and abroad.

"Nanyang" is located in Funiu Shan Zhinan, north of Hanshui River. The origin of Nanyang's name is clearly recorded in the literature. Forty-three years after Zi Tongzhi founded Wu Ji, Qin set Nanyang County in the south of Nanshan and the north of Hanshui River, and Yuan He County Map Shannan Road II set out that Qin set Nanyang County in the middle, so it was heaven. The above three records, although the words are not the same, express the same meaning. China in "South of China" should be understood as "China" or "Central Plains". Nanshan in "South of Nanshan" is now Funiu Mountain, "South of China" and "South of Nanshan", which all indicate the geographical position of this area. However, "the land of sunshine", "living in the land of sunshine" and "north of Hanshui River" indicate that its site selection has the characteristics of "sunshine". In ancient China, there was an established naming principle of place names, that is, "the northern water is Yang, the southern water is Yin", and "the southern mountain is Yang and the northern mountain is Yin". Nanyang, located in the north of the Hanshui River, is located in Funiu Shan Zhinan, which has the dual characteristics of "Yang". Ming Jiajing's "Nanyang County Records" notes: "Zhou belongs to Shen, Spring and Autumn belongs to Chu, and Warring States belongs to Han. Qin took the land of Korea to the north of Hanshui River, and to the south of Luoyang Yingchuan River, and set up Nanyang County to govern Wan, making it in the south of China and between Hanshui River and Fangcheng. This fully shows that when Qin established Nanyang County, it was named "Nanyang" because it was located in Funiu Shan Zhinan, north of Hanshui River.

Wan is one of the earliest place names in Nanyang. Wan not only reflects the geomorphological characteristics of the basin, but also reflects its living environment. "Shuo Wen Jie Zi": Wan, bend the grass and walk, from the sound. Its meaning: ① It is "high on all sides and low in the middle", which accords with the landform characteristics of Nanyang Basin, which is surrounded by mountains on three sides and low in the middle; (2) The grass is covered by grass, and the grass is lush. In the early Spring and Autumn Period, Chu in the south became more and more powerful, and successively annexed the countries in the Hanshui River basin in the north, and Lu and Shen were also destroyed by King Wen of Chu. After Chu occupied this land, with fertile soil and convenient rivers, Wan Yi was established here as a base to seize the Central Plains. Wan's name is from then on. Later, Wan changed from a domain name to Wancheng, Wanxian, Wanzhou and Shangwan. Today, Nanyang City and Wancheng District both use Wan as their customary abbreviation.