BEIJING — Henan has a P.R. problem, but Jing Changshui has an answer. He’s suing.

A province of 100 million on the flat, brown expanse of central China, Henan suffers from a blighted reputation. It is not the prettiest part of China, to be sure.

But much worse, some people from other parts of China treat residents there with a disdain and mistrust that approaches racism. If you believe the slurs, Henan is crammed with thieves, ruffians, grifters and con artists.

After a recent round of mockery of Henan from an aspiring television celebrity, Mr. Jing, a science journalist from the province, decided he had had enough. He resolved to sue for damages to his reputation as a resident of the province.

“As a Henanese, I’m duty bound to defend the image of Henan,” Mr. Jing said in a telephone interview. “He’s been insulting Henanese for a long time.”