Holiday in Kaifeng

About Kaifeng

Kaifeng was once the largest and richest city in the world with over a million inhabitants, serving as the capital of the Song Dynasty (960-1127). The famous painting Along the River During the Qingming Festival (Qingming Shanghe Tu) by Zhang Zeduan depicts the vibrant life of the city in the 12th century and is considered one of the most significant artworks in Chinese history. The Millennium City Park (Qingming Shanghe Yuan) is a lively open-air museum that recreates the Song Dynasty era: historical buildings, bridges, and market streets have been reconstructed over 600,000 square meters. Actors in historical costumes perform daily scenes, from acrobatics to calligraphy to reenactments of street scenes from the painting. The Iron Pagoda (Tie Ta), built in 1049, is the oldest and tallest surviving structure in Kaifeng at 55 meters. The name is misleading — the pagoda is made of 28 different types of glazed bricks, whose dark color resembles iron. In the rain, the surface shines golden. The Dragon Pavilion (Longting) is located on an artificial lake and was the site of the imperial palace of the Song Dynasty. From the terrace, there is a wide view over Kaifeng. The Yanqing Temple complex and the Great Xiangguo Mosque (one of the oldest mosques in China) testify to the religious diversity of the city. Kaifeng has a unique Jewish history: the Kaifeng Jewish community has existed since around the 10th century and was the most well-known Jewish community in China. Although the synagogue has long disappeared, memorial plaques and a small museum commemorate this remarkable chapter. The night market on Gulou Street is one of the oldest and liveliest in China: hundreds of stalls offer regional specialties, from Guantang-Baozi (soup dumplings) to sweet chrysanthemum tea — Kaifeng is the city of chrysanthemums, celebrated every autumn with a large festival.