City Info: Kaifeng, Henan Province

Kaifeng was the capital of Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). Under the Tang emperors, it was the centre of power and learning in a glorious period of Chinese civilization. The city had previously served as the capital of several dynasties before the Song, but today, little of that imperial heritage has survived. The city has suffered from a number of disasters, one of which was a sacking in 1127 when the Jin Tartars moved into north China from Central Asia, causing the Song court to flee southwards; another was the deliberate flooding of the city in 1644 by Ming loyalists, desperate to push back the Manchu troops threatening the city. Kaifeng also suffered from periodic floods when the Yellow River-ten kilometres (six miles) to the northe-overflowed its banks, so it is perhaps not surprising that the city has never developed into a major metropolis in recent centuries.

The original city walls still remain, however, revealing that the Song city was laid out in three concentric circles. The city architects of the later Ming Dynasty built their cities on a rectangular plan.

Population
5,500,000

Cuisine
Central Chinese cuisine, quite bland

When to Go
Summer is humid and wet; the rest of year is fine

Railway Station Info
Railway Station is outside (about 1km south) the old city walls, the rest of Kaifeng is mostly within the walled area

Accommodations

Main Scenic Spots

Official Websites
- Henan Provincial People's Government

Museum
- Kaifeng Museum
Some relics of the Jewish past for example a seventh century drawing of the synagogue and a photographic exhibition are still kept within.