Kaifeng Attractions
Kaifeng (''break the seal'') is situated on the railroad line from Lianyungang to Ürümqi.
Excavations have proved that Kaifeng already existed at the time of the Shang dynasty (16th-11th C BC). In addition remains of a Neolithic settlement have been found in the surrounding area. In the Spring and Autumn Periods (770-476 BC) the settlement was a border post of the Zheng kingdom and the ruler Zheng Zhuanggong established a grain store here. From then on Kaigfeng's importance grew significantly. Under the Wei rulers (220-280) it became capital for the first time and gained this status again in the period of the Five Dynasties (907-960). Kaifeng's golden period, however, was under the Northern Song dynasty (960-1127), when it was capital for a period of 167 years and developed into a large city with a population of about one million. The extension of the canal system brought a further economic upswing. It has also been reliably attested that Kaifeng possessed a substantial Jewish community. The famous picture scroll of this period, ''The Qingming Banquet by the River'' (Qingming Shanghe Tu; today in the Imperial Palace in Beijing) illustrates the wealth and opulence of this epoch. With the collapse of the Song dynasty the town suffered severe damage and declined in importance. Around the middle of the 17th C it suffered a number of appalling floods from the Huanghe. In 1644 the town's dikes were opened as a defensive measure against invading Manchurians and as a result 300,000 people lost their lives. For this reason there are only very few architectural monuments surviving from the Song period. Today silk and embroidery provide an important source of income for Kaifeng.
Excavations have proved that Kaifeng already existed at the time of the Shang dynasty (16th-11th C BC). In addition remains of a Neolithic settlement have been found in the surrounding area. In the Spring and Autumn Periods (770-476 BC) the settlement was a border post of the Zheng kingdom and the ruler Zheng Zhuanggong established a grain store here. From then on Kaigfeng's importance grew significantly. Under the Wei rulers (220-280) it became capital for the first time and gained this status again in the period of the Five Dynasties (907-960). Kaifeng's golden period, however, was under the Northern Song dynasty (960-1127), when it was capital for a period of 167 years and developed into a large city with a population of about one million. The extension of the canal system brought a further economic upswing. It has also been reliably attested that Kaifeng possessed a substantial Jewish community. The famous picture scroll of this period, ''The Qingming Banquet by the River'' (Qingming Shanghe Tu; today in the Imperial Palace in Beijing) illustrates the wealth and opulence of this epoch. With the collapse of the Song dynasty the town suffered severe damage and declined in importance. Around the middle of the 17th C it suffered a number of appalling floods from the Huanghe. In 1644 the town's dikes were opened as a defensive measure against invading Manchurians and as a result 300,000 people lost their lives. For this reason there are only very few architectural monuments surviving from the Song period. Today silk and embroidery provide an important source of income for Kaifeng.
Iron Pagoda
The Iron Pagoda (Tieta), which dates from 1049, is located in the northeast of the city, in the center of the park of the same name. Owing to the rust-brown ceramic tiles with which it is covered, one could be forgiven for thinking it is made of iron - hence its name. The ascent to the top of the 55m/180ft high 13-story pagoda is well worthwhile, rewarding the visitor with a beautiful view over Kaifeng and the surrounding area.
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Temple of the Chancellor
The Temple of the Chancellor, located in the city center of Kaifeng, dates from 555 and is a Buddhist establishment.
Dragon Pavilion
The Dragon Pavilion (Longting), situated 1.5km/1mi to the north of the Temple of the Chancellor in the Dragon Park, was built in 1692 on the site of a Ming palace which had been destroyed in the floods of 1644. The staircase leading to the pavilion is decorated with a dragon motif, while inside there is a stone bench, likewise ornamented with dragons.
