Kaifeng Travel Guide

Located on Henan province's smooth Eastern Plain, the city of Kaifeng has an illustrious and in some ways unique 3000-year history. On the southern bank of the Yellow River, the ancient city has withstood natural disasters, invasions and time.
 

History

Kaifeng was the capital of China for parts of seven different dynastic periods. The origin of Kaifeng can be traced back to Warrings States Period, while it was called Daliang. It served for a time as capital of the Wei Dynasty, the Liang, the Han, the Zhou and as a capital during the Five Dynasties period of disunion (907-960 AD), the Northern Song, and the Jin Dynasty. In all, Kaifeng was the capital of China for parts of seven different dynastic periods.

The city used to be the most prosperous and busy city in China and the world while it was the capital of Song Dynasty. It is believed that Kaifeng was the largest city in the world from 1013 to 1127.
 

Attractions

Since Kaifeng was one of The Imperial Capitals of China, its tourism is composed of historical relics and graceful landscapes. Among these, Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden can show you the folk customs of Song Dynasty according to the Qingming Roll. Xiangguo Temple was the foremost Buddhist center and commercial hub of the city during the Song Dynasty. Others include Iron Pagoda, Dragon Pavilion, Imperial Street of Song Dynasty, Memorial Temple of Lord Bao, Kaifeng Yamun, Kaifeng Museum as well as Millennium City Park.
 

Transportation

Kaifeng city centre is about 55km away from Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport connecting to more than 20 Chinese cities, including Beijing Capital, Chengdu, Shanghai Hongqiao, Shanghai Pudong, Shenyang, ect. Shuttle buses are available from the airport to the Kaifeng downtown. Kaifeng Railway Station is on the East-West Longhai Railway mainline and provides several ways to Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen,Guangzhou, ect. Within the city, the flag-fall rate of taxies is 5 RMB and additional fee beyond 2 km is 1RMB per kilometer.
 

Climate

Located in warm temperate zone, Kaifeng enjoys a continental monsoon climate with four different seasons, plenty of sunshine and good rainfall. The annual average temperature is 14℃ and annual average rainfall is 670mm.
 

Food & Restaurants

Kaifeng is the birthplace of Yu Cuisine, so you can find lots of delicious snacks along the streets. Famous one include carp with noodles, combing tender fish with thin noodles, deep fried pork, Tube chicken and Kaifeng meat-filled buns and son on.

Here are some restaurants recommended:

Youyixin Fandian: established in 1906, famous for it’s liyubeimian and zha zisurou.
Address: No.22 Gulou Jie
Tel: +86 378-5956677

Kaifeng No.1 Restaurant: specializes in inexpensive delicious juicy meat buns.
Address: No.8 Housi Jie
Tel: +86 378- 5650780

Nayuxing Jiya Dian:with over 100 years of history, offers the tube chicken.
Address: Drum Tower Square
Tel: +86 378- 5944233
 

Shopping

Market time is fantastic fun and the visual spectacle includes lingerie strung on clothes lines between trees and belts cut to measure from sheet of leather on the spot. Kaifeng specialties include Kaifeng embroidery, zhuxianzhen muban nianhuan, Guan Kiln porcelain and son on. If you are looking for some traditional items, the Jinggu Zhai, the Kaifeng Bian Embroidery Factory and Wenwu Shangdian can satisfy you needs.
 

Tips

1. The Kaifeng Post Office is located at No.33 Xiduan Ziyou Lu.

2. The First Kaifeng People’s Hospital is located at No. 85 Hedao Jie.

3. August to October will be the best time to tour Kaifeng for it offers a cool autumn.

4. There is a Temple Festival on April in the Temple of King Yu, and the month-long Chrysanthenmum Festival on October at Dragoon Pavilion Park.