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Kaifeng , formerly known as Bianliang , Bianjing , Daliang , or simply Liang , is a prefecture-level city
Prefecture-level city

A prefecture-level city or prefecture-level municipality is an administrative division of the People's Republic of China, ranking below a province of China and above a county of China in China's administrative structure....
 in eastern Henan
Henan

Henan , is a Province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-Chinese character abbreviation is ? , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty province that included parts of Henan....
 province, People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China

The People's Republic of China , commonly known as China, is the largest country in East Asia and the List of countries by population in the world with over 1.3 billion people, approximately a fifth of the world's population....
. Located along the southern bank of the Yellow River
Yellow River

The Yellow River or Huang He / Hwang Ho is the second-longest river in China and the List of rivers by length in the world at 4,845 kilometers ....
, it borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou
Zhengzhou

Zhengzhou , formerly called Zhengxian is a prefecture-level city, and the capital of Henan Province , People's Republic of China....
 to the west, Xinxiang
Xinxiang

Xinxiang is a prefecture-level city in northern Henan province of China, People's Republic of China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to its southwest, Kaifeng to its southeast, Hebi and Anyang to its north, Jiaozuo to its west, and the provinces of Shanxi and Shandong to its northwest and east respectively....
 to the northwest, Shangqiu
Shangqiu

Shangqiu is a prefecture-level city in eastern Henan province of China, People's Republic of China. It borders Kaifeng to the northwest, Zhoukou to the southwest, and the provinces of Shandong and Anhui to the northeast and southeast respectively....
 to the east, Zhoukou
Zhoukou

Zhoukou is a prefecture-level city in eastern Henan province of China, People's Republic of China. It borders Zhumadian to the southeast, Xuchang and Luohe to the west, Kaifeng to the northwest, Shangqiu to the northeast, and the province of Anhui on all other sides....
 to the southeast, Xuchang
Xuchang

Xuchang is a prefecture-level city in central Henan province of China, People's Republic of China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the northwest, Kaifeng to the northeast, Zhoukou to the east, Luohe to the southeast, and Pingdingshan to the southwest....
 to the southwest, and the province of Shandong
Shandong

For the people of Shandong, see Shandong people is a coastal political divisions of China of eastern People's Republic of China. Its abbreviation is 'Lu', after the state of Lu that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
 to the northeast.

prefecture-level city
Prefecture-level city

A prefecture-level city or prefecture-level municipality is an administrative division of the People's Republic of China, ranking below a province of China and above a county of China in China's administrative structure....
 of Kaifeng administers 5 districts and 5 counties.



History
Kaifeng is one of the Seven Ancient Capitals of China
Historical capitals of China

The China phrase Four Great Ancient Capitals of China traditionally refers to Beijing, Nanjing, Luoyang, and Chang'an .After the 1930s as more discoveries were made, other historical capitals were added to the list....
.

In 364 BC, the state of Wei
Wei (state)

The Wei was a state during the Warring States Period in China. Its territory lay between the states of Qin and Qi and included modern areas in Henan, Hebei and Shanxi and Shandong....
 during the Warring States Period
Warring States Period

The Warring States Period , also known as the Era of Warring States, covers the period from 476 BCE to the unification of China by the Qin Dynasty in 221 BCE....
 founded a city called Daliang as its capital in this area.






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Encyclopedia


Kaifeng , formerly known as Bianliang , Bianjing , Daliang , or simply Liang , is a prefecture-level city
Prefecture-level city

A prefecture-level city or prefecture-level municipality is an administrative division of the People's Republic of China, ranking below a province of China and above a county of China in China's administrative structure....
 in eastern Henan
Henan

Henan , is a Province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-Chinese character abbreviation is ? , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty province that included parts of Henan....
 province, People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China

The People's Republic of China , commonly known as China, is the largest country in East Asia and the List of countries by population in the world with over 1.3 billion people, approximately a fifth of the world's population....
. Located along the southern bank of the Yellow River
Yellow River

The Yellow River or Huang He / Hwang Ho is the second-longest river in China and the List of rivers by length in the world at 4,845 kilometers ....
, it borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou
Zhengzhou

Zhengzhou , formerly called Zhengxian is a prefecture-level city, and the capital of Henan Province , People's Republic of China....
 to the west, Xinxiang
Xinxiang

Xinxiang is a prefecture-level city in northern Henan province of China, People's Republic of China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to its southwest, Kaifeng to its southeast, Hebi and Anyang to its north, Jiaozuo to its west, and the provinces of Shanxi and Shandong to its northwest and east respectively....
 to the northwest, Shangqiu
Shangqiu

Shangqiu is a prefecture-level city in eastern Henan province of China, People's Republic of China. It borders Kaifeng to the northwest, Zhoukou to the southwest, and the provinces of Shandong and Anhui to the northeast and southeast respectively....
 to the east, Zhoukou
Zhoukou

Zhoukou is a prefecture-level city in eastern Henan province of China, People's Republic of China. It borders Zhumadian to the southeast, Xuchang and Luohe to the west, Kaifeng to the northwest, Shangqiu to the northeast, and the province of Anhui on all other sides....
 to the southeast, Xuchang
Xuchang

Xuchang is a prefecture-level city in central Henan province of China, People's Republic of China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the northwest, Kaifeng to the northeast, Zhoukou to the east, Luohe to the southeast, and Pingdingshan to the southwest....
 to the southwest, and the province of Shandong
Shandong

For the people of Shandong, see Shandong people is a coastal political divisions of China of eastern People's Republic of China. Its abbreviation is 'Lu', after the state of Lu that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
 to the northeast.

Administration

The prefecture-level city
Prefecture-level city

A prefecture-level city or prefecture-level municipality is an administrative division of the People's Republic of China, ranking below a province of China and above a county of China in China's administrative structure....
 of Kaifeng administers 5 districts and 5 counties.

  • Gulou District
  • Longting District
  • Yuwangtai District
  • Jinming District
  • Shunhe Hui District
  • Weishi County
  • Qi County
    Qi County, Kaifeng

    Qi County is a county of Kaifeng, Henan, China, with an area of 1243 square km and a population of 1.05 million....
  • Tongxu County
  • Lankao County
    Lankao County

    Lankao County is a county of Kaifeng, Henan, China. It has an area of 1,116 square kilometers and a population of 760,000.It was the site of the Battle of Lanfeng during the Second Sino-Japanese War....
  • Kaifeng County


History


Kaifeng is one of the Seven Ancient Capitals of China
Historical capitals of China

The China phrase Four Great Ancient Capitals of China traditionally refers to Beijing, Nanjing, Luoyang, and Chang'an .After the 1930s as more discoveries were made, other historical capitals were added to the list....
.

In 364 BC, the state of Wei
Wei (state)

The Wei was a state during the Warring States Period in China. Its territory lay between the states of Qin and Qi and included modern areas in Henan, Hebei and Shanxi and Shandong....
 during the Warring States Period
Warring States Period

The Warring States Period , also known as the Era of Warring States, covers the period from 476 BCE to the unification of China by the Qin Dynasty in 221 BCE....
 founded a city called Daliang as its capital in this area. During this period, the first of many canals in the area was constructed; it linked a local river to the Huang He. When the State of Wei was conquered by the Qin
Qin Dynasty

The Qin Dynasty was preceded by the feudal Zhou Dynasty and followed by the Han Dynasty in China. The unification of China in 221 BCE under the Qin Shi Huang marked the beginning of Imperial China, a period which lasted until the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1912 CE....
, Kaifeng was destroyed and abandoned except for a mid-sized market town, which remained in its place.

Early in the 7th century, Kaifeng was transformed into a major commercial hub when it was connected to the Grand Canal
Grand Canal of China

The Grand Canal of China , also known as the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is the longest ancient canal or artificial river in the world....
 as well as a canal running to western Shandong Province.

In 781 (Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty

The Tang Dynasty was an Dynasties in Chinese history preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire....
), a new city was reconstructed and named Bian. Bian was the capital of the Later Jin
Later Jin Dynasty (Five Dynasties)

Note that there are four periods of Chinese history using the name "Jin" The Later J?n was one of the Five Dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period in China....
 (936-946), Later Han
Later Han Dynasty

The Later Han Dynasty could refer to two dynasties in China:*The Eastern Han Dynasty *Later Han Dynasty , a dynasty in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period ...
 (947-950), and Later Zhou
Later Zhou Dynasty

The Later Zhou Dynasty was the last a succession of five dynasties that controlled most of northern China during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, which lasted from 907 to 960 and bridged the gap between the Tang Dynasty and the Song Dynasty....
 (951-960) of the Five Dynasties Period
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period

Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms was an era of political upheaval in China, beginning in the Tang Dynasty and ending in the Song Dynasty . During this period, five dynasties quickly succeeded one another in the north, and more than 12 independent states were established, mainly in the south....
. The Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty

The Song Dynasty was a ruling Chinese dynasty in China between 960–1279 AD; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty....
 made Bian its capital when it overthrew the Later Zhou in 960, and shortly afterward, they further expanded the city.

During the Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty

The Song Dynasty was a ruling Chinese dynasty in China between 960–1279 AD; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty....
, called Dongjing
Dongjing

Dongjing is mandarin Chinese meaning "eastern capital", it may refer to one of the following locations:* Tonkin, Vietnam.* Tokyo, Japan.* Bianjing, modern day Kaifeng, Capital of Chinese Northern Song Dynasty....
 or Bianjing then, Kaifeng was the capital with a population of over 400,000, living both inside and outside the city wall. Typhus
Typhus

Epidemic typhus is a form of typhus so named because the disease often causes epidemics following wars and natural disasters. The causative organism is Rickettsia prowazekii, transmitted by the human body louse ....
 was an acute problem of the city.

In 1049, Youguosi Pagoda, or Iron Pagoda
Iron Pagoda

The Iron Pagoda of Youguo Temple , Kaifeng City, Henan province, is a Buddhist Chinese pagoda built in 1049 AD during the Song Dynasty of History of China....
 as it is called today, was constructed, which measures 54.7 m in height. It has survived the destruction of wars and floodings and become the oldest landmark in this ancient city. Another Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty

The Song Dynasty was a ruling Chinese dynasty in China between 960–1279 AD; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty....
 pagoda, Bo Ta, from 974, has been partially destroyed.

Qingmingshanghetu
Another well-known sight was the astronomical clock tower
Clock tower

A clock tower is a tower built with one or more clock Clock face. The clock tower is usually part of a church or municipal building such as a town hall, but many clock towers are free-standing....
 of the engineer, scientist, and statesman Su Song
Su Song

Su Song was a renowned Chinese people Scholar-bureaucrat, Chinese astronomy, History of cartography#China, horology, Traditional Chinese medicine, mineralogy, zoology, botany, mechanics and Chinese architecture, Chinese poetry, antiquarian, and Foreign relations of Imperial China of the Song Dynasty ....
 (1020-1101 AD). It was crowned with a rotating armillary sphere
Armillary sphere

An armillary sphere is a model of the celestial sphere....
 that was hydraulic-powered (i.e. by waterwheel and clepsydra
Clepsydra

Clepsydra may refer to*Clepsydra , the Greek word for water clock.* Clepsydra Geyser in the Lower Geyser Basin of Yellowstone*Clepsydra , a genus of protists....
 clock
Clock

A clock is an instrument used for indicating and maintaining the time and passage thereof. The word clock is derived ultimately from the Celtic languages words clagan and clocca meaning "bell"....
), yet it incorporated an escapement
Escapement

In mechanical watches and clocks, an escapement is a device which converts continuous rotational motion into an Oscillatory or back and forth motion....
 mechanism two hundred years before they were found in clockworks of Europe
Europe

Europe is, conventionally, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural , the Caspian Sea, and by the Caucasus Mountains to the southeast....
, and featured the first known endless power-transmitting chain drive
Chain drive

Chain drive is a way of transmitting mechanical power from one place to another. It is often used to convey power to the wheels of a vehicle, particularly bicycles and motorcycles....
.

Kaifeng reached its peak of importance in the 11th century, when it was a commercial and industrial center at the intersection of four major canals. During this time, the city was surrounded by three rings of city walls and probably had a population of 600,000 to 700,000.

It is believed that Kaifeng was the largest city in the world from 1013 to 1127.

This period ended in 1127, when the city fell to Jurchen
Jurchen

Jurchen may refer to:* Jurchen people, Tungusic people who inhabited the region of Manchuria until the 17th century* Jurchen script, writing system of Jurchen people...
 invaders (see Jingkang Incident
Jingkang Incident

The Jingkang Incident , the Humiliation of Jingkang , or the The Disorders of the Jingkang Period took place in 1127 when invading Jurchens soldiers from the Jin Dynasty, 1115?1234 siege and sacked Kaifeng , the Capital of the Song Dynasty of China....
) and came subsequently under the rule of the Jin Dynasty. While it remained an important administrative center, only the city area inside the inner city wall of the early Song Dynasty remained settled and the two outer rings were abandoned.

One major problem associated with Kaifeng as the Imperial capital of the Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty

The Song Dynasty was a ruling Chinese dynasty in China between 960–1279 AD; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty....
 was its location. While it was conveniently situated along the Grand Canal
Grand Canal

Grand Canal can refer to multiple waterways:* Grand Canal in eastern China* Grand Canal in Venice, Italy* Grand Canal in central Ireland...
 for logistic supply, Kaifeng was militarily vulnerable due to its position on the flood plains of the Yellow River
Yellow River

The Yellow River or Huang He / Hwang Ho is the second-longest river in China and the List of rivers by length in the world at 4,845 kilometers ....
.

Kaifeng served as the Jurchen's "southern capital" from 1157 (other sources say 1161) and was reconstructed during this time. But they kept their main capital further north, until 1214, when they were forced to move the imperial court southwards to Kaifeng
Kaifeng

Kaifeng , formerly known as Bianliang , Bianjing , Daliang , or simply Liang , is a prefecture-level city in eastern Henan province of China, People's Republic of China....
 in order to flee the Mongol onslaught. In 1234 they succumbed to combined Mongol and Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty

The Song Dynasty was a ruling Chinese dynasty in China between 960–1279 AD; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty....
 forces. Mongols took control, and in 1279 they conquered all of China.

At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty

The Ming Dynasty , or Empire of the Great Ming , was the ruling Dynasties in Chinese history of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty....
 in 1368, Kaifeng was made the capital of Henan Province.

In 1642, Kaifeng was flooded by the Ming army with water from Yellow River to prevent the peasant rebel Li Zicheng
Li Zicheng

Li Zicheng , born Li H?ngji , was one of the major figures in the rebellion that brought down the Ming Dynasty. He proclaimed himself Chuang W?ng , or "The Roaming King"....
 from taking over. After this disaster, the city was abandoned again.

Under the celebrated Qing
Qing Dynasty

The Qing Dynasty , also known as the Manchu Dynasty, followed the Ming Dynasty in History of China, and was the last ruling Chinese Dynasties of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 ....
 emperor Kangxi
Kangxi Emperor

The Kangxi Emperor was the third Emperor of China of the Manchu-led Qing Dynasty and the second Qing emperor to rule over China proper, from 1661 to 1722....
 (1662), Kaifeng was rebuilt. However, another flooding occurred in 1841, followed by another reconstruction in 1843, which produced the contemporary Kaifeng as we know it.

Kaifeng is also known for having the oldest extant Jewish community in China, the Kaifeng Jews
Kaifeng Jews

The Kaifeng Jews are members of a small History of the Jews in China community that has existed in Kaifeng, in the Henan province of China, for hundreds of years....
.

It was here, too, that in 1969, the former Chairman of the People's Republic of China Liu Shaoqi
Liu Shaoqi

Liu Shaoqi was a Chinese revolutionary, statesman, and theorist. He was President of the People's Republic of China, China's head of state, from 27 April 1959 to 31 October 1968, during which he implemented policies of economic reconstruction in China....
, died in prison from medical neglect.

Culture

Kaifeng offers a wide range of food specialities such as steaming pie and Chinese dumpling. In the evening, Kaifeng's streets turn into restaurants while hundreds open their stands and begin selling their food in the famous night market
Night market

Night markets or night bazaars are street markets operating at night that are generally dedicated to more leisurely strolling, shopping, and eating than more businesslike day markets....
. Often people from the nearby Zhengzhou
Zhengzhou

Zhengzhou , formerly called Zhengxian is a prefecture-level city, and the capital of Henan Province , People's Republic of China....
 come to Kaifeng to spend an evening with their family as the atmosphere is very appealing. Less adventurous Western tourists may prefer to eat inside the restaurants and just have their drinks outside because they might not want to try chicken feet, pork feet or bucks. Particularly famous is Kaifeng's five-spice bread (wuxiang shaobing), which, like pita
Pita

Pita is an often round, brown, wheat flatbread made with yeast.Similar to other double-layered flatbread or pocket breads, pita is traditional in many Middle Eastern cuisine and Mediterranean cuisines....
, can be opened and filled.

Sights

DaXiangGuo Temple Famous Buddhist temple first built in 555 A.D.

Temple to Lord Bao, a shrine to Bao Zheng, a Song Dynasty official.

Sister cities

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    , Kansas
    Kansas

    The State of Kansas is a Midwestern U.S. state in the Central United States of the United States of America, an area often referred to as the United States "Heartland"....
    , United States
    United States

    The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
  • Kiryat Motzkin, Israel
    Israel

    Israel officially the State of Israel , is a country in the Middle East located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Lebanon in the north, Syria in the northeast, Jordan in the east, and Egypt on the southwest, and contains geographically diverse features within its relatively small area....
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    Toda, Saitama

    is a cities of Japan located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. The city is located beside the Arakawa river which separates it from Tokyo. The Sasame river also flows through the city before joining the Arakawa....
    , Saitama
    Saitama Prefecture

    is a Prefectures of Japan of Japan located on the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Saitama, Saitama.This prefecture is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, and most of Saitama's cities can be described as suburbs of Tokyo, to which floods of residents commute each day....
    , Japan
    Japan

    Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south....
  • Omsk
    Omsk

    Omsk is a types of inhabited localities in Russia in southwest Siberia in Russia, the administrative center of Omsk Oblast. It is the second-largest city in Russia beyond the Urals....
    , Siberia
    Siberia

    Siberia , is the name given to the vast region constituting almost all of North Asia and for the most part currently serving as the massive central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, having served in the same capacity previously for the Soviet Union from its beginning, and the Russian Empire beginning in the 16th century....
    , Russia
    Russia

    Russia , or the Russian Federation , is a list of countries spanning more than one continent country extending over much of northern Eurasia....


Colleges and universities


Public

  • Henan University
    Henan University

    Henan University is a public university in Kaifeng, Henan, PRC....
     (founded 1912)
  • Kaifeng University (founded 1980)
  • Kaifeng High School (founded 1902)
  • Ma Si Guang University (founded 1988)


See also

  • 1642 Kaifeng Flood
    1642 Kaifeng Flood

    Kaifeng, a prefecture-level city in eastern Henan province, People's Republic of China, located along the southern bank of the Yellow River, was flooded in 1642 by the Ming Dynasty army with water from the Yellow River to prevent the peasant rebel Li Zicheng from taking over....
  • Kaifeng Jews
    Kaifeng Jews

    The Kaifeng Jews are members of a small History of the Jews in China community that has existed in Kaifeng, in the Henan province of China, for hundreds of years....


Further reading


External links

  • (in Simplified Chinese)
  • (english)