Kaifeng: Encyclopedia - Kaifeng

Kaifeng

Kaifeng (Simplified: 开封; Traditional: 開封; Hanyu Pinyin: Kāifēng; Wade-Giles: K'ai-feng), formerly known as Bianliang (汴梁), is a prefecture-level city in eastern Henan province, People's Republic of China. Located along the southern bank of the Yellow River, it borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the west, Xinxiang to the northwest, Shangqiu to the east, Zhoukou to the southeast, Xuchang to the southwest]], and the province of Shandong to the northeast.

Kaifeng - Administration

The prefecture-level city of Kaifeng administers 5 districts and 5 counties.

• Gulou District (鼓楼区)
• Longting District (龙亭区)
• Nanguan District (南关区)
• Jiao District (郊区)
• Shunhe Hui District (顺河回族区)
• Weishi County (尉氏县)
• Qi County (杞县)
• Tongxu County (通许县)
• Lankao County (兰考县)
• Kaifeng County (开封县)

Kaifeng - History

Kaifeng is one of the Seven Ancient Capitals of China

In 364 BC, the state of Wei during the Warring States Period 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, Kaifeng was destroyed abandoned but for a mid-sized market town, which remained in its place.

Early in the 7th century, Kaifeng was transformed into a major commecial hub when it was connected to the Grand Canal as well as a canal running to western Shandong Province.

In 781 (Tang Dynasty), a new city was reconstructed and named Bian (汴), which was expanded in 956 (Song Dynasty).

During the Song Dynasty, Kaifeng was the capital with a population of over 400,000, living both inside and outside the city wall. Typhus was an acute problem of the city.

In 1049, Youguosi Pagoda (佑國寺塔), or Iron Pagoda (鐵塔) as we call it 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 pagoda, Bo Ta (繁塔), from 974, has been partially destroyed. Another well-known sight was a clocktower by Su Song.

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.

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

At the beginning of the Ming 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 from taking over. After this disaster, the city was abandoned again.

Under the celebrated Qing emperor Kangxi (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 - 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. Often people from the nearby Zhengzhou 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 (wǔxiāng shāobǐng), which like pita can be opened and filled.

Kaifeng - Sister Cities

Wichita, Kansas, United States

Kaifeng - Colleges and universities

Kaifeng - Public

• Henan University (河南大学) (founded 1912)
• Kaifeng High School (开封高中)

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Kaifeng", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki