Kaifeng Fu (开封府) served as the administrative and judicial center of the government officials during the Northern Song Dynasty, hailed as the capital of the world. Among the administrative offices of various dynasties, Kaifeng Fu was the most grandiose, comparable to the modern-day government of Beijing. Historical records show that during the Northern Song Dynasty, there were a total of 183 Fu Yins (governors) in Kaifeng Fu, with Bao Zheng being the most renowned for presiding over the Southern Yamen.
The Kaifeng Fu of the Song Dynasty was long destroyed by floods, and what visitors see today is a recently reconstructed replica of the ancient site. Covering an area of over 4 hectares, with a construction area of 13,600 square meters, it was built in the architectural style of the Northern Song Dynasty, primarily using wood as the main material, with roofs covered in tiles. It features more than 50 halls and pavilions, including the main hall (Grand Hall), conference hall, Plum Blossom Hall, complemented by Tianqing Pavilion, Mingli Court, Qianlong Palace, Qingxin Tower, prisons, Yingwu Tower, and Yinbin Inn.
Based on different themes, Kaifeng Fu is roughly divided into nine exhibition areas: the Yamen Cultural Area with themes such as the ceremonial gate, the justice drum, the warning stone, and the grand hall; the Legend of Bao Zheng Cultural Area centered around the Plum Blossom Hall and Bao Zheng’s reputation for upright judgment; the Taoist Cultural Area with themes like the Tai Chi Eight Diagrams Platform and the Sanqing Hall; the Judicial Cultural Area highlighting the prison cells and dungeons; the Educational Imperial Examination Cultural Area featuring the Guiji Hall and the Gongkui Tower; the Entertainment Cultural Area showcasing the Yingwu Tower and the training ground; the Governor’s Humanistic Cultural Area detailing the achievements of the governors; the Imperial Cultural Area themed around Emperor Taizong and Emperor Zhenzong in the Qianlong Palace; and the Leisure Cultural Area featuring the Fanguan Pavilion, the Quqiao Bridge, the Mingjing Lake, and the Xianyue Mountain.
Apart from viewing a large number of precious historical materials, anecdotes, and exhibitions, visitors to Kaifeng Fu can also enjoy a variety of colorful performance activities such as the “Opening Ceremony of the Yamen,” “Bao Zheng’s Court Judgments,” “Selecting Grooms in Front of the Posting Board,” “Welcome Performances in the Martial Arts Arena,” and the Song-style dance “Graceful Lotus.”
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 – 2 hours |
| Ticket Price | 65 RMB |
| Opening Hours | 7.30 – 19.00 |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0371-23963159 0086-0371-23983319 |
Location and Transportation
Kaifeng Fu is situated on the northern shore of Baogong East Lake in Kaifeng City, Henan Province, China. You can take bus 1, 16, 19, 29, or L601, get off at Yanqing Taoist Temple Stop (延庆观站), and walk about 200 meters to the southeast to reach the attraction.
