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.
The park is quite small, and the buildings are closely packed together. However, given the popularity of the Bao Gong theme, it is still worth visiting to learn more about it. The performances are overcrowded, making it hard to get in; visiting when there are fewer people would provide a much better experience.
It is advisable to arrive before 9 AM, as there is a ceremonial performance in front of the main gate at 9 AM. The figure of Bao Zheng will personally welcome guests, along with a prelude to the story of Qin Xianglian. After the performance, you can leisurely explore the area. At 9:30 AM, there is a famous performance of “The Case of the Framed Beauty” (《铡美案》) in the main hall of the yamen. Afterward, it’s recommended to climb the tallest building in the park, Qingxin Tower, for a panoramic view of Kaifeng Prefecture.
However, do note that most of the buildings in Kaifeng Prefecture appear to be reconstructed replicas rather than original ancient structures, so if you’re strictly interested in authentic ancient architecture, you might want to skip this attraction.
There are still many performances happening; I only watched the welcome ceremony, and I must say, it was truly full of ritual significance.
Right across from Kaifeng Mansion is Bao Gong Lake. Sitting by the lake and quietly enjoying the scenery is quite delightful!
The performance of the “Bao Gong’s Judgments” takes place in front of the main hall, so there’s no need to arrive early to secure a spot inside. About 10 minutes before the show starts, the security will clear the area, so make sure to keep an eye on them. When they pull the ropes, be sure to move to a central position right away.
The performance of “Zhan Chen Shimei” is a continuation of the welcoming show, and everyone can enjoy it together. The actors are quite impressive; both their appearance and performance are noteworthy. I highly recommend everyone to go see it!
Kaifeng Mansion is not a place I will visit again, at least not with children. It was overcrowded, and it was hard to see the performances due to the sea of people. Many of the performances couldn’t be heard clearly because of poor sound system and fast-talking speakers.
Kaifeng Prefecture is like a park, the actors are all quite old, only one or two are more serious, the rest seem very indifferent, giving a rather decadent feeling, and all the voices are dubbed.