Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden (清明上河园), located in Kaifeng City, Henan Province, is a theme park meticulously crafted to replicate the famous painting “Along the River During the Qingming Festival” at a 1:1 scale. Encompassing over 40 hectares, including 12 hectares of water surface, the garden boasts more than 100 ancient boats and over 400 traditional buildings, spanning a total architectural area of over 30,000 square meters.
The park is divided into two major areas, the South Garden and the North Garden, separated by the iconic Twin Pavilion Bridge. The South Garden vividly showcases the folk customs and market culture of the Song Dynasty, while the North Garden transports visitors to the imperial gardens and entertainment of ancient times.
From March to November each year, visitors can enjoy the grand water-themed performance “Grand Song – Dream of Bianjing” during the evenings. This spectacular show seamlessly weaves together classic Song Dynasty poetry and scenes from “Along the River During the Qingming Festival,” immersing the audience in the atmosphere of the Northern Song era a millennium ago. The entire performance lasts approximately 70 minutes, ending as night falls over the park.
As darkness descends, the park illuminates with vibrant lights. Red lanterns hang everywhere, casting a warm glow over the bustling streets and market alleys, creating a different charm from the daytime. Climbing atop the Shangshan Gate within the garden offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the nighttime scenery of Kaifeng City, completing the enchanting experience of Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Highlights of Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden
- Vlog about the Theme Park
- Attractions near Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 day |
| Ticket Price | Daytime: 120 RMB Nighttime: 100 RMB |
| Opening Hours | 8.30 – 22.00 |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0371-25663819 0086-0371-25663928 |
Location and Transportation
The Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden is situated at 5 Longting West Road, Longting District, Kaifeng City, Henan Province, China. To get there, you can take bus 1, 15, or 38 and get off at Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden Stop (清明上河园站).
Highlights of Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden
Rainbow Bridge
The Rainbow Bridge stands as a pivotal attraction within the Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden, representing a significant achievement in ancient Chinese bridge construction and recognized as one of China’s ten famous bridges. Spanning the “Bian River,” this wooden single-arch bridge serves as the compositional center of the renowned painting “Along the River During the Qingming Festival.” In the artwork, four tall poles are erected at each end of the bridge, topped with bird-shaped ornaments crafted from feathers. These were used in ancient China to gauge wind direction, as the birds would pivot with the wind, aiding boats in navigating the river. Historically, the Bian River, originating from the Wei State during the Warring States period, was vital to the Song Dynasty as a major artery connecting the northern and southern regions. Along the bustling banks of the Bian River in the capital city, boats weaved through, and shops flourished, creating a vibrant hub of commerce and activity.
Stone Carvings
At the main entrance (east gate) of the Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden, visitors are greeted by a towering 6-meter-tall statue of Zhang Zeduan, the artist behind “Along the River During the Qingming Festival.” Crafted from granite, the statue depicts the painter holding a scroll, gazing into the distance with focused concentration. Behind the statue lies a massive 16-meter-long and 3-meter-high relief carving depicting various characters from the painting. These characters, including picnickers, porters, sedan-chair carriers, horseback riders, and pedestrians, are skillfully recreated with vivid expressions, bringing scenes from the Qingming Festival to life. The entire stone carving of “Along the River During the Qingming Festival” measures 33.32 meters in length and 2.23 meters in height, making it the largest such depiction in the world. This monumental artwork portrays the bustling prosperity of Bianjing (modern-day Kaifeng) during the Qingming Festival, serving as a testament to the flourishing era of the Northern Song Dynasty and offering a vivid glimpse into the urban landscape and diverse lifestyles of the period’s populace.
Fu Yun Pavilion
Standing at a towering height of 31.99 meters, the Fu Yun Pavilion is the pinnacle of the entire Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden. This three-story crimson pavilion employs a Ming-style architecture with four visible levels externally and three concealed layers within, totaling seven stories in reality. Originally serving as a repository for books during the Song Dynasty, the pavilion’s name, “Fu Yun,” carries dual meanings. Firstly, it describes the pavilion’s lofty height, seemingly touching the clouds with a gentle sweep. Secondly, it symbolizes the dispersion of historical mists, aiming to restore the truth of history.
Cultural Activities
Throughout the traditional Chinese calendar, the Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden hosts a variety of cultural events. During the Spring Festival, the park bursts with a plethora of folk performances from across the nation. Visitors are treated to a vibrant display of traditional customs, including drum performances, stilt walking, dragon and lion dances, regional operas, acrobatics, and more, infusing the atmosphere with the festive spirit of the Lunar New Year. Additionally, guests can partake in activities such as spring outings, willow tree planting, experiencing local customs, and sampling delicious snacks during Qingming Festival.
During the Dragon Boat Festival, visitors can enjoy performances of the Nuo dance, participate in traditional activities like making rice dumplings, engage in quizzes about the festival, and even experience examinations akin to those of the Song Dynasty. Meanwhile, the Qixi Cultural Festival centers around recreating the grand wedding ceremonies of the prosperous Song Dynasty, offering visitors a glimpse into ancient marital customs and celebrations.
On an ordinary Sunday, the crowd was manageable, and we could enjoy every attraction. The scenery was beautifully arranged, and several large live performances were spectacular. There were also many amusement facilities for both adults and kids to have a great time!
I saw a lion dance performance in the park. I’ve watched many lion dances before, but this was the first time I noticed how adorable the lion looked when it blinked and wagged its tail. It was truly a sight worth seeing!
Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden is like China’s very own Disneyland! You won’t be bored in the park, just regret that you don’t have enough time to enjoy everything. Personally, my favorite is the 360-degree panoramic performance at Ai Yason (爱雅宋) Watching an outdoor show in winter is quite something! Especially the performances related to Yue Fei. There’s water spraying and snow falling, and the overall experience is outstanding! But I would advise everyone to avoid winter visits If you don’t… Read more »
Don’t eat the pineapple rice, it’s not tasty. You can go to the night market in Kaifeng for fresh, delicious, and inexpensive food.
I saw the evening show of “The Great Song Dynasty Dream” (东京大宋梦华), and it was okay.
I watched a lot of performances and had a lot of fun.
The night view of Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden is very beautiful.
I couldn’t get the best position for the Iron Flower performance (打铁花), but the side view was still quite lovely.
The performance of “Dream of the Great Song Dynasty in Dongjing” (大宋东京梦华) was just average, but the light and shadow effects were decent.
I spent a day there, and the experience was very disappointing. From the moment I entered the park, the staff’s attitude was poor. The shows inside were just average, and it was very crowded. There were many vendors selling snacks, but the prices were quite expensive, and the taste was merely average. The commercialization is too severe, and I do not recommend visiting.
Today is so hot that it feels like I’m going to faint from the heat. The sun is scorching, yet surprisingly, the popularity of Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden shows no signs of waning. There are so many people that it feels overcrowded.
The Dongjing Defense War performance at Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden in Kaifeng recreates the fierce resistance of the people of the Song Dynasty against the invading Jin Dynasty in just 15 minutes.
The cannons are real, and the scene of actors leaping from the city wall into the water is also real, which is extremely impressive.
Due to the hot weather, I didn’t enter the Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden until 3 o’clock. I didn’t plan ahead and just strolled around wherever I fancied, which led me to miss out on a few performances that caught my interest on the map. Nevertheless, it wasn’t regrettable because the garden was truly enjoyable. Looking forward to visiting again next time.