{{short description|City in Henan, China}} {{Other uses}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Kaifeng | official_name = | other_name = | native_name = 开封市 | native_name_lang = zh-Hans | nickname = | settlement_type = [[Prefecture-level city]] | total_type = | motto = | image_skyline = {{multiple image |border = infobox |total_width = 280 |image_style = border:1; |perrow = 1/2/2/1 |image1 = 龙亭公园 - panoramio (2).jpg |caption1 = [[Dragon Pavilion]] |image2 = 清心楼 (6162261508).jpg |caption2 = Kaifeng Mayor's Mansion |image3 = Iron Pagoda 铁塔 (6162387102).jpg |caption3 = [[Iron Pagoda]] |image4 = 开封宋都御街 122.jpg |caption4 = Songdu Royal Street |image5 = 鲁智深大相国寺倒拔杨柳.jpg |caption5 = Lu Zhishen Daxiangguo Temple }} | image_flag = | image_seal = | seal_size = 100px | image_shield = | shield_size = | image_blank_emblem = | blank_emblem_type = | blank_emblem_size = | image_map = ChinaHenanKaifeng.png | mapsize = | map_caption = Location of Kaifeng City jurisdiction in Henan | image_map1 = | mapsize1 = | map_caption1 = | coor_pinpoint = | coordinates = {{coord|34|47|42|N|114|20|42|E|type:adm2nd_region:CN-41|display=it}} | pushpin_map = China | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_caption = Location in [[China]] | pushpin_mapsize = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = [[China|People's Republic of China]] | subdivision_type1 = [[Province (China)|Province]] | subdivision_name1 = [[Henan]] | subdivision_type2 = | subdivision_name2 = | seat_type = Municipal seat | seat = [[Longting District]] | parts_type = | parts_style = | parts = | p1 = | p2 = | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_title1 = | leader_name1 = | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = | leader_title3 = | leader_name3 = | leader_title4 = | leader_name4 = | established_title = | established_date = | established_title1 = | established_date1 = | established_title2 = | established_date2 = | established_title3 = | established_date3 = | founder = | named_for = | area_magnitude = | unit_pref = | area_footnotes = {{cite web |url=https://www.hongheiku.com/xianjirank/ |script-title=zh:最新人口信息 |publisher=hongheiku |language=Chinese |access-date=2021-01-12 |archive-date=2021-01-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115054234/https://www.hongheiku.com/xianjirank |url-status=live }} | area_total_km2 = 6247 | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | area_water_percent = | area_urban_km2 = 1848.5 | area_metro_km2 = 1848.5 | area_blank1_title = | area_blank1_km2 = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 75 | elevation_ft = 245 | elevation_max_m = | elevation_min_m = | elevation_min_ft = | population_as_of = 2020 census | population_footnotes = {{Cite web |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/china/henan/admin/|title=China: Hénán (Prefectures, Cities, Districts and Counties) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map|access-date=2021-09-26}} | population_note = | population_total = 4824016 | population_density_km2 = auto | population_metro = 1735581 | population_density_metro_km2 = auto | population_urban = 1735581 | population_density_urban_km2 = auto | population_blank1_title = | population_blank1 = | population_density_blank1_km2 = | demographics_type2 = GDP{{cite book |author=河南省统计局、国家统计局河南调查总队 |title=《河南统计年鉴－2017》 |date=November 2017 |publisher=[[China Statistics Press]] |isbn=978-7-5037-8268-8 |url=http://www.ha.stats.gov.cn/hntj/lib/tjnj/2017/zk/indexch.htm |access-date=2018-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115105251/http://www.ha.stats.gov.cn/hntj/lib/tjnj/2017/zk/indexch.htm |archive-date=2018-11-15 |url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.ha.stats.gov.cn/hntj/lib/tjnj/2017/zk/indexch.htm|title=河南统计年鉴—2017|accessdate=2018-12-03|work=www.ha.stats.gov.cn|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115105251/http://www.ha.stats.gov.cn/hntj/lib/tjnj/2017/zk/indexch.htm|archive-date=2018-11-15|url-status=dead}} | demographics2_title1 = [[Prefecture-level city]] | demographics2_info1 = [[Renminbi|CN¥]] 175.5 billion
[[US$]] 26.4 billion | demographics2_title2 = Per capita | demographics2_info2 = CN¥ 38,619
US$ 5,814 | timezone = [[China Standard Time|China Standard]] | utc_offset = +8 | postal_code_type = [[Postal code of China|Postal code]] | postal_code = | area_code = 371 | iso_code = [[ISO 3166-2:CN|CN-HA-02]] | blank1_name = Major [[Nationalities of China|Nationalities]] | blank1_info = [[Han Chinese|Han]], [[Hui people|Hui]] | blank2_name = County-level divisions | blank2_info = 5 | blank3_name = Township-level divisions | blank3_info = | blank4_name = [[License Plate (China)|License plate prefixes]] | blank4_info = {{lang|zh-cn|豫B}} | website = {{URL|kaifeng.gov.cn}} }} {{Infobox Chinese | pic = Kaifeng_(Chinese_characters).svg | piccap = "Kaifeng" in Simplified (top) and Traditional (bottom) Chinese characters | picupright = 0.45 | t = 開封 | s = 开封 | l = "Opening the Border" | xej = {{Script/Nastaliq|كَےْفېڭ}} | bpmf = ㄎㄞ¯ㄈㄥ¯ | p = Kāifēng | w = K'ai1-feng1 | mi = {{IPAc-cmn|k|ai|.|f|eng|1}} | gr = Kaifeng | j = Hoi1-fung1 | y = Hōi-fūng | ci = {{IPAc-yue|h|oi|1|.|f|ung|1}} | tl = Khui-pang | order = st }} '''Kaifeng''' ({{lang-zh|s=开封|lang-zh|t=開封|p=Kāifēng}}) is a [[prefecture-level city]] in east-[[Zhongyuan|central]] [[Henan]] province, China. It is one of the [[Historical capitals of China|Eight Ancient Capitals of China]], having been the [[Capital city|capital]] eight times in history,{{Cite web |last=高 |first=建军 |orig-date=2023-09-01 |title=开封：传千年文脉 建文化名都 |trans-title=Kaifeng: Inheriting a Millennium of Cultural Heritage, Building a Renowned Cultural Capital |url=https://www.dswxyjy.org.cn/n1/2023/0901/c244516-40068512.html |website=中共中央党史和文献研究院 |publisher=《学习时报》 |language=zh}} As of the [[2020 Chinese census|2020 census]], 4,824,016 people lived in Kaifeng's Prefecture, of whom 1,735,581 lived in the metropolitan area consisting of Xiangfu, Longting, Shunhe Hui, Gulou and Yuwantai Districts. Located along the [[Yellow River]]'s southern bank, 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 [[Heze]] of [[Shandong]] to the northeast.{{Cite web |last=开封市人民政府 |orig-date=2024-06-03 |title=开封概览 |trans-title=Overview of Kaifeng |url=https://www.kaifeng.gov.cn/kfsrmzfwz/kfgl/pc/list.html |archive-url= |website=开封市人民政府 |publisher=开封日报社 |place=开封市 |language=zh}} Kaifeng is a major city for research in central China, ranking as the world's 138th top [[List of cities by scientific output|city by scientific output]] as tracked by the [[Nature Index]].{{Cite web |title=Leading 200 science cities {{!}} {{!}} Supplements {{!}} Nature Index |url=https://www.nature.com/nature-index/supplements/nature-index-2025-science-cities/tables/overall |access-date=2025-11-15 |website=www.nature.com}} The city is home to a campus of [[Henan University]], one of the [[National Key Universities|national key universities]] in the [[Double First Class University Plan]]. ==Names== Kaifeng's official one-character abbreviation in Chinese is {{lang|zh|汴}} (''Biàn''). Historically it has also been known as: *''Junyi'' (浚儀) *''Dàliáng'' ({{lang-zh|c=大梁}}) *''Biànliáng'' ({{lang-zh|labels=no |c=[[wikt:汴梁|汴梁]]}}) *''Biànzhōu'' ({{lang-zh|labels=no |c=汴州}}) *''Dōngjīng'' ({{lang-zh|labels=no |t=[[Dongjing (disambiguation)|東京]]}}) *''Biànjīng'' ({{lang-zh|labels=no |c=汴京}}) The area was named "Kaifeng" after the [[Qin dynasty|Qin]]'s [[Qin's wars of unification|conquest of China]] in the second century BC. The name literally means "opening the border" and figuratively "hidden" and "vengeance".{{cite book |script-title=zh:中国古今地名大辞典 |year=2005 |location=Shanghai |publisher=[[Shanghai Lexicographical Publishing House]] |page=348 |language=zh-hans}} Its name was originally Qifeng ({{lang-zh|t=啓封}}), but the syllable ''qi'' (Baxter-Sagart: /*kʰˤijʔ/) was changed to the essentially synonymous ''kai'' (/*Nə-[k]ʰˤəj/, /*[k]ʰˤəj/) to avoid the [[naming taboo]] of Liu Qi ([[Emperor Jing of Han]]). ==Administration== The [[prefecture-level city]] of Kaifeng administers five [[district of China|districts]] and four [[County (People's Republic of China)|counties]]: *[[Longting District]] *[[Shunhe Hui District]] *[[Gulou District, Kaifeng|Gulou District]] *[[Yuwangtai District]] *[[Xiangfu District]] *[[Qi County, Kaifeng|Qi County]] *[[Tongxu County]] *[[Weishi County]] *[[Lankao County]] {| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" ! Map |- |align="left"|
{{Image label begin|image=Administrative Division Kaifeng.png|width=497|link=}} {{Image label|x=760/2850|y=490/2850|scale=497|text=[[Longting District|'''Longting''']]}} {{Image label|x=1040/2850|y=580/2850|scale=497|text=[[Shunhe Hui District|'''Shunhe''']]}} {{Image label|x=830/2850|y=750/2850|scale=497|text=[[Gulou District, Kaifeng|'''Gulou''']]}} {{Image label|x=970/2850|y=690/2850|scale=497|text=[[Yuwangtai District|'''Yuwangtai''']]}} {{Image label|x=1280/2850|y=790/2850|scale=497|text=[[Xiangfu District|'''Xiangfu''']]}} {{Image label|x=1780/2850|y=1290/2850|scale=497|text=[[Qi County, Kaifeng|'''Qi
County''']]}} {{Image label|x=1210/2850|y=1440/2850|scale=497|text=[[Tongxu County|'''Tongxu
County''']]}} {{Image label|x=500/2850|y=1590/2850|scale=497|text=[[Weishi County|'''Weishi
County''']]}} {{Image label|x=2200/2850|y=360/2850|scale=497|text=[[Lankao County|'''Lankao
County''']]}} {{Image label end}}
|} ==History== {{multiple image | direction = vertical | width = 300 | image1 = Kaifeng in Northern Song Dynasty d.jpg | image2 = Model of Kaifeng in Northern Song Dynasty a.jpg | footer = Model diorama of Kaifeng in the [[Northern Song dynasty]] }} [[File:QingmingshangHetu.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The famous painting ''[[Along the River During the Qingming Festival]]'' is believed by some to portray life in Kaifeng on [[Qingming Festival]]. Several versions exist – the above is an 18th-century recreation – of an original attributed to the 12th-century artist [[Zhang Zeduan]].]] [[File:Kaifeng in Northern Song.jpg|300px|thumb|The city of Kaifeng (Dongjing, Bianliang) in Northern Song dynasty]] [[File:Outer city of Bianjing.JPG|thumb|Outer city of Bianjing (Kaifeng), Yuan dynasty map from [[Shilin Guangji]] by [[Chen Yuanjing]]]] Kaifeng is one of the [[Historical capitals of China|Eight Ancient Capitals of China]]. There have been many changes during the course of its history.{{Cite web |last=焦 |first=健 |year=2015 |orig-date=2015年06月18日17:19 |title=中国八大古都_共产党员网 |trans-title=China's eight ancient capitals_Communist Party website |url=https://www.12371.cn/2015/06/18/ARTI1434618611228380.shtml |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=www.12371.cn}} === Antiquity === During the [[Spring and Autumn period]], there existed two ancient cities in the vicinity of Kaifeng, one is called '''Yi''' (儀邑) built by the [[Wey (state)|Wey state]] and one is '''Qifeng''' (啟封), built by [[Duke Zhuang of Zheng]] south of the present-day city. Wey was later annexed by the [[state of Wei]]. During the [[Warring States period]], the lords of the state of Wei held the title of King of the [[Liang (realm)|realm of Liang]] (梁王, Liángwáng). In 361 BC, [[King Hui of Wei]] relocated the Wei capital from the city of An (安邑) to Yi where he built the city of '''Daliang''' ({{lang|zh-hant|大梁}}). Thereafter, the Wei state was called Liang. During this period, the first of many canals in the area was constructed linking a local river to the [[Yellow River]]. When the [[Qin (state)|State of Qin]] conquered the State of Wei, Daliang was destroyed and abandoned except for a mid-sized market town, which was renamed '''Junyi''' (浚儀).{{Cite web |last=陈 |first=玥 |year=2024 |orig-date=02.07 09:10 |title=地上有"地下悬河" 地下"城摞城"：开封"城摞城"揭秘 |trans-title=Underground Hanging River’ Underground “City Stacked on City”: Kaifeng “City Stacked on City” Uncovered |url=https://www.cctv.com/geography/news/20020207/6.html |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=www.cctv.com |publisher=新华社 |language=zh |via=国家地理}}{{Cite web |last=李晨翀 |first=晨翀 |year=2019 |orig-date=2019-10-10 22:01:14 |title=【寻访大运河文化带开封篇一】一城宋韵半城水 |trans-title=The Grand Canal Cultural Belt in Kaifeng: A City of Song Rhythm and Half a City of Water |url=http://yunhe.china.com.cn/2019-10/10/content_40916547.htm |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=yunhe.china.com.cn |publisher=开封网 |language=zh}} During the [[Han dynasty]], Junyi was the capital of the [[Kingdom of Liang]] ruled by [[Liu Wu, Prince of Liang|Liu Wu]] (son of Han emperor [[Emperor Wen of Han|Wen]]) when he was enfeoffed as Prince of Liang. Liu Wu restored the old city walls and constructed many buildings. Daliang became a center of music, art, a refuge for artists, and of splendid gardens despite the trivial political importance of the city at this period.{{Cite book |title=International Dictionary of Historic Places, Volume 5: Asia and Oceania |publisher=Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers |year=1996 |isbn=1-884964-04-4|editor-last=Schellinger|editor-first=Paul |location=Chicago |pages=420|editor-last2=Salkin|editor-first2=Robert}} [[Emperor Jing of Han]] changed the name of the city of Qifeng to '''Kaifeng''' (開封) because of a naming taboo. During the Eastern Han era, the Kingdom of Liang was changed to Liang County, and part of it became the [[Chenliu]] Commandery (陳留郡) but was re-established as a principality during the Cao Wei and Jin dynasty. In 202, [[Cao Cao]] repaired the Suiyang Canal in Junyi, opening the Bian River to the Yangtze and Huaihe Rivers. The canal's completion allowed grain transport northbound from the Yangtze and Huaihe River regions, and Junyi, strategically located at a waterway and land junction, saw an economic recovery. === Northern dynasties and Sui, Tang === The city fell into decline during the turmoil at the end of the Western Jin dynasty and during the [[Sixteen Kingdoms]] era. In 534, [[Emperor Xiaojing of Eastern Wei]] changed Chenliu County to Liangzhou (梁州). In 555, the [[Daxiangguo Temple]] was built. During the [[Northern Zhou dynasty]], Liangzhou was renamed as [[Bian Prefecture|Bianzhou]] (汴州), named after the [[Bian River (China)|Bian River]]. Early in the 7th century, the old city of Daliang, now called '''Bianzhou''' (汴州城) was transformed into a major commercial hub when it was connected to the [[Grand Canal (China)|Grand Canal]] as well as through the construction of a canal running to western [[Shandong]].{{Cite web |last=贾兵强 |first=兵强 |year=2023 |orig-date=2023-01-10 |title=大运河走向与沿河城市的兴衰 |trans-title=The Direction of the Grand Canal and the Rise and Fall of Cities Along the River |url=https://5g.dahe.cn/theory/202301101166308 |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=5g.dahe.cn |publisher=大河网}} In 781 during the [[Tang dynasty]], a new city wall with a circumference of 22 li was constructed by Bianzhou's governor [[Li Mian]]. Meanwhile the old city of Kaifeng (Qifeng) declined in prominence and later abandoned. The ruins of Qifeng can be found near today's [[Zhuxian, Henan|Zhuxian]] town. === Song dynasty to Mongol eras=== During the [[Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period|Five Dynasties]] period, [[Zhu Wen|Emperor Taizu of Liang]] established his capital in Bianzhou, calling it '''Dongdu''' (東都) or Eastern Capital (the previous Tang dynasty's eastern capital was [[Luoyang]]). Dongdu was the capital of the successive dynasties of Later Liang (913-923), [[Later Jin (Five Dynasties)|Later Jin]] (936–946), [[Later Han (Five Dynasties)|Later Han]] (947–950), and [[Later Zhou]] (951–960). In 955, the city underwent further expansion as [[Emperor Shizong of Zhou]] mobilized 100,000 civilians to build an outer city. The [[Song dynasty]] made Bian its capital when it overthrew the Later Zhou in 960, renamed it the Eastern Capital of Bianliang (東京汴梁), or '''Dongjing''' (東京). During the Song dynasty, the governmental entity of the capital was the Kaifeng Prefecture (''Kaifeng Fu'', 開封府) and it was the only prefecture of the Capital Region (''Jingji Lu'', 京畿路). In 1010, [[Xiangfu County]] was established under Kaifeng Prefecture, so the region was also called ''Xiangfu'' (祥符). Kaifeng-Dongjing became largest and most prosperous city in China, with a population of over 400,000 living both inside and outside the city wall. The historian [[Jacques Gernet]] provides a lively picture of life in this period in his ''Daily Life in China on the Eve of the Mongol Invasion, 1250-1276,'' which often draws on ''[[Dongjing Meng Hua Lu]]'', a nostalgic memoir of the city.Jacques Gernet. ''Daily Life in China on the Eve of the Mongol Invasion, 1250-1276.'' (Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 1962). Translated by H. M. Wright. {{ISBN|0804707200}}. According to the ''Dongjing Menghualu'': "Outside Donghua Gate, the market was bustling... All manners of food, seasonal fruits and flowers, fish, shrimp, turtle, crab, quail and rabbit jerky, cured meats, gold, jade, and treasures, as well as clothings, were the finest in the world. The taste was exquisite, and if a customer requested a dozen or so dishes to go with their wine, they would be readily available". In addition to daytime trading, there were also night markets and dawn markets. The main street of Dongjing was called the Imperial Street (御街). There were patrol stations located every two or three hundred steps, the patrolmen directed pedestrian and vehicle traffic during the day, and guarded government offices and merchants' residences at night. The city's restaurants (''fencha'' 分茶), taverns (''wasi'' 瓦肆) and theaters (''goulan'' 勾阑) could accommodate and entertain thousands of people. Daily performances included storytelling, singing, puppet shows, dance and acrobatics. The Northern Song painter [[Zhang Zeduan]]'s painting ''[[Along the River During the Qingming Festival]]'' depicts the bustling scenery of the capital and the banks of the Bian River during the [[Qingming Festival]]. In 1049, the [[Iron Pagoda]] of Youguo Temple ({{lang|zh-hant|佑國寺塔}}) was constructed, measuring {{cvt|54.7|m|sp=us}} in height. It has survived the vicissitudes of war and floods to become the oldest landmark in this ancient city. Another Song-dynasty pagoda, {{Interlanguage link|Po Pagoda|zh|3=繁塔}}, dating from 974, has been partially destroyed. [[File:Song-Imperial-Garden1.jpg|thumb|left|200px|''Games in the Jinming Pool'', an early 12th-century painting depicting Kaifeng, by [[Zhang Zeduan]].]] Another well-known sight was the [[astronomy|astronomical]] [[clock tower]] of the engineer, scientist, and statesman [[Su Song]] (1020–1101 AD). It was crowned with a rotating [[armillary sphere]] that was [[hydraulics|hydraulically powered]] (i.e. by [[water wheel]] and a [[water clock]]), yet it incorporated an [[escapement]] mechanism two hundred years before they were found in the clockworks of [[Europe]] and featured the first known endless power-transmitting [[chain drive]]. Dongjing reached its peak importance in the 11th century as 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 between 600,000 and 700,000. It is believed that it was the largest city in the world from 1013 to 1127.{{Cite web |title=Zhengzhou & Kaifeng Introduction, Zhengzhou & Kaifeng travel guide - Easy Tour China |url=https://www.easytourchina.com/tip-v581-zhengzhou-kaifeng-introduction |access-date=2023-09-17 |website=www.easytourchina.com}} This period ended in 1127 when the city fell was occupied by barbarian invaders. The Jin ruler ordered all the assets and captured prisoners, including the Song imperial family and officials who refused to escape, to be taken back to the Jin capital – Shangjing (near present-day [[Harbin]]). Prince [[Zhao Gou]] escaped and moved the remaining Song court away. The Jurchens retreated during the year but the Song court never moved back to Bianliang. Dongjing was renamed '''Bianjing''' (汴京). It was captured by the Jurchens again in 1130 and became the capital of a Han-ruled puppet kingdom called Great Qi（大齊）until 1138. It subsequently came under the direct rule of the Jin regime, which had occupied most of [[North China]].{{cite book |first=Peter |last=Lorge |title=War, Politics and Society in Early Modern China, 900–1795 |year=2005 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-203-96929-8 |pages=52–54}} From 1211, [[Genghis Khan]] led his troops to attack the Jin state several times. In 1214, the Jin moved the imperial court southwards to Kaifeng, relying on the Yellow River defense line to resist the Mongols. In 1233, Kaifeng fell to Mongol forces after a [[Siege of Kaifeng (1232)|10 months siege]]. The city was looted and all Jin family members were killed.{{Cite web |last=Carter |first=James |date=2022-04-06 |title=A Mongol siege, the Black Death, and the end of two dynasties |url=https://thechinaproject.com/2022/04/06/a-mongol-siege-the-black-death-and-the-end-of-two-dynasties/ |access-date=2023-09-17 |website=The China Project |language=en-US}}{{cite book |title=金史 |volume=64 |language=zh |trans-title=History of Jin |chapter=列傳第二 后妃下 (Biographies 2, Imperial wives and concubines [lower volume])}} During the Mongol occupation, Kaifeng became the capital of [[Henan Jiangbei Province]], which was established in 1268. In 1260, [[Marco Polo]] arrived at Kaifeng, and wrote about it in his diaries. [[File:East Market street, Kaifeng-1-.JPG|thumb|right|200px|East Market Street, Kaifeng, 1910. The [[synagogue]] of the [[Kaifeng Jews]] lay beyond the row of stores on the right]] === Ming, Qing and modern time === From 1358 to 1359, the city was briefly captured by the [[Red Turban Rebellion|Red Turban]] rebels led by [[Liu Futong]] and [[Han Lin'er]], who proclaimed emperor of the restored Song. They were crushed by the Yuan forces. In 1368, Bianliang was captured by the [[Ming dynasty]] and was reverted back to the old name Kaifeng. During the reign of the [[Hongwu Emperor]], Kaifeng Prefecture was designated as the secondary Northern Capital of the Ming dynasty, bearing the name of ''Beijing'', in anticipation of the construction of the new capital Zhongdu in [[Fengyang County|Fengyang]]. In 1378, the Zhongdu project was abolished and Kaifeng Prefecture became the capital of Henan province. Kaifeng remained the capital of Henan from Ming to the early years of the People's Republic. It was until 1954 that the capital of Henan province was moved to Zhengzhou. In 1410, the Yellow River flooded, destroying the city and killing 14,000 households.{{cite book|title=中华文化劫难录|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HOgPAQAAMAAJ|year=2001|publisher=同心出版社|pages=862| isbn=978-7-80593-480-8 |archive-date=2020-05-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200520042640/https://books.google.com/books?id=HOgPAQAAMAAJ|url-status=live}} Kaifeng was conveniently situated along the [[Grand Canal (China)|Grand Canal]] for logistics supply but militarily vulnerable due to its position on the floodplains of the Yellow River. Five major floods devastated the city between 1375 and 1416, and flooding occurred more than 300 times from the Southern Song Dynasty to the late Qing dynasty. [[File:Map of Kaifeng, 1950s.jpg|thumb|Map of Kaifeng (K'ai-feng) in 1950s]] In 1642, rebels attacked Kaifeng three times. During the third siege, Kaifeng was flooded by the Ming army by the Yellow River to drown the rebels. The entire city was submerged in several feet deep water. Only 30,000 of the 370,000 people in the city remained. After this disaster, the city was abandoned again. In 1662, Kaifeng was rebuilt. Another reconstruction in 1843 followed the flood of 1841, shaping Kaifeng as it stands today. The [[Jews]] at Kaifeng were recorded as well. From the 8th to 9th century and up to the 19th century, Kaifeng was known for having the [[History of the Jews in China|oldest extant Jewish community in China]], the [[Kaifeng Jews]].{{Cite journal |last=Ainslie |first=Mary J. |date=March 2021 |title=Chinese Philosemitism and Historical Statecraft: Incorporating Jews and Israel into Contemporary Chinese Civilizationism |journal=[[The China Quarterly]] |language=en |volume=245 |pages=208–226 |doi=10.1017/S0305741020000302 |issn=0305-7410 |doi-access=free}}{{cite news |last=JTA and Stuart Winer |title=5 Chinese women immigrate to Israel, plan conversion |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/5-chinese-women-immigrate-to-israel-plan-conversion/ |access-date=2022-09-14 |website=[[The Times of Israel]] |date=29 February 2016 |language=en-US |issn=0040-7909}} As of 2016, there are 500 to 1,000 Jews still left in the city. From June 1938 to August 1945, the city was occupied by the invading [[Japanese Imperial Army]]. In 1948, the [[Battle of Shangcai|Battle of Kaifeng]] occurred between Chinese communist forces and Chinese Nationalist forces but ultimately lead to a PLA Victory and the collapse of the Nationalist forces. In October 1954, the capital of Henan province was moved from Kaifeng to Zhengzhou. In September 1983, Kaifeng City (开封市) was formed on the basis of former prefectures and districts. ==Climate== Kaifeng has a [[monsoon]]-influenced [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Cwa'') that borders on a humid continental climate, with four distinct seasons. Winters are cool and mostly dry while summers are hot and humid; spring is warm and sees some, but not much rainfall, while autumn weather is crisp and drier. Precipitation mainly occurs from June to September. Extreme temperatures in the city since 1951 have ranged from {{convert|−16|°C|0}} on December 27, 1971, to {{convert|42.9|°C|0}} on June 19, 1966.{{Cite web |title=开封党史方志网 |url=https://www.kfdsw.com/index/detail/id/495.html |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=www.kfdsw.com}} {{Weather box | width = auto | metric first = y | single line = y | collapsed = Y | location = Kaifeng, elevation {{convert|74|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1966–present) | Jan high C = 5.4 | Feb high C = 9.4 | Mar high C = 15.3 | Apr high C = 21.8 | May high C = 27.2 | Jun high C = 31.7 | Jul high C = 32.0 | Aug high C = 30.7 | Sep high C = 26.9 | Oct high C = 21.6 | Nov high C = 13.9 | Dec high C = 7.4 | Jan mean C = 0.7 | Feb mean C = 4.2 | Mar mean C = 9.8 | Apr mean C = 16.1 | May mean C = 21.7 | Jun mean C = 26.2 | Jul mean C = 27.6 | Aug mean C = 26.3 | Sep mean C = 21.9 | Oct mean C = 16.2 | Nov mean C = 8.8 | Dec mean C = 2.7 | Jan low C = -2.9 | Feb low C = 0.0 | Mar low C = 5.2 | Apr low C = 11.1 | May low C = 16.6 | Jun low C = 21.3 | Jul low C = 23.9 | Aug low C = 22.8 | Sep low C = 17.8 | Oct low C = 11.8 | Nov low C = 4.7 | Dec low C = -1.0 | Jan record high C = 20.4 | Jan record low C = -15.0 | Feb record high C = 25.5 | Feb record low C = -14.2 | Mar record high C = 29.9 | Mar record low C = -7.3 | Apr record high C = 36.0 | Apr record low C = -1.6 | May record high C = 39.1 | May record low C = 5.0 | Jun record high C = 42.9 | Jun record low C = 11.3 | Jul record high C = 40.6 | Jul record low C = 15.2 | Aug record high C = 38.0 | Aug record low C = 13.1 | Sep record high C = 37.4 | Sep record low C = 6.0 | Oct record high C = 34.1 | Oct record low C = -0.2 | Nov record high C = 26.9 | Nov record low C = -11.7 | Dec record high C = 22.4 | Dec record low C = -16.0 | year high C = | year low C = | year high F = | year low F = | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation mm = 8.7 | Feb precipitation mm = 11.2 | Mar precipitation mm = 19.2 | Apr precipitation mm = 38.6 | May precipitation mm = 51.3 | Jun precipitation mm = 62.1 | Jul precipitation mm = 157.9 | Aug precipitation mm = 134.6 | Sep precipitation mm = 66.3 | Oct precipitation mm = 31.7 | Nov precipitation mm = 24.9 | Dec precipitation mm = 8.8 | Jan humidity = 59 | Feb humidity = 58 | Mar humidity = 57 | Apr humidity = 61 | May humidity = 61 | Jun humidity = 62 | Jul humidity = 75 | Aug humidity = 77 | Sep humidity = 72 | Oct humidity = 65 | Nov humidity = 64 | Dec humidity = 61 | unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm | Jan precipitation days = 3.4 | Feb precipitation days = 4.2 | Mar precipitation days = 4.6 | Apr precipitation days = 5.3 | May precipitation days = 6.6 | Jun precipitation days = 7.1 | Jul precipitation days = 10.6 | Aug precipitation days = 9.6 | Sep precipitation days = 7.8 | Oct precipitation days = 5.7 | Nov precipitation days = 4.8 | Dec precipitation days = 3.0 | year precipitation days = | Jan sun = 118.7 | Feb sun = 131.3 | Mar sun = 172.7 | Apr sun = 199.1 | May sun = 214.4 | Jun sun = 195.7 | Jul sun = 167.0 | Aug sun = 163.3 | Sep sun = 152.4 | Oct sun = 155.6 | Nov sun = 135.4 | Dec sun = 123.7 | year sun = | Jan percentsun = 38 | Feb percentsun = 42 | Mar percentsun = 46 | Apr percentsun = 51 | May percentsun = 50 | Jun percentsun = 45 | Jul percentsun = 38 | Aug percentsun = 40 | Sep percentsun = 41 | Oct percentsun = 45 | Nov percentsun = 44 | Dec percentsun = 41 | year percentsun = | Jan snow days = 4.0 | Feb snow days = 3.1 | Mar snow days = 1.2 | Apr snow days = 0.2 | May snow days = 0 | Jun snow days = 0 | Jul snow days = 0 | Aug snow days = 0 | Sep snow days = 0 | Oct snow days = 0 | Nov snow days = 1.1 | Dec snow days = 2.7 | year snow days = | source 1 = [[China Meteorological Administration]]{{cite web |url=http://data.cma.cn/data/weatherBk.html |script-title=zh:中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data |publisher=[[China Meteorological Administration]] |language = zh-hans |access-date=12 August 2023}} {{cite web|url=https://experience.arcgis.com/template/e724038fda394e9d9b7921f10fd1aa55/page/%E7%BA%AF%E8%A1%A8%E6%A0%BC%E7%BB%9F%E8%AE%A1-(%E5%AF%B9%E6%AF%948110%E5%8F%98%E5%8C%96)/?org=UQmaps |script-title=zh:中国气象数据网|publisher=[[China Meteorological Administration]] |language = zh-hans | access-date =12 August 2023 |title=Experience Template }}all-time January high{{cite web|url=https://weibo.com/1920136013/QngLQDYRI |script-title=zh: 【气温破纪录】今天有284个国家气象站（超10%比例）打破1月中旬最高气温纪录，这其中还有105站气温打破1月最高气温纪录。比如郑州21.9℃、太原老站14.9℃。具体详见下图表格。明天暖破纪录的情况可能还会出现，主要在四川东部、湖北、安徽、江苏以及山东南部。|publisher=weatherman_信欣 on [[Weibo]] |language = zh-hans | access-date = 15 January 2026 |title=Sina Visitor System }} | source 2 = Weather China{{cite web | url = http://www.weather.com.cn/cityintro/101180801.shtml? | script-title=zh:开封 - 气象数据 -中国天气网 | publisher = Weather China | language = zh | access-date = 29 November 2022}} | source = }} ==Transportation== ===Air=== Downtown Kaifeng is about {{cvt|55|km}} away from [[Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport]] ([[International Air Transport Association airport code|IATA]]: '''CGO''', [[International Civil Aviation Organization airport code|ICAO]]: '''ZHCC'''), which is the busiest airport in [[central China]] in terms of both passenger and cargo traffic (2017 statistics).{{cite web |url=http://www.caac.gov.cn/XXGK/XXGK/TJSJ/201803/t20180307_55600.html|script-title=zh:2017年民航机场生产统计公报|access-date=2018-03-15 |date=2018-03-07 |publisher=Civil Aviation Administration of China |language=zh |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150823011202/http://www.caac.gov.cn/XXGK/XXGK/TJSJ/201803/t20180307_55600.html|archive-date=2015-08-23|url-status=dead}} With the completion of [[Zhengzhou–Kaifeng intercity railway]] and [[Zhengzhou–Xinzheng Airport intercity railway]], fast train connections to [[Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport]] from Kaifeng became available. As of August 2018, there are 12 pairs of intercity trains running between [[Xinzheng Airport railway station|Xinzheng Airport]] and [[Songchenglu railway station|Songchenglu]] every day, with a travel time of 53 min. ===Rail=== [[Kaifeng railway station]] is on the east–west [[Longhai Railway]] mainline and provides convenient access to many cities around China, including [[Beijing West railway station|Beijing West]], [[Shanghai railway station|Shanghai]], [[Shanghai Hongqiao railway station|Shanghai Hongqiao]], [[Tianjin railway station|Tianjin]], Xi'an, Jinan, [[Hangzhou railway station|Hangzhou]]. Services to [[Zhengzhou]], [[Luoyang]] and [[Qingdao]] are also frequent and convenient. Direct long-distance services to [[Shenzhen railway station|Shenzhen]], [[Guangzhou railway station|Guangzhou]], [[Chengdu railway station|Chengdu]], [[Chongqing North railway station|Chongqing North]], [[Harbin railway station|Harbin]], [[Ürümqi railway station|Ürümqi]], [[Fuzhou railway station|Fuzhou]], [[Dalian railway station|Dalian]] and [[Wuhan railway station|Wuhan]] are also available. The [[Zhengzhou–Kaifeng intercity railway]] ({{lang|zh-hans|郑开城际铁路}}) started operation on 28 December 2014,{{Cite web |script-title=zh:郑州开封城铁开通：省委书记玩自拍 “包拯”捧场 |url=http://new.qq.com/cmsn/20141229/20141229001413 |website=new.qq.com |access-date=2018-04-13 |language=zh |archive-date=2018-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413190109/http://new.qq.com/cmsn/20141229/20141229001413 |url-status=live }} connecting the provincial capital [[Zhengzhou]] and Kaifeng. The railway currently terminates at [[Songchenglu railway station|Songchenglu]], and is planned to be extended to [[Kaifeng railway station]]. The designed top speed is {{cvt|200|km/h}}. [[Kaifeng North railway station]] of the [[Xuzhou–Lanzhou high-speed railway]] is the main high-speed railway station of the city. It started operation on 10 September 2016.{{Cite web |script-title=zh:郑徐高铁开封北站即将开门迎宾(组图） |url=http://henan.people.com.cn/n2/2016/0907/c351638-28965979.html |website=henan.people.com.cn |date=2016-09-07 |access-date=2018-08-02 |language=zh |archive-date=2018-08-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802101833/http://henan.people.com.cn/n2/2016/0907/c351638-28965979.html |url-status=live }} ===Coach=== There are 4 main [[coach station]]s in Kaifeng: *Kaifeng West Coach Station ({{lang|zh-hans|开封客运西站}}) *Kaifeng Long-Distance Coach Station ({{lang|zh-hans|开封长途汽车站}}) *Kaifeng Jinming Coach Station ({{lang|zh-hans|开封金明汽车站}}) *Kaifeng XiangGuosi Coach Station ({{lang|zh-hans|开封相国寺汽车站}}) There are frequent services to many neighboring counties, other provincial cities and long-distance services to other provinces. ===Road transport=== *[[File:China Expwy G30 sign with name.svg|20px]] [[G30 Lianyungang–Khorgas Expressway]] *[[File:China Expwy G45 sign with name.svg|20px]] [[G45 Daqing–Guangzhou Expressway]] *[[File:Henan Expwy S82 sign no name.svg|20px]] [[S82 Zhengzhou–Minquan Expressway]] *[[File:Henan Expwy S83 sign no name.svg|20px]] [[S83 Lankao–Nanyang Expressway]] *[[File:Kokudou 106(China).svg|25px]] [[China National Highway 106]] *[[File:Kokudou 220(China).svg|25px]] [[China National Highway 220]] *[[File:Kokudou 310(China).svg|25px]] [[China National Highway 310]] ==Culture== ===Religion=== [[Image:Kaifeng east mosque.jpg|thumb|One of Kaifeng's many [[women's mosques]]]] [[File:Cathedral in Kaifeng 01.jpg|thumb|Sacred Heart Cathedral, Kaifeng]] Kaifeng is known for having the oldest extant Jewish community in China, the [[Kaifeng Jews]]. It also has a significant [[Muslim]] enclave and is notable for its many [[women's mosques]] (''nǚsì''), including the oldest ''nǚsì'' in China: Wangjia Hutong Women's Mosque, which dates to 1820.{{Cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2010/07/21/128628514/female-imams-blaze-trail-amid-chinas-muslims |title=NPR |website=[[NPR]] |date=21 July 2010 |access-date=2018-04-03 |archive-date=2011-09-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110905050801/https://www.npr.org/2010/07/21/128628514/female-imams-blaze-trail-amid-chinas-muslims |url-status=live |last1=Lim |first1=Louisa }} There are also some active Christian churches, including the [[Sacred Heart Cathedral, Kaifeng|Sacred Heart Cathedral]] ({{lang|zh|开封耶稣圣心主教座堂}}). ===Cuisine=== [[File:Steamed soup buns of Kaifeng.jpg|thumb|Kaifeng-style [[Xiaolongbao]]]] Kaifeng cuisine plays a dominant part in forming [[Henan cuisine]].{{Cite web |url=http://newpaper.dahe.cn/hnrbncb/html/2009-03/31/content_163891.htm|script-title=zh:豫菜成大器 任重而道远|access-date=October 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140129030055/http://newpaper.dahe.cn/hnrbncb/html/2009-03/31/content_163891.htm|archive-date=January 29, 2014|url-status=dead}} Kaifeng offers a wide range of food specialties such as steamed pie and dumplings. Particularly famous is Kaifeng's five-spice bread (''wǔxiāng shāobǐng''), which, like [[pita]], can be opened and filled. People from nearby [[Zhengzhou]] often come to Kaifeng to visit family members and to enjoy the [[night market|night markets]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2025}} The [[Ma Yu Ching's Bucket Chicken House]] ({{lang-zh|s=马豫兴桶子鸡; |p=Mǎ Yùxīng Tǒngzi Jī |labels=no}}), located in Kaifeng, is by some accounts the world's oldest restaurant. ===Chrysanthemums=== The [[chrysanthemum]] is the city flower of Kaifeng. The tradition of cultivating varieties of chrysanthemums extends back 1600 years, and the scale of cultivation reached its height during the Song dynasty until its loss to the [[Jin dynasty (1115–1234)|Jürchens]] in 1126.{{Citation needed|date=December 2025}} The city has held the Kaifeng Chrysanthemum Cultural Festival annually in fall since 1983 (having been renamed in 1994). During the festival, hundreds of chrysanthemums breeds are on show at festival venues, and the flower becomes a common feature around the city. Kaifeng has been dubbed the "city of chrysanthemums".{{Cite web|url=http://www.kf.cn/special/jhwhj/|title=China Kaifeng Chrysanthemum Cultural Festival|access-date=October 28, 2012|archive-date=October 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020070847/http://www.kf.cn/special/jhwhj/|url-status=live}} ===Sporting events=== The {{Wikidata fallback link|Q18110465}} ({{lang|zh|中国郑开国际马拉松赛}}) is held annually in the spring by the [[Chinese Athletic Association]] and municipal and provincial governments. It is the premier international sports competition in Henan province and one of the biggest sports competitions in the central-west of China. The main part of the event occurs along Zhengkai Express Way ({{lang|zh|郑开大道}}). At its launch in 2007, 5600 athletes competed. By 2012, almost 25,000 athletes from 28 countries and regions have participated in the ZK International Marathon.{{Citation needed|date=December 2025}} ==Military== Kaifeng is the headquarters of the [[20th Army (People's Republic of China)|20th Group Army]] of the [[People's Liberation Army]], one of three group armies that compose the [[Jinan Military Region]] responsible for the defense of the [[Yellow River Plain]]. [[Kaifeng Air Base]] is a military airfield in the southern suburb of Kaifeng City. It does not provide civilian aviation service. ==Gallery== {{Gallery|align=center |File:Iron Pagoda d.JPG|The [[Iron Pagoda]] |File:Small Bridge at Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden, Kaifeng, China.jpg|Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden |20250622 Dragon Pavilion 01.jpg|[[Dragon Pavilion]] |File:20240806 Daliang Gate at dusk.jpg|Reconstructed city gate (inner) of Bianjing |File:20250622 Xiangguo Temple 03.jpg|Daxiangguo Temple's [[Drum tower (Asia)|drum tower]] |河南大学礼堂2020.jpg|[[Henan University]] |File:开封宋都御街 122.jpg|Imperial Street of the Song dynasty }} ==Twin towns – sister cities== {{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in China}} Kaifeng is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:{{cite web |title=友好都市 |url=http://jan.ekaifeng.gov.cn/japyhds/ |website=ekaifeng.gov.cn |publisher=Kaifeng |language=zh |access-date=2020-07-14 |archive-date=2021-06-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624083404/http://jan.ekaifeng.gov.cn/japyhds/ |url-status=live }} {{div col|colwidth=20em}} *{{flagicon|ISR}} [[Kiryat Motzkin]], Israel *{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Toda, Saitama|Toda]], Japan *{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Yeongcheon]], South Korea *{{flagicon|USA}} [[Wichita, Kansas|Wichita]], United States *{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Omsk]], Russia *{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Wingecarribee Shire|Wingecarribee]], Australia {{div col end}} ==Colleges and universities== Kaifeng is also a major city for scientific research, appearing among the world's top 150 [[List of cities by scientific output|cities]] as tracked by the [[Nature Index]].{{Cite web |title=Leading 200 science cities {{!}} {{!}} Supplements {{!}} Nature Index |url=https://www.nature.com/nature-index/supplements/nature-index-2025-science-cities/tables/overall |access-date=2025-11-15 |website=www.nature.com}} The city is home to a campus of [[Henan University]], one of the national key universities in the [[Double First-Class Construction]]. ===Public=== *[[Henan University]] ({{lang|zh-Hans|河南大学}}) (founded 1912) *Kaifeng University ({{lang|zh-Hans|开封大学}}) (founded 1980) *Kaifeng Institute of Education ({{lang|zh-Hans|开封教育学院}}) *Yellow River Conservancy Technical Institute ({{lang|zh-Hans|黄河水利职业技术学院}}) (founded 1929) == Demographics == According to the [[2020 Chinese census|Seventh National Census]] in 2020, the city's Permanent Population ([[hukou]]) was 4,824,016.{{Cite web |title=开封市第七次全国人口普查主要数据 - 开封市统计局网站 |url=http://tjj.kaifeng.gov.cn/kfstjjwz/cqsfx/pc/content/content_1785197204558106624.html |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=tjj.kaifeng.gov.cn}} Compared with the 4,676,159 people in the [[2010 Chinese census|Sixth National Census]] in 2010, the total number of people increased by 147,857 over the decade, an increase of 3.16 percent, with an average annual growth rate of 0.31 percent. ==See also== *[[Historical capitals of China]] *[[1642 Yellow River flood]] *[[Chinese ship Kaifeng]] *[[Night ride to Kaifeng]] ==References== {{Reflist}} ==Further reading== *{{cite book |author=Cotterell, Arthur. |title=The Imperial Capitals of China: An Inside View of the Celestial Empire |location=London |publisher=Pimlico |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-84595-009-5 |pages=304 pages}} *''The Origin of the Kaifeng Jews'', in S. Shaked, ed., ''Irano-Judaica'', Jerusalem, 1982, pp. 101–11 ==External links== {{commons category|Kaifeng}} {{Wiktionary|Kaifeng|K'ai-feng|Caifung|Caifum}} {{wikivoyage|Kaifeng}} *[http://www.kaifeng.gov.cn Government website of Kaifeng] (in Simplified Chinese) *[http://www.kf.cn Kaifeng City Portal] (in Simplified Chinese) *Notes on [http://collections.dartmouth.edu/teitexts/tenney/diplomatic/ms794-006-diplomatic.html the Jewish colony at Kaifeng] from the Papers of Charles Daniel Tenney {{s-start}} {{s-bef|before=[[Chang'an]]|row=1}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Historical capitals of China|Capital of China]] (as Kaifeng) |years=960−1127|row=1}} {{s-aft|after=[[Hangzhou|Lin'an]]|row=1}} {{s-end}} {{Henan topics}} {{Henan}} {{Prefectural-level divisions of the People's Republic of China}} {{Major cities along the Yellow River}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:Kaifeng| ]] [[Category:360s BC establishments]] [[Category:364 BC]] [[Category:Historic Jewish communities]] [[Category:Populated places established in the 4th century BC]] [[Category:History of the Jews in Asia]] [[Category:Chinese Jews]] [[Category:Prefecture-level divisions of Henan]] [[Category:National Famous Historical and Cultural City]]