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Why the
Kaifeng historical sites
are special
Kaifeng has been an important player in Chinese history for over 2,300 years. Some important ancient sites remain, including
the famed Iron Pagoda.
Interesting insights
about Kaifeng
 The city's number one attraction is
the Iron Pagoda. This 55 meter
(180 foot) high octagonal pagoda has a wooden frame. It was surfaced in 1049 with clay tiles that had been colorfully
coated with an iron glaze (those tiles and the pagoda have been around ever since). Though the iron glaze is
paper thin, the pagoda became known as the Iron Pagoda.
The city was the capital of seven different Chinese
dynasties. No other city comes even close to that number.
During the 12th century, Kaifeng had an estimated population
of one million. That number would have made it the largest city of its time in the world.
Kaifeng was devastated in 1642 when
the retreating Ming Dynasty army opened the Yellow River flood gates to stop an invading force from the north. Hundreds
of thousands of innocent civilians reportedly drowned. The city has also acutely suffered from natural Yellow River
floods.
Kaifeng tidbits
The city's leading historical
attractions (besides the Iron Pagoda) are the Dragon
Pavilion (see photo), the Xiangguo Temple, and the Lord Bao Temple. The latter two date back to, respectively,
the 6th and 12th centuries.
A colony of Jews settled in Kaifeng
in the 12th century and had a close knit religious community with a busy synagogue until about the 19th century. In time,
nearly all the Jews
were assimilated by marriage into the Han culture.
Nearest major city
Kaifeng is 71 kilometers (44 miles) east of Zhengzhou, the current capital of Henan province.
Pronunciation guide
Kaifeng: kye - f 'ung
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