Situated on the southern bank of the Yellow River, the city of Kaifeng is on the East Henan Plain. During the Spring and Autumn Period, the place became the fief of Duke Zaung (757-701 B.C.) of the State of Zheng, who started to build a city and named it Kaifeng, meaning "opening up new territory." It was also called Bianliang after the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.).

Kaifeng served as capital for seven feudalist dynasties in Chinese history. As one of the "six great capitals" of China, together with Beijing, Xi' an, Nanjing, Luoyang, and Hangzhou, it used to be a very prosperous city, especially during the Northern Song Dynasty (A.D. 960-1127). The grandeur and prosperity of Kaifeng is vividly presented in a classical painting, "River Scene at Qingming Festival," by the well-known artist Zhang Zeduan of the Northern Song Dynasty.

However, the former splendor of Kaifeng was gradually diminished by wars and Yellow River floods. Today, many cultural relics and ruins remain, and part of the city is being reconstructed to resemble old Kaifeng as it looked like in the Song Dynasty. When the work is finished, the historic old city will become an important stop on the tourist's itinerary.

The city wall of Kaifeng was rebuilt and enlarged during the Tang Dynasty, the Five Dynasties, Zhou Dynasty, Northern Song Dynasty, Jin Dynasty and Ming Dynasty. There are five entrances, which are very grand and significant. In the Ming Dynasty, the city was badly damaged by flood. In 1662 A.D, the first year of the Kangxi Period in the Qing Dynasty, the city was rebuilt on the remnant of the old one and later, in 1841 A.D 21 Daoguang Period. was rebuilt and has been kept until today.

According to records, the total length of the city wall is 14.15 kilometers with a height of more than 11 meters. The parapet is 2 meters tall with a width of 5 meters on the top and 7 meters at the bottom. At the four corners of the city wall, there are four corner tower, and the entire wall contains eight enemy broadcasting towers. At present, the gates of the entrances are no longer in existenc, but the surrounding wall remains almost in its previous dimensions. This ancient city wall is one of the few preserved in China.

Kaifeng is also known for having one of the last Jewish communities in China.

As an old cultural center, Kaifeng is well known for its silk products and embroidery.

(Source: china.org.cn)