Situated on the southern bank of the Yellow River, Kaifeng is an important city in Henan Province. With a recorded history close to 3,000 years, Kaifeng is known as one of the six major centers of ancient Chinese civilization. As early as the Yin-Shang period (1334-1066 B.C.), when Chinese society turned away from nomadic life to an agricultural existence, a city was built there. It then became the capital of the Kingdom of Wei in the Warring Sates Period (475-331 B.C.), the Liang, Han and Zhou dynasties of the five Dynasties (907-960), the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1137) and the Jin Dynasty (1115-1334). The Northern Song, in particular, established its capital in Kaifeng for 168 years. The Eastern Capital, as Kaifeng was then called, was the political, economic and cultural center of the whole country, with well-developed handicrafts, bustling commerce and fine communication facilities. An old saying went that "Kaifeng was unsurpassed anywhere in splendor and prosperity". Repeated Yellow River floods, however, caused damage to the ancient capital of Kaifeng through the years. Many of its historical relics were destroyed. Among those that have survived are the "Iron" Pagoda, Pota Pagoda, Dragon Pavilion, Xiangguo Monastery, King Yu's Terrace and Yanqing Taoist Temple. These are all fine works of architecture. Their majestic beauty bears testimony to the wisdom and the cultural and artistic standards their creators attained. The city today has well-developed commerce, transport, communications and educational facilities, and medical and public health services. The Yellow River that flooded its banks and wrought havoc for a thousand years has been harnessed. The Liuyuan Ferry at Kaifeng is now open to tourists as a scenic Jewish Community. It might be hard to believe. But there is indeed a large Jewish community in Kaifeng. The ancestors of these Jews were said to have arrived in China from Persia and India during the Tang Dynasty. For centuries, the Jews of Kaifeng uttered the prescribed daily and Sabbath prayers, kept their religious holidays and observed strict diets. Song City Kaifeng was the Song Dynasty capital for many years. Ask your guide to take you to the "Song City", a street flanked by small shops and taverns a thousand years ago. The street is now under reconstruction on the old Imperial Street between the ancient imperial palace and another street called Sihoujie. The palace has already been restored, and is open to the public. And another major part of the street, Xuandemen, will soon be completed.

• published: 16 Sep 2014
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