The Garden of Qingmingshanghetu

►Qingmingshanghetu Garden is a large theme park by reproducing the prosperous scenes in the Northern Song Dynasty, based on the famous Chinese painting Qingmingshanghetu.

This is a materialization of the famous work, Qingmingshanghetu (清明上河图, Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival) by Chinese painter Zhang Zeduan (张择端), who flourished in the Northern Song Dynasty. The work is an invaluable treasure to the Chinese nation. Located in the northwest of Kaifeng city, China's ancient capital, the Garden of Qingmingshanghetu is a theme park by reproducing the prosperous scenes from the Northern Song Dynasty's painting. The magnificent Song-style architecture is the highlight of the garden.

At 9:00a.m. every morning, a grand opening ceremony is usually held in the Qingmingshanghetu Garden , which will bring you back to China a thousand years ago. Go inside, you see the towering city wall building, Rainbow Bridge, old street scenes, grocery stores, small rivers, docks and boats. Their designs and layouts are according to the original depiction on Qingmingshanghetu. Traditional performances such as acrobatics, fortunetelling, gaming, cock fighting, dog fighting, the Good Men of Liangshan Rob a Sedan that Carries Prisoners and Song Dynasty style wedding are quite interesting. The Specialty Food Street sells lot kinds of Kaifeng style snack, also folk handicrafts, like statues made of sugar, paper cuttings, kites and so on.

The Garden of Qingmingshanghetu is different from other Chinese tourist attractions, which only provide visitors opportunity to see. Qingmingshanghetu highlights tourists to participate in some attractive events. You will be the audience and a performer in a re-creation wedding of a man married a beautiful fairy girl in old times. You will also be a Song Dynasty student, who attained top grade in an imperial examination and returned his home honorably. There are playgrounds that facilitate old style games like swings, small yachts on river, and some interesting games, which you will be the first time to know. 

Recently, the Garden of Qingmingshanghetu has set up a few interesting exhibition halls as Song Dynasty Science, Song Dynasty Celebrities, Jewish Culture in China in the Song Dynasty and Zhang Zeduan Memorial Hall. They give tourists venues to know deeply the Chinese history of a thousand years ago. 

►To fully enjoy the garden, you can appreciate the scenery by ferry, choose a Song Dynasty style hotel and plan your trip during autumn to watch various Chrysanthemum blossom.

The 3,800-meter-long Bian River (汴河) in Kaifeng is worth to see. You can on board the large ancient ferry and view the scenery on both banks.

The three-star hotel in Song Dynasty style is an ideal place for living, knowing ancient Chinese architecture and lifestyle. There are luxury guest rooms available.

Colorful chrysanthemum flowers will be full all along the streets and lanes in Kaifeng city and the Chrysanthemum Fair is held from 28 October to 28 November every year. About a hundred kinds of chrysanthemum are on display. It will be the best time to visit Kaifeng and the Qingmingshanghetu Garden. Appreciating chrysanthemum has always been a local custom. People like to hang chrysanthemum lanterns, hold chrysanthemum fairs and drink wine brewed from the flowers. 

On 15th Day in the First Month of Chinese Lunar Calendar, it called the Lantern Festival. In Kaifeng city, a grand festive celebration has been a tradition for over a thousand years. Colorful lanterns and lively activities will make you very excited!

How to Get There:
Bus No. 1, 15 or 20

Ticket:

80 RMB, and during winter months, i.e. December, January and February is 60.

 

>>See Kaifeng Travel Guide