Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden

Location Map

Map of Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden

Ticket Price

Regular Tickets

Adult Ticket: ¥120.

Multi-Attraction Combo Tickets

[Adult] Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden All-Day + "Dream of the Great Song Dynasty: Eastern Capital" Performance Zone A: Original price 299, online booking ¥278.

[Adult] Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden All-Day + "Dream of the Great Song Dynasty: Eastern Capital" VIP Zone Performance: Original price 499, online booking ¥359.

Ticket Packages

[Adult] Ticket + Electronic Guide: Online booking ¥125.

Opening Hours

Business Hours

January 1 to December 31 - Monday to Sunday - 08:00-22:00, last admission at 19:30.

Recommended Duration

Duration of Visit

Typically, it takes about 3 to 4 hours to tour the scenic area. You can also watch performances, which would extend the visit into the evening. Therefore, the specific duration depends on your own arrangements.

Best Time to Visit

Best Season

Cultural attractions can be visited year-round.

Official Phone

Scenic Area Contact Numbers

Inquiry Hotline: 0579-86908690;
Complaint Hotline: 0579-86555222;
Emergency Hotline: 0579-86552120.

Transportation

Transportation Guide

High-Speed Rail

Nearly a hundred train services stop at Kaifeng North Station daily, with direct connections available from cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Fuzhou, Jinan, Qingdao, Xi'an, Taiyuan, Wuhan, Changsha, and Shenyang to the ancient capital Kaifeng. Upon arrival, transfer to a bus or taxi.

Intercity Rail

From Zhengzhou Xinzheng Airport → Songcheng Road, or from Zhengzhou East → Songcheng Road. After disembarking, transfer to a bus or taxi.

Self-Driving

The Lianhuo Expressway, Daguang Expressway, Rinan Expressway, and Zhengmin Expressway all provide access to the Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden. Simply navigate to "Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden." Visitors from downtown Zhengzhou can also take Zhengkai Avenue or Zhengbian Logistics Channel directly to the garden.

Classical Route

Travel Guide

This scenic area is all about watching performances. After entering the area, grab a copy of the performance schedule and watch them one by one.

Important Notes

nix

Important Child Sites

Scenic Spots

This is a 1:1 restoration and recreation based on the famous Northern Song Dynasty painting "Along the River During the Qingming Festival." The scenic area covers over 600 acres, including 180 acres of water surface, more than a hundred ancient boats of various sizes, over 400 houses, and a landscape building area exceeding 30,000 square meters, forming a large-scale imitation Song Dynasty ancient architectural complex in the Central Plains region. Key features prominently depicted in "Along the River During the Qingming Festival," such as the Shangshan Gate and the Rainbow Bridge, showcase the splendor and grandeur of the Song Dynasty, earning praise for their "exquisite beams and painted pillars, with an extraordinary aura."

Rainbow Bridge

"Seven li outside the Dongshui Gate lies the Rainbow Bridge. This bridge has no pillars; it is entirely constructed with massive timbers forming a hollow frame, adorned with vermilion paint, resembling a flying rainbow." — Dreams of Splendor of the Eastern Capital, Volume One: Waterways. The Rainbow Bridge represents a significant innovation in the history of ancient Chinese bridge engineering and is listed as one of China's Ten Famous Bridges. It is also a major attraction within the Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden. Spanning the "Bian River," its form arches like a rainbow, allowing horses and pedestrians to pass above while boats carrying cargo navigate below. Visitors passing by often cannot help but pause for a longer look, leaning against the railings to take photographs as mementos.

Welcoming Gate

The Welcoming Gate is the eastern main entrance of the Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden, with its counterpart being the Jinshui Gate on the west. Located at the center of the Longting Lake area, it is named the Welcoming Gate because the garden opens to welcome visitors daily at 9 AM. According to tradition, Bao Zheng, the Prefect of Kaifeng, received an imperial decree to lead civil and military officials in a grand opening ceremony with royal pomp, welcoming guests from all corners of the world. The thunderous drums and ceremonial cannons resound through the skies, with Zhang Long, Zhao Hu, Wang Chao, and Ma Han standing guard. Prefect Bao announces the imperial welcome, inviting honored guests into the garden to share in the joys of the mortal world! During peak tourist seasons, the square in front of the Welcoming Gate is bustling with crowds, creating a lively and vibrant atmosphere.

Stone Carving of Along the River During the Qingming Festival

The stone carving of "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" measures 33.32 meters in length and 2.23 meters in height. It is the largest stone carving of this painting in the world to date. The artwork depicts the prosperous scene of Dongjing Bianliang during the Qingming season, serving as a witness to the flourishing era and vividly reflecting the urban landscape of the Northern Song capital and the lives of people from all social strata.

Fuyun Pavilion

"A thousand miles of clear autumn in southern skies, / The river flows to heaven, there autumn has no confines." — Shui Long Yin. The Fuyun Pavilion is the tallest structure within the garden, featuring a design of four apparent and three hidden stories. Its three-story red pavilion rises elegantly, with golden tiles on its four eaves gleaming brilliantly, standing majestically amidst the boundless blue waves. At first sight, one is immediately inspired to ascend. The name "Fuyun" for this pavilion in the Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden carries two meanings: first, "to touch," indicating the pavilion's height reaching into the clouds, gently brushing against the white clouds; second, "to cleanse," suggesting the sweeping away of historical mists to reveal the true essence of the treasured painting. Perhaps, after Master Zhang Zeduan's works "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" and "Competition at the Jinming Pond" (also known as "Competition at the West Lake") were classified as divine masterpieces, they were once stored within this lofty pavilion.

Shangshan Gate

"On the Bian River, the southern upper water gate is called Datong, the northern is Tianze. The southern lower water gate is called Shangshan, the northern is Tongjin." — Records of Bianjing Relics. During the Northern Song Dynasty, the city of Kaifeng had many gates, and the Shangshan Gate was one of them. Imposing, tall, solemn, and majestic, it is a landmark structure vividly depicted in "Along the River During the Qingming Festival." It served both as an important passage in and out of Kaifeng and as the boundary between the city and the countryside. The restored gate now stands 21.6 meters high, covering an area of 1,553 square meters, with an archway reaching 8 meters in height. The resplendent and colorful paintings on the gate tower further highlight its magnificence and grandeur, earning praise for its "exquisite beams and painted pillars, with an extraordinary aura." In the strictly hierarchical feudal society, even architecture was ranked. The majestic presence of the Shangshan Gate reflects its significant status.

Tongjin Gate

The Tongjin Gate was the northern water gate on the Bian River on the eastern side of the outer wall of Dongjing (Eastern Capital) during the Northern Song Dynasty. It was bestowed this name in the 4th year of the Taiping Xingguo era (979 AD), renamed Guangjin Gate in the 1st year of the Tiansheng era (1023 AD), and restored to its original name in the 10th year of the Xining era (1077 AD). Continuation of the Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government records: In the 1st year of the Jingkang era (1126 AD), "the Jin people attacked the Tongjin Gate," referring to this gate. During the Northern Song period, there were two water gates on the eastern side of Dongjing Bianliang city: Shanli Gate and Tongjin Gate. These were the two passages for the Bian River to enter the city, holding significant strategic importance. In times of peace, due to convenient transportation, this area also served as a hub for waterway traffic, concentrating important granaries of the Great Song Dynasty. During the defense of Dongjing in the Great Song Dynasty, Song troops and the Jin people engaged in fierce battles here, writing a heroic chapter in history.

Waterside Palace

"Inside the Chimen Gate on the southern bank, about a hundred paces west, there is a north-facing waterside palace. The imperial carriage arrives here to watch the competition and bestow feasts." — Dreams of Splendor of the Eastern Capital, Volume Seven. "The imperial carriage first proceeds to the waterside palace of the pond to bestow a feast upon the officials. In front of the palace, a water stage is set up, with ceremonial guards arranged in rows. In the water near the palace, four colorfully decorated boats are moored in a line, featuring various military performances and entertainments such as large flags, lion and leopard dances, swordplay, barbarian shield acts, deities and ghosts, and variety shows. Additionally, two boats are arranged, both carrying musical ensembles." — Dreams of Splendor of the Eastern Capital, Volume Seven: The Imperial Carriage Visits the Waterside Palace to Watch the Competition and Bestow a Feast. The Waterside Palace is formed by connecting the Xuanhe Hall and the Xuande Hall. The two halls are majestic and solemn in design, standing close together like a loving couple whispering by the water's edge. In the Song Dynasty, these two halls served as separate large viewing boxes for male and female guests. Connected with the Waterside Pavilion, they formed a functionally sophisticated royal opera house. From here, one can overlook the entire garden with its distinct layers of scenery, especially capturing all the views within the pond, making it an ideal spot for watching various aquatic performances and entertainment programs.

Waterside Pavilion

Surrounded by water on all sides and connected by a single bridge, it appears transparent and ethereal; the pavilion roof is delicate, its beams and columns slender and elegant, fresh and refined. "Swallows flit, kicking at red petals. Ancient terrace, fragrant pavilion, swallows flit, kicking at red petals. Dancing wearied, elm seeds fall of themselves, beyond the swing, green water, the bridge is level." — Man Ting Fang. This Waterside Pavilion in the Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden is surrounded by water on all sides, connected by a single bridge, giving it a transparent and ethereal quality. Its delicate roof and slender, elegant beams and columns make it fresh and refined, like a lotus emerging from the water. Listening across the water to the orchestral music emanating from the pavilion, with its faint, ethereal melodies, offers a joy that even a celestial grotto might find hard to match. This waterside pavilion in the Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden, surrounded by water and connected by a bridge, appears even more transparent and ethereal than the Ouxiang Pavilion in the Grand View Garden. Moreover, the music played here is mostly folk music, with bamboo pipes and silk strings, soft and melodious, creating a uniquely graceful and lingering aquatic ambiance.

Twin Pavilions Bridge

During the Northern Song Dynasty, Dongjing was a convergence point of various rivers, enjoying convenient transportation and the ancient reputation as "the pivot of the world." At that time, both inside and outside the city, bridges were numerous, constructed from brick, stone, and wood, in various forms such as flat, arched, and suspension bridges, showcasing diverse architectural techniques. Boats traveled on the water, carriages and horses crossed the bridges, and people came and went, creating a picturesque scene. Drawing inspiration from the pavilion bridge depicted in the Northern Song painter Wang Ximeng's "A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains" and imitating the bridge pavilion form from the Southern Song literati Xia Gui's "Pure and Remote View of Streams and Mountains," this bridge was constructed considering the convenience of today's visitors. A drawbridge is set in the middle of the stream to allow the passage of boats large and small. Covered tile pavilions are built on both sides to provide shelter from sun and rain for travelers from north and south, hence the name "Twin Pavilions Bridge." The bridge deck is flat and level without undulations, making crossing effortless and convenient for visitors with mobility impairments.

Mingchun Teahouse

At the center of Jinglong Lake, there is such a delightful place where one can both enjoy the scenery and learn about ancient coin culture—the Mingchun Teahouse. You can also take a rest at this quiet scenic spot—the Mingchun Teahouse. Standing here, gazing at the surrounding rippling blue waves, offers a unique charm. Inside the teahouse is an ancient coin museum. From ancient times to the present, currency has been an essential part of people's lives. From ancient cloth coins and knife coins to round coins with square holes made of copper or iron, from silver and gold ingots to later paper money, they carry and record too many imprints and memories of their eras, evoking endless reflection and reminiscence.

Dantai Palace

Originally the Shaofu Jian, equivalent to the Royal Academy of Sciences. Featuring hip-and-gable and overhanging gable halls, winding corridors, and adorned with small bridges, ponds, unique rocks, flowers, and trees, it is a meticulously elegant garden within a garden. The area is divided into several courtyards of varying sizes and shapes, including the Papermaking Hall, Brocade Weaving Courtyard, Sinan Workshop, Great Song Official Kiln, and Gunpowder Hall. The technological level during the Northern and Southern Song Dynasties was highly advanced. China's Four Great Inventions—papermaking, printing, gunpowder, and the compass—all matured during the Song Dynasty. After visiting Dantai Palace, you will surely feel proud of the wisdom and ingenuity of our ancestors.

Mandarin Ducks Playing in Water Bridge

"Morning clouds break, spring follows human will, a sudden shower passes and clears again. Ancient terrace, fragrant pavilion, swallows flit, kicking at red petals. Dancing wearied, elm seeds fall of themselves, beyond the swing, green water, the bridge is level." The most interesting characteristic of mandarin ducks is that "they rest in pairs and fly in couples." For thousands of years, mandarin ducks have been a beautiful symbol of harmonious and loving marital relationships. "Beyond the swing, in the east wind, each word is exquisitely clever. Sparse mist, pale sun, can this feeling still be gazed upon from afar?" On the bridge: awaiting the moon, greeting the breeze, emotions as if being recounted. Crossing the Mandarin Ducks Playing in Water Bridge leads to the location on the banks of the Bian River.

Official Website

Scenic Area Official Website

www.qingmings.com

Brief History

Millennium City Park

1. Introduction

Along the River During the Qingming Festival, one of China's Ten Great Classical Paintings. It is a genre painting from the Northern Song Dynasty, the only surviving masterpiece by the Northern Song painter Zhang Zeduan, classified as a national treasure, and currently housed in the Palace Museum in Beijing.

The painting measures 24.8 cm in height and 528.7 cm (some say 528 cm) in length, executed in ink and color on silk. In the form of a long handscroll and employing a scattered perspective composition, it vividly records the urban landscape of Dongjing (also known as Bianjing, present-day Kaifeng, Henan), the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty in 12th-century China, and the living conditions of people from all social strata at that time. It serves as a witness to the prosperity of the Northern Song capital, Dongjing, and a portrayal of the urban economic situation during the Northern Song period.

This is unique in the history of Chinese and even world painting. Within the over-five-meter-long scroll, a vast number of various figures, livestock such as oxen, mules, and donkeys, vehicles, sedan chairs, boats of different sizes, houses, bridges, city gates, and towers—each with distinct characteristics—are depicted, reflecting the architectural features of the Song Dynasty. It holds significant historical and artistic value.

The Millennium City Park scenic area (English: Millennium City Park) in Kaifeng City is located at No. 5 Longting West Road, Kaifeng City, Henan Province. It is a large-scale historical and cultural theme park from the Song Dynasty, restored at a 1:1 scale based on Along the River During the Qingming Festival. It covers an area of over 600 mu, including 180 mu of water surface and a landscape building area of more than 30,000 square meters.

As the largest imitation Song Dynasty ancient architectural complex in the Central Plains region, the Millennium City Park scenic area in Kaifeng was rated as a National AAAAA Tourist Attraction in 2011 and was included in the proposed list of advanced collectives in the national cultural and tourism system for commendation in October 2021.

2. Geographical Location

2.1 Location and Area

The Millennium City Park scenic area in Kaifeng City is located at No. 5 Longting West Road, Kaifeng City, Henan Province, with a landscape building area of more than 30,000 square meters.

3. Important Attractions

3.1 Scenic Area Layout

The Millennium City Park scenic area in Kaifeng is a large-scale historical and cultural theme park from the Song Dynasty, restored and recreated at a 1:1 scale based on the Chinese classical painting Along the River During the Qingming Festival. The park has five entrances: the Welcoming Gate, Duan Gate, Danfeng Gate, Jinshui Gate, and Tongjin Gate. The park is divided into three main areas: the Welcoming Square, the South Garden scenic area, and the North Garden scenic area. The Welcoming Square mainly includes the Zhang Zeduan Statue, the Bronze Sculpture of Along the River During the Qingming Festival, the Song Capital Square, the Dongjing Dock, the Dream Back to the Great Song Experience Hall, the Masters' Workshop, and the Qingming Cultural Square. During its construction, following the creative concept of Along the River During the Qingming Festival, the park is divided into two main parts, the South Garden and the North Garden, by the Double Pavilion Bridge. The South Garden focuses on the folk customs and cultural landscapes of the Song Dynasty, while the North Garden emphasizes the royal landscapes and ancient entertainment projects of the Northern Song Dynasty.

The South Garden is based on the folk customs section of Along the River During the Qingming Festival, divided into eastern and western spaces by the Shangshan Gate. The area west of the Shangshan Gate to the Jinshui Gate mainly includes Sun Yang Zhengdian, Zhao Taicheng's House, Wang Yuanwai's House, the Along the River During the Qingming Festival Exhibition Hall, the Changming Ancient Lantern Museum, the Great Song Horror House, and the Waterwheel Garden scenic area. The area east of the Shangshan Gate, north to the Double Pavilion Bridge, south to the Bian River, and east to the Rainbow Bridge includes the Dongjing Food Street, the Song Dynasty Costume Exhibition Hall, the Food City, the Goulan Wasi (entertainment district), the Dongpo Academy, the Shiqian Jiao Dian, the Rainbow Bridge Square, the Official Post Inn, the Ancient Entertainment City, and the Qu Garden scenic area.

The North Garden is based on the royal garden section of Along the River During the Qingming Festival, with the entire space centered around Jinglong Lake and surrounded on four sides. The north side of Jinglong Lake mainly includes the Xuanhe Hall, Xuande Hall, the Stationery Museum, and the Sifang Courtyard. The south side of Jinglong Lake mainly includes the Nine Dragons Bridge, artificial rockeries, the Mingchun Fang, the Coin Museum, the Water Puppet Theater, the Fuyun Pavilion, and the Ceramics Museum. The west side of Jinglong Lake mainly includes the Drill Ground, the Swing Garden, the Great Song Amusement Park, and the Puppet Adventure Hall. The east side of Jinglong Lake features the Covered Bridge, the Lanxiu Pavilion, the Dantai Palace, and the spectator stands for the "Great Song · Dream of Dongjing" performance.

3.2 Main Structures

3.2.1 Welcoming Gate

The Welcoming Gate is the east main gate of the Millennium City Park, with the corresponding west gate called the Jinshui Gate. The Welcoming Gate is located at the center of the Longting Lake area. The park opens daily at 9:00 AM to welcome visitors, hence the name Welcoming Gate.

3.2.2 Tongjin Gate

During the Northern Song Dynasty, there were two water gates on the east side of Dongjing Bianliang City: the Shanli Gate and the Tongjin Gate. These were two passages for the Bian River to enter the city, holding strategic importance. During peacetime, due to convenient transportation, this area was also a water transport hub, concentrating important granaries of the Great Song. During the defense of Great Song Dongjing, fierce battles took place here between Song troops and the Jin forces.

3.2.3 Bronze Sculpture of Along the River During the Qingming Festival

The Bronze Sculpture of Along the River During the Qingming Festival is 33.32 meters long and 2.23 meters high. It depicts the prosperous scene of Dongjing Bianliang during the Qingming Festival, highlighting the urban landscape of the Northern Song capital and the lives of people from all social strata. This bronze sculpture is also the largest bronze sculpture of Along the River During the Qingming Festival in the world to date.

3.2.4 Shangshan Gate

The Shangshan Gate is an iconic structure vividly depicted in Along the River During the Qingming Festival. It served as an important passage in and out of Kaifeng and the boundary between the city and the countryside. The restored gate is 21.6 meters high, covering an area of 1,553 square meters, with an archway as high as 8 meters.

3.2.5 Double Pavilion Bridge

The Double Pavilion Bridge draws inspiration from the pavilion bridge in the Northern Song painter Wang Ximeng's A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains and imitates the bridge pavilion form in the Southern Song literata Xia Gui's Clear and Distant View of Streams and Mountains. A drawbridge is set in the middle of the stream to allow the passage of boats of various sizes. Two tile-roofed pavilions are built on either side to provide shade and shelter from rain for visitors, hence the name "Double Pavilion Bridge." The bridge is flat and level without undulations, facilitating access for visitors with mobility impairments.

3.2.6 Rainbow Bridge

The Rainbow Bridge is a main attraction in the Millennium City Park, representing an important creation in the history of ancient Chinese bridges and listed as one of China's Ten Famous Bridges. It spans the "Bian River," arching like a rainbow, allowing horses and pedestrians to pass above and cargo boats to navigate below. Historical records indicate that the Bian River originated during the Warring States period in Wei, was connected during the Sui Dynasty, flourished during the Song Dynasty, starting from Heluo in the upper reaches and flowing down to Huaisi, directly connecting to the Yangtze River, serving as the main artery linking north and south during the Northern Song Dynasty. In Dongjing City at that time, the banks of the Bian River were the most bustling and lively places, with shops lining both sides of the Rainbow Bridge, boats shuttling back and forth, and merchants gathering.

3.2.7 Waterside Hall

The Waterside Hall is formed by connecting the Xuanhe Hall and the Xuande Hall, both structures majestic and solemn. In the Song Dynasty, these two halls served as large private boxes for male and female guests, respectively. Connected with the Shuixin Pavilion, they formed a functionally sophisticated royal opera house. From here, one can overlook the entire park, especially the scenes in the pond, making it convenient to watch various water-based performances and entertainment programs.

3.2.8 Shuixin Pavilion

The Shuixin Pavilion is surrounded by water on all sides, connected by a single bridge, giving it a transparent and ethereal appearance; the pavilion roof is exquisite, and the beams and columns are slender and elegant. Additionally, folk music performances can be enjoyed here.

3.2.9 Sifang Courtyard

The Sifang Courtyard is not large in area, not deep in its courtyard, and its halls are not towering, yet it is an important place. "Sifang" (four directions) not only refers to its shape but also signifies the prominent status and imperial demeanor of "ruling over all directions." Here, visitors can personally participate in a recreation of the Great Song imperial examination scene. Dressing in ancient costumes, entering examination cells, answering test questions, they can understand the hardships of ancient exams and also enjoy the exhilaration of passing the examination.

3.2.10 Nine Dragons Bridge

The Nine Dragons Bridge is a large brick arch bridge, one of the main architectural features of the Millennium City Park, and also the highest and longest bridge in the park. Due to its large span, it was constructed using a multi-arch structure.

3.2.11 Mingchun Fang

The Mingchun Fang is located in the center of Jinglong Lake and houses an ancient coin museum inside. Here, visitors can both enjoy the scenery and learn about ancient coin culture.

3.2.12 Fuyun Pavilion

The Fuyun Pavilion has a structure of four visible and three hidden stories; viewed from outside, it appears as four stories and is the tallest building in the park. The name "Fuyun" (brushing clouds) has two meanings: first, to touch, indicating the pavilion reaches into the clouds, gently brushing against the white clouds; second, to cleanse, brushing away the mists of history to reveal the true essence of the treasure painting.

3.2.13 Dantai Palace

The predecessor of the Dantai Palace was the Shaofu Jian, equivalent to the Royal Academy of Sciences. With hip-and-gable and overhanging gable halls, winding and迂回曲折的游廊, adorned with small bridges, ponds,奇石, and flowers and trees, it is a严谨雅致的园中之园 (a garden within a garden,严谨雅致). The interior is divided into several courtyards of varying sizes and shapes, including the Papermaking Hall, Brocade Weaving Courtyard, Sinan Workshop, Great Song Official Kiln, Gunpowder Hall, etc.

3.3 Amusement Rides

3.3.1 Sushuang Qianli (Galloping a Thousand Miles)

A 108-seat amusement ride primarily featuring jumping and起伏 motions, it is the world's largest and China's first carousel设备 based on Song Dynasty culture. The ride is themed with the overall architectural style of the Song Dynasty, making passengers feel as if they are riding on steeds, galloping across the vast,延绵千里的壮阔江山.

3.3.2 Longteng Guwu (Dragon Soaring and Drum Beating)

A 40-seat large-scale high-speed滑行类游艺设备. The设备 mainly consists of滑行轨道 and车体两部分. The设备 is themed around the drumming and music of the Song Dynasty, with a large drum design in the center of the turntable and the轨道 body展现 in the form of a giant dragon. Accompanied by musical rhythms, it is full of dynamism, allowing visitors to have an immersive experience of soaring through the clouds.

3.3.3 Shenzhou出海 (Divine Ship Sailing to Sea)

A 50-seat large amusement设备 that recreates the "Divine Ship" used by Great Song official envoys on missions to海外国家. As the number of swings increases, the entire ship's cabin is swung higher and higher. During the swinging process, visitors experience惊涛骇浪.#### 3.3.4 Lanterns Begin to Glow A 48-person rotating disc that integrates both rotation and lifting motions. During operation, the disc rotates at a 15° inclination, allowing visitors in the gondolas to experience the outward swing and undulating, swirling sway under centrifugal force.

3.3.5 Phoenix Soaring in the Sky

The cabin revolves 360° while also performing regular eccentric rotations, giving visitors an experience akin to a phoenix in flight.

4. Cultural Activities

4.1 Great Song: Bian River Light and Shadow

As a large-scale night tour immersive project, "Great Song: Bian River Light and Shadow" consists of an LED rainbow bridge, four sets of 20-meter-long water flower rafts, four sets of artificial snowfall systems, 18 laser projectors, a 20m*8m laser water screen, 26 floating lotus lanterns, a 70-meter-long light and shadow scroll of the "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" painting, 2,000 LED lamps, and 70,000 meters of optical cable. This large-scale fantastical boat light show represents an investment of nearly 20 million yuan in the Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden scenic area.

4.2 Great Song: New Year Folk Culture Festival

During the Great Song: New Year Folk Culture Festival, Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden gathers distinctive folk performances from across the country, including high-platform flower drum, pan drum, stilt walking, dragon dance, lion dance, elbow pavilion, small Henan opera, donkey running, old carrying young, land boat dance, clam dance, big head dance, pole sedan jumping, bamboo horse dance, small cart, and carrying Lao Si—all brimming with festive Spring Festival folk traditions. The International Lantern Exhibition is a highlight of the festival, featuring the auspicious traditions of the China Pavilion, the fresh and refined style of the Asia Pavilion, the minimalist fashion of the Europe Pavilion, the rustic and Zen-like ambiance of the Southeast Asia Pavilion, and the luxurious grandeur of the Africa Pavilion.

4.3 Qingming Culture Festival

Every year during the Qingming period, the Qingming Culture Festival is held. Visitors can enjoy spring outings, willow planting, folk customs, snacks, and the large-scale water-based live performance "Great Song: Splendid Dreams of the Eastern Capital." This event combines historical Song Dynasty cultural elements with modern entertainment, allowing visitors to better experience spring, connect with culture, and enjoy life.

4.4 Dragon Boat Festival Culture Festival

The Dragon Boat Festival Culture Festival is a continuously developed festive activity at the Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden scenic area. Every year during the Dragon Boat Festival, leveraging its rich traditional culture and exciting garden activities, the scenic area attracts large crowds of daily visitors. Various large-scale performances are presented continuously, alongside multiple series of activities reflecting the unique culture of the Dragon Boat Festival, such as Nuo dance performances and special experiences like making zongzi, Dragon Boat Festival knowledge quizzes, and the Great Song Imperial Examination for the Dragon Boat Festival, all promoting the culture of the festival.

4.5 Qixi Festival Culture Festival

Centered around recreating a grand Song Dynasty wedding, the Qixi Festival Culture Festival features a series of activities during the festival period, including "Three Letters and Six Etiquettes," "I Build the Magpie Bridge for the Cowherd and Weaver Girl," newlywed flash mobs, "The Landlord Delivers Joy," and "Predestined Connection from Afar," allowing visitors to experience the atmosphere of this traditional Chinese festival at Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden.

4.6 Mid-Autumn Festival Culture Festival

Every year during the Mid-Autumn Festival, Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden hosts the Mid-Autumn Festival Culture Festival. Through a series of activities and special thematic decorations throughout the park, it aims to establish itself as a "premier destination for moon appreciation during Mid-Autumn."

4.7 Chrysanthemum Culture Festival

Every year from October to November is Kaifeng's annual chrysanthemum extravaganza. Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden focuses on creating beautiful chrysanthemum plant landscapes, fully utilizing architecture, sculptures, hills, and water surfaces, combining static and dynamic elements, and integrating planar and three-dimensional designs to highlight Kaifeng's chrysanthemum cultivation and landscaping techniques, shaping various chrysanthemum-themed displays.

4.8 May Day Puppet Carnival

The Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden "May Day" Puppet Carnival innovatively expresses various traditional puppet elements, featuring hundreds of performances and puppet shows to boost the "May Day" festivities.

4.9 National Day Performance Carnival

Every year during the National Day holiday, Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden stages a Performance Carnival. Performances such as Chinese opera, Chinese martial arts, dazzling acrobatics, trendy folk music, and Song Dynasty costume parades offer fresh expressions of traditional culture, blending tradition with fashion, allowing visitors to feel the fervor of the carnival.

4.10 Dongjing Food Court

The Dongjing Food Court gathers the essence of Henan cuisine, offering a distinctly rich variety of gourmet delights. Among them, the Xiaolongbao series, originating from the Northern Song Dynasty, is renowned as a unique culinary treasure of the Central Plains.

4.11 Sun Yang Zheng Dian

Sun Yang Zheng Dian covers a construction area of nearly 1,000 square meters, featuring古朴典雅 (classically elegant) decor, over ten luxurious private dining rooms, and a main hall of nearly 600 square meters that can accommodate over 600 diners simultaneously. This venue serves business receptions, Song Dynasty-style weddings, and tourist group dining, and also concentrates the culinary essence of the Northern Song Dynasty period.

5. Value and Significance

"Along the River During the Qingming Festival" vividly depicts the bustling scene of the Northern Song capital, Kaifeng. Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden not only recreates the painting on a 1:1 scale but also ingeniously brings history to life. Upon entering the park, visitors feel as if they have stepped through a time tunnel into a living historical scroll, often experiencing a sense of time reversal described as "stepping into the painting in a morning, dreaming back a thousand years in a day." As a theme cultural park integrating historical and cultural tourism, folk custom tourism, leisure vacation tourism, fun entertainment tourism, and ecological environment tourism, Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden prominently features观赏性 (spectacle), 知识性 (educational value), 娱乐性 (entertainment), 参与性 (interactivity), and 情趣性 (charm). Furthermore, the scenic area continuously integrates and expands Song Dynasty cultural elements, deeply explores and innovatively develops tourism cultural products, promotes the inheritance and innovation of Song culture, and has achieved a magnificent transformation from a "famous painting" to a "famous garden."

Comments

Post a Comment

Loading comments...