Kaifeng Iron Pagoda

Kaifeng

开封 · Ancient Capital of Northern Song Dynasty

🏛️ 5A National Attractions

Last verified 30 Jun 2025

Kaifeng currently has one officially rated 国家5A级 scenic area — Qing-ming Riverside Landscape Garden (清明上河园). It recreates Zhang Zeduan's 12th-century scroll Along the River during the Qing-ming Festival at 1:1 scale, blending live theater, waterways and Song-dynasty street food.

1 Quick Metrics

Total 5A sites
1
Source: Ministry of Culture and Tourism
Theme
Northern Song living-history park
Based on famous 12th-century scroll painting
Entry fee
¥120 day • ¥150 day + night (peak)
Night show "《大宋·东京梦华》" included in combo ticket
Opening hours
09:00 – 21:30 (night show 19:30)
Last entry 20:00
Real-name QR
Required — WeChat mini-program "清明上河园预约"
Passport/ID mandatory

2 Why It Matters

Scroll to street-life — wander through full-scale bridges, inns and markets lifted directly from China's most famous painting.
Immersive theatre — 800+ actors stage horseback couriers, Song puppetry and lantern parades on rolling schedule; night show "《大宋·东京梦华》" projects 3-D water holograms on the lake.
Food anthropology — taste shaolongbao, almond tea and candied haw exactly as depicted in 12th-century court records.

3 Pro Tips

1
Combo ticket – spend the extra ¥30 for the day + night pass; you can exit for a rest and re-enter for the 19:30 lake spectacular.
2
Beat the heat – arrive at 09:00, tour shaded canal lanes until 11:30, then break for lunch inside air-conditioned "汴梁食坊".
3
Front-row hack – for the night show, queue 40 min early at B-zone dock; standing rail offers unobstructed fountain–projection view without the ¥60 seat surcharge.
4
Costume rental – ¥80 2-hour Song suit near North Gate; yields photo access to restricted pavilion balconies.

4 Full 5A List

🏯
Living-history park · Northeast Old City
Qing-ming Riverside Landscape Garden / 清明上河园

600 000 m² Song-dynasty town; 38 hand-rowed "painted boats"; night mega-show seats 4 000; real-name QR via mini-program.