MILLENNIUM CITY PARK, known by “Qingming Shanghe Yuan” in Chinese, located in Kaifeng, Henan Province, is the spot that I anticipated most of this trip.
Many people might have heard of the famous “Qingming Shanghe Tu”(The Painting Along the River During the Qingming Festival), depicting the bustling life of Kaifeng, the capital city of Northern Song Dynasty. the Park is a large historical and cultural entertainment park representing the buildings and scenes of the painting in real ratio.
It would be like walking in the streets of the ancient Song Dynasty, and visitors can even dress on Song Dynasty clothing, which greatly increases the realism of the experience.
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In the park, you’ll find it hard to believe that it’s been open for 20 years, since the facilities and environment are well maintained.
At present, two phases of the project of the park are opened. The first phase is the exact scene according to the painting; the second part in the park is, however, purely designed by the park’s company. The third and fourth phases of the project are still in progress, and the whole park will surely be more spectacular after completion in the future.
The Largest Qingming Shanghe Tu in the World
In fact, there are many versions of the painting, the 3 most famous ones are: the one Beijing Palace Museum, the Ming Dynasty one, and the Qing Dynasty one.
The Beijing one is considered to be the authentic version of Zhang Ze Duang, the author of the original painting.
Once walking into the Park, there was this 33.32m long, 2.23m high version of the painting carved out of stone, which is also the largest stone sculpture of the painting in the world.
Tokyo Pier
Kaifeng was the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty, which was also known as “Bian Liang” or “Tokyo” (meaning the eastern city) because it was located in the east side, and there were other 3 cities located in the other 3 directions.
Also, its location was also a very important canal hub at the time, thus it was always a crowded scene there.
The building on the bottom right called “Fu Yun Pavilion”.
The Fu Yun Pavilion
Fu Yun Pavilion is the tallest building in the park. It’s name holds two meanings. As “Fu” means touching and “Yun” means cloud in Chinese, this name could mean the pavilion is high into the sky, touching the white clouds; and the other meaning is cleaning, which refers to unveil the cloud that covers the history, returning the authenticity to the painting.
Everything in the park, from the attractions, shops, restaurants, kiosks, to the staffs, are designed or dressed in ancient Chinese style; If it weren’t for seeing the tourists in modern clothes, people would feel like they were brought back to thousands of years ago.
Royal Cuisine – Almond Tea
Kaifeng has a long history, therefore, there are many cuisine being passed from ancient times. There are three most famous sweets in Kaifeng, which are “almond tea, peanut bar and sweet potato puree“.
Almond tea is said to be originated in the Song Dynasty, and then gradually passed from the royal family to common people over 600 years. It’s mainly made of almond powder, along with almond flakes, peanuts, black sesame, dried fruit, raisins, silver wood ears, nuts, sugar, rose water and other spices.
As these ingredients are healthy and beneficial to beauty, it had been popular with the imperial consorts. Even until now, it is still a famous snack in Kaifeng.
(You can get almond tea at the Gulou Night Market as well.)
The Bian River and Hongqiao
Hongqiao (meaning “rainbow bridge”), which is the most famous spot in the Qingming Shanghe Tu. It also has a lot to do with the advance of this painting. It is said that, when the painter, Zhang Ze Duang, was traveling in Kaifeng and came to the bridge on the Qingming Festival, he saw the prosperity of Kaifeng, which inspired his inspiration to create this painting,
Hongqiao also has a very special status in history. It was listed as one of the top ten bridges in China,being an important creation in the history of Chinese bridge history. The original bridge did not use a single hoe nor nail, it relied completely on the bundle to tie up and support it. Hongqiao was also the most prosperous area in Kaifeng during Song Dynasty.
Ten Thousand Feet Shop
The building above is called “Ten Thousand Feet Shop”, which is also an architecture that does appear in the painting.
The appearance of the architecture is very special, as well as its name: “Ten Thousand Feet Shop (“Shiqian Jiaodian” in Chinese). People might be confused, “Ten thousand? Foot shop? What? It’s some kind of massage place or a shoes shop?”
Well, in fact, it was an alcohol shop.
In the Northern Song Dynasty, people often referred to shops that sold wines bought from other winery as “Foot shops (Jiao-dian)”; and to those which sold the wines made by themselves as “Primary shop (Zheng-dian)”. Additionally, during the era of Three Kingdoms, the price of wine was “ten thousand”, thus people also used it as a metonym of wine.
The Wanted Post
As for this post, I’m not sure if it is drew in the original painting. It was posted on the wall by a gate, saying “Wanted Post –the criminal, Niu-san, is wanted for robbery and killing. Who catches him would be rewarded for thousand of white silver.” And next to the post were two wood-board chains, one said “Sent to OO city.”, which is normal for a criminal, while the other one was “Dear wife, I am wrong.” LOLLLL.
Ancient Chinese Costumes
If you come to the Millennium City Park, you definitely can’t miss to try on the ancient Chinese costumes! Which was also a part I had been looking forward to.
After dressing on the ancient costumes and walking on the streets of Kaifeng city, it was like being a citizen from the Song Dynasty. Besides, with the perfect clothing and perfect settings, every photo taken would be in perfect scenario!
Here are some tips：
- If possible, you can prepare some ancient Chinese props would be even better.
- Don’t bring too many things as there is no locker in the park.
Lady boss and drunk guests of Ten Thousand Feet Shop (alcohol shop).
What is even better is that the costumes rental is for FREE! Only need to pay a deposit of RMB$200/person. Thought you can’t choose the style yourself, I think the style is actually not bad.
Fantastic Shows That You Can’t Miss
Another must-see part in the park is their shows.
Usually. I’m not interested in shows at a amusement park. But what is good about the Millennium City PArk is that all the performances is outdoor, so visitors might happen to see a show while walking in the park, saving their time for waiting in line. Besides, people might run into another show just after they finished watching the previous one. Therefore, they will find themselves watching shows after shows as all the shows are just too attractive, and time really flies this way!
Riding & Fighting Show (Yue Fei V.S. Xiao Liang Wang)
The first to see the show name as above.The guide said that this is one of the most exciting and popular performances in the park, we arrived just in time for the opening time, before changing clothes and was hastily taken to the performance site.
The stage is a very large ancient than the military venue, called the school field, both sides are the audience grandstand, to grab a seat early, we arrived early to sit empty seats, even the school side is also standing full of people, had to look from the middle of the gap.
This play tells the story of the Song Dynasty, Yue Fei and as a noble “Little Liang Wang” Sun Chai Guibiao, in order to win the Wuyuan.Yue Fei Wuyi Gaoqiang, Xiao Liang Wang is not his opponent, and finally was picked by Yue Fei gun, ending his life.Results A few by Xiao Liang Wang bribed the examiner angry, this is to arrest Yue Fei, beheading in public, the result was the only one not to be bribed by the examiner to stop, plus Yue Fei’s brothers rushed to the field to make a fuss, only to let Yue Fei.
The play from two people than Wu, gun pick, Yue Fei was caught, until the last run away with his brothers, the full performance, by the stuntmen riding a horse on the school field Mercedes- and cross, but also with a knife and gun to each other, horseshoes stir up dust, raise dintos hunting, plus shocking sound, bring the audience a complete shock, although I because in the periphery, Can’t read the plot very well, but feel the effect and the battle is really very good.
The actor on the far right is sneering in the bottom left.
Just watching a lot of officers and soldiers, martial arts people on the school field galloping on the screen is very addictive.
Wang-Yuan-wai Wedding Show
“Zhao-qin”, which means looking for a husband in Chinese. In ancient China, some family would hold an open event to look for a husband. Here, Wang yuan wai is looking for a husband for his daughter.
When we looked up the house, Wang yuan wai walked out to the balcony and announced to us audience in front of the house,”I hold this event today to find a husband for my daughter. See who can be the lucky man!’
Then, under everyone’s expectation, out came the beautiful daughter, dressed in a bright-red Chinese wedding dress. She held a flower-like red ball in her hands, looked out to the crowd downstairs to decide at where to throw. In Chinese tradition, the man who catches the ball threw by the bride will be her husband. At the moment, all the men in the crowd shouted, “ME! ME! ME!” After walking back and forth several times, the bride finally threw out the ball. Then, everyone felt silence to see who caught it. Suddenly, there were someone bursted into excitement, and when I looked over — OH WOWWW, isn’t that the little handsome from my group!?
Next second, I saw him rushed into the house, and before too long, he showed up on the balcony dressed in the Chinese groom suit. You can absolutely tell how happy he was from his face, Neither our group members nor him would have had expected he to get a “beautiful wife” during this trip!
Qigong Fire Show
It was also a great one, too.
The performer came to the center with only two sticks in his hands and a bowl of transparent liquid on the ground.
First, he lit the sticks in fire, the audience could feel the burning heat besides.Then, he put the stick into his mouth and swallowed the fire in one mouthful! Not only could he put out the fire, but also could he make one. Then he asked someone who smokes from the audience. Next, he opened his mouth, and the fire came out of it, liting the cigarette for the audience!!
Lastly, he picked up the bowl in front of him and swallowed a full mouth of it. Can you guess what was inside? it was kerosene!!!!!!! Can you believe that?
To prove that, he took the bowl to go around the audience to let us take a smell. And no doubt it was kerosene indeed as I could smell the strong gasoline-smell from a long distance. I still couldn’t believe why he could drink it as if he were drinking water.
Afterwards, he drank another big mouthful, and held one stick to the mouth, forced a strong spit into the air! A ferocious flame was brought in the air, prompting a cry of exclaim by the audience.
Folk Show
This show is about some traditional Chinese folk arts.
There were several items. The first round was a big hunk holding a long whip coming up to the stage. When he waved the whip, it was so fast that the air generated a “Biew- pop! Biew — Pop!” scary sound. And the scene site is actually quite small, especially we sit in the first row, and happen to be on the front of the whip fell (so remember to look at feng shui when robbing the seat), you can clearly see the whip to fly to their own, the next second of the Buddha will fall on their own body, listen to the crackling sound, it is a sharp scalp, I can’t stand the group, I left me straight to the back seat.Bias that whip in the hands of small fat like a vitality, flexibility is incomparable, how to play is not playing off the field.
But in thumvirate, we can not deeply feel the small fat, so the host called on their team of a small fresh meat, want him to hold a newspaper, standing opposite the small fat (see him blocked in front of me, suddenly peace of mind XD), fresh meat suddenly a face of force, but also can only hard scalp on.See the newspaper precisely split in half by the whip, did not touch fresh meat, and then broke the paper to fold, and then split in half; Up to a smaller size than a yuyou card, as long as a little bit, is split is the finger.Little fat still did not hesitate to wave down, and then precisely only that little bit of paper and then batch edited in half!
It wasn’t enough to use a newspaper, and then it was replaced with a glass bottle.The whip lifted, rolled the cap beautifully out, and the cap flew to the foot and startled me.
However, the host was still not satisfied!
At the moment, he handed a cigarette to the young staff, and of course, it was not a reward for him. The young man held the cigarette between his fingers and located on the stage. However, the host said, “Oh, no hurry, I’m asking you hold it between your teeth, not fingers.” The young staff was completely still when hearing this (I have to say, he’s such a good actor lol). In the end, he of course had no choice but take the order.
This time, the hunk did not wave at his target immediately. Instead, he hit in the air a few times to bring the atmosphere to the extreme. As you know, if he misses the cigarette, then it would be a nose to fall! Finally, the hunk raised his hand, and the audience all sat in dead silence, it was so quiet that even everyone held their breathing in order not to miss any moment.
“Sssss —-BANG!” It was going too fast for the eyes to catch whether the target was hit– all we knew was that at least the nose of the staff was still perfectly located where it should be. Luckily, I captured the exciting scene with my camera, including the very moment when the cigarette was hit! It was hit precisely on the very end, UNBELIEVABLE!!
The next round was contortion show, which is rarely seen nowadays. We watched her turning, folding, contorting her body here and there, and into all kinds of incredible angles. She even held herself up with only rely on the strength of her mouth! The only thought in my mind was “WOWWW” and “OUCH!!!!”
*There are movie to watch below!
*Watch the movie of the show below!
Finally, in the last part of the show, it was the host turn to bring some show.
Noticing that a human-shaped bracket was pushed out, and he was helding five axes in his hand, most audience might had been aware of what was coming up next. Then the host asked, “Anyone would come up to stand on the bracket?”– The audience remained in silence.
Although knowing that he would not slip and hurt the person (supposedly), it is still difficult for people to stand up when imaging faced with the axes flying towards oneself. As a result, the poor young man was called up again. Well, at least he had learned the lesson this time, he put on a helmet before getting up to the stage.
As we watched the host raising his hands, he acted so easily as if it were not axes but balls that he was throwing; so unhesitatingly as if it were not a real human being but a paper target that was standing on the bracket. The 5 axes disappeared from his hand in a blink, we didn’t even notice he made any effort to target, while every axe hit into the center of the boards precisely. Then, the audience bursted into thunderous applause and shouts of acclamation.
Movie of the show:
✒ summary:
After this show, the orange light of sunset gradually emerged from the clouds. Though we wanted to stay for longer, we had to leave for the next spot.
Millennium City Park really brought us a lot of surprises. the shows are well designed, and I heard that there is even a night show, plus the 3rd & 4th parts of the project of the Park are yet to come, it is definitely a place I would like to visit again.
Park Information
📌 Millennium City Park
- Address: China, Henan, Kaifeng, Jinming, Zhengkai Avenue
- Tel: 0371-25663819
- Opening Hours: 09:00-22:00
- Tickets: 120 RMB/ adult ; 60 RMB/kid (under 18 years old)
- official website
