Millennium City Park or Qingming Riverside Landscape is a historical and cultural theme park which recreates "Riverside Scene", an outstanding and world-famous painting work by Zhang Zeduan, a well-known painter in the Northern Song Dynasty (960–1127).
When you step into the park, you will feel like you are traveling back the flourishing Song Dynasty. Large and grand ancient Song-style buildings and staff wearing ancient Chinese clothes make the park full of ancient charm and elegance.
The Main Architecture
The main examples of architecture in Millennium City Park are City Gate Tower, Rainbow Bridge, Street Scenes, distinctive shops, riversides, docks, ships, and so on.
Millennium City ParkThe whole park is arranged exactly like the original layout of Riverside Scene in the Song Dynasty. People can see the Jiu Lou ('wine buildings', like restaurants today), teahouses, pawnshops, and the manufacture of Kaifeng embroidery, mandarin porcelain, new year pictures, and so on.
Performances
Abandoning blandness and seriousness, Millennium City Park expresses the passion and thriving nature of the Song Dynasty through its buildings and performances, creating an entertaining and unique atmosphere. More than 20 performances are provided for you everyday to experience the life and customs of the Song Dynasty.
Here is the program of Millennium City Park performances:
| Performance | Place | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Baogong Salute to Guests | Square outside Blossom Gate | 9am |
| Tray Drum | Square inside Blossom Gate | 9:05am, 10:20am, 11am, 2pm, 3:20pm, 4:20pm |
| Stilt Performance | Folk Performance Square | 9:15am, 10:30am, 2:10pm, 3:30pm, 4:30pm, 5:20pm |
| Baogong Visit and Bian River Transport | Hongqiao Bridge | 9:30am |
| Unique Folk Skills | Goulan Wasi | 9:50am, 10:45am, 2:35pm, 4:05pm, 6:05pm |
| Carillon and Dance | Floor 2 of Xuande Palace | 10am, 10:50am, 11:45am, 2:55pm, 4:05pm, 5:25pm |
| Spitting Fire Show | In front of Yujing Court | 10:10am, 11am, 2:55pm, 4:20pm, 5:55pm |
| Cockfight | Athletics Arena | 10:10am, 11:15am, 11:50am, 3:45pm, 5:25pm |
| Royal Shadow Play | Floor 2 of Xuande Palace | 10:15am, 11:05am, 12pm, 3:10pm, 4:25pm, 5:40pm |
| Puppets | Opposite Zhao Taicheng's Mansion | 10:30am, 11:25am, 3:20pm, 4:40pm, 5:45pm |
| Water Puppets | Aquatic Puppet House | 10:30am, 2:20pm, 3:15pm, 5:25pm |
| Ancient Wedding | Landlord Wang's Home | 10:40am, 11:15am, 3:10pm, 5:25pm |
| Hard Qigong | In front of the gate of Sun Yangzheng's Shop | 10:50am, 12pm, 3:30pm, 4:30pm, 5:35pm |
| Chinese Traditional Football | Football Ground | 10:45am, 2:50pm, 3:45pm, 5:40pm |
| Women's Polo | Hippodrome | 11am, 3:30pm, 5:10pm |
| Ancient Magic | Goulan Wasi | 11:30am, 3:25pm, 5:20pm |
| Officialdom Selection of the Song Dynasty | Hostel for Tributary Envoys | 11:35am, 4:10pm |
| Rob the Patrol Wagon | Dongjing Evening Market | 11:45am |
| Yangshi Selling Sword | Hongqiao Bridge Square | 2:25pm |
| Sumo of the Song Dynasty | Zuixing Building to Challenge Stand | 3:45pm |
| Bian River War | On the water southwest of Kowloon Bridge | 4:50pm |
The Great Song Dynasty - Reminiscences of the Eastern Capital
The Great Song Dynasty - Reminiscences of the Eastern Capitals is a large scale live action performance, which is enacted by hundreds of actors, creating a fantastic and magnificent effect, and making people feel like they are living in the prosperous Song Dynasty. It is the must-see performance not only of the park, but also of the whole ancient city of Kaifeng.
The performances are divided into 9 parts: songs of 8 beautiful Chinese Song poems, and a lifelike picture of "Qingming Festival by the Riverside" by Zhang Zeduan. The stage, including Jinglong Lake in the Royal Garden of Millennium City Park, the pavilions, bridges, and corridors on the water, is one of the highlights of this performance, as well as the gorgeous lighting.
Travel Essentials
Millennium City Park- Location: 5 West Longting Road, Kaifeng
- Tel: 0378-5663819
- Open: 9am–10pm
- How to get there: Bus 1, 15 or 20
- Entrance fee: 80 yuan (not including the performance ticket)
- Note: If the weather is not appropriate, the programs may be changed or canceled temporarily.
The Action Performance on the Water
- Time: March–November: Travelers enter after 7:25pm. The performance starts at 8:10pm and lasts 70 minutes.
- Place: Jinglong Lake, North Garden
- Action Performance on the Water (including entrance fee): 999 yuan for a Throne seat, 399 yuan for a VIP seat, 269 yuan for an Area A seat, and 199 yuan for an Area B seat
Facilities Guide
Tourist Center
- Place: on the south side of Yingbin Gate
- Services: inquiries, complaints, tour guide service, left luggage, rental, broadcasting, lost and found, information leaflets and other materials for sale, restroom, movie room, drinks
Medical Service
- Place: at the west gate of Zhao Taicheng's Medicine StoreAccess and Rental Service
Special access is provided for those physically challenged. Wheelchairs, baby carriers, crutches, and umbrellas are available to rent.
Food
Dongjing Night Market is open all day. More than 20 restaurants can meet your demand for different kinds of snacks. Among the restaurants, Sun Yangzheng's Shop is famous for characteristic Kaifeng food and has a large capacity of more than 300 people.
Accommodation
Surrounded by water on three sides, with more than 20 rooms and complete facilities, Yizhan Hotel is a good choice. Hourly rate rooms and halls for entertainment are available.
Transport
Tourists can take royal carriages, ox carts, sheep carts, and ancient boats instead of walking.
