Kaifeng
City in Henan province; population (1999 est) 600,000. Formerly the provincial capital and once a capital of China (907–1127), it lost its importance because of the silting-up of the nearby Huang He River. Industries include zinc-smelting, and the manufacture of fertilizers, textiles, beverages, and agricultural machinery.
History
Kaifeng was the capital of China during the Northern
Song dynasty (
AD 960–1126), and was the home for some years until his death of a leading Chinese poet, Mei Yao-ch'en (1002–1060). The old city walls still remain. A Jewish colony was established here in the 12th century, but went into decline in the 17th century after a flood destroyed the synagogue and its contents. The Jewish community has now been totally assimilated with the Chinese population. Kaifeng was capital of Henan province until 1954.
