Kaifeng Prefecture Office

开封府

A rebuilt Northern Song prefectural office, the legendary site where Judge Bao Zheng presided over cases. Daily court opening ceremonies and trial performances let visitors experience Song-dynasty government offices.

The Kaifeng Prefecture Office lies on the north bank of Bao Gong East Lake. It was rebuilt in 2002 according to the layout of the Northern Song prefectural office, covers about 60 mu (4 hectares), and is a themed scenic area on the government offices of the Song capital. Famous officials such as Bao Zheng, Kou Zhun, Fan Zhongyan and Ouyang Xiu all once served here. The buildings follow a central axis, from the front gate, to the ceremonial gate, the Stone Admonition Tablet, the main hall, the council hall and the Plum Blossom Hall. Flanking the axis are the Tianqing Taoist Temple, the Mingli Courtyard and the Qingxin Tower. Climbing the Qingxin Tower gives a view over the whole compound and the Bao Gong Lake. The performances are the main attraction. Every day at 9:00, the “court opening ceremony” in front of the main gate, with drum rolls, welcoming guests and martial displays, is an impressive spectacle. Afterward, scenes such as “Judge Bao Investigates a Case,” “The Injustice of the Wrong Case” and “Catching a Son-in-Law in Front of the Board” take turns in the main hall and the courtyards. Pick up the program at the entrance. Admission is about 60 yuan, and tickets can be bought through the official “Kaifeng Prefecture Scenic Area” WeChat account. Across the lake is the Bao Gong Shrine (about 30 yuan), a 20-minute walk away, so the two can be visited together. Getting there: a taxi from the city center takes about 10 minutes. Several bus routes stop at the Kaifeng Prefecture station. It is about a 15-minute walk from the Drum Tower. Plan to spend about two hours here. Go in the morning to see the court opening ceremony, then visit Daxiangguo Temple and the Drum Tower. Notes: the ceremony takes place in the square in front of the gate. You can watch it without a ticket, but you should arrive early to get a good spot. The square has no shade at midday in summer.

Kaifeng Prefecture Office

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