Kaifeng Entertainment and Nightlife
Kaifeng has not only a rich historical and cultural atmosphere, but also a variety of entertainment activities. Like other cities in China, the nightlife in Kaifeng is mainly singing in the KTV and going to the bars, tea houses and cafés. In addition, if you are interested in Chinese traditional opera, you can go to watch the performance of Yu opera(Henan Opera), Henan Zhuizi and Qu Opera.
Recommended Bars in Kaifeng
- Impression Pub(印象酒吧)
Address: Near Neishuncheng Road, Longting District, Kaifeng开封市龙亭区内顺城路附近
Tel: 13700787021/0371-25668069 - CITY BEER(精酿啤酒馆)
Address: No.10 Building of Ban Mu Yuan, Fayuan Street, Longting District, Kaifeng开封市龙亭区法院街半亩园10号楼 - Xiuli Bar(休里酒吧)
Address: No.4, Longting East Road, Longting District, Kaifeng开封市龙亭区龙亭东路4号 - Taoyuan Bar(桃源酒吧)
Address: No.2, Jinming East Street, Longting District, Kaifeng开封市龙亭区金明东街2号 - Mixing Bar(谜星酒吧)
Address: The 4th Floor of Kaiyuan Square, Jinan Road, Longting District, Kaifeng开封市龙亭区晋安路开元广场4层
Tel: 0371-28888033/15993338896 - Venice Bar(威尼斯酒吧)
Address: No.9, Daliang Road, Longting District, Kaifeng开封市龙亭区大梁路9号 - Weicheng Club(围城club)
Address: Near Fuxiang Residential Quarter, Neishuncheng Road, Longting District, Kaifeng开封市龙亭区内顺城路福星小区附近
Tel: 18303888830/13723228823 - Zixuan Music Bar(紫煊音乐酒吧)
Address: No.33, Madao Street, Gulou District, Kaifeng开封市鼓楼区马道街33号
Tel: 15993375553 - Hu’an Bar(湖岸)
Address: No.3-4, Longting East Road, Longting District, Kaifeng开封市龙亭区龙亭东路3-4号
Tel: 0371-22196668
Recommended Cafes in kaifeng
- Starbucks(星巴克)
Address: Intersection of Jinming Avenue and Jinan Road, Longting District, Kaifeng开封市龙亭区金明大道与晋安路交叉处
Tel: 0371-25610598 - Starbucks(星巴克)
Address: Dahong Wanda Plaza, Intersection of Zhengkai Avenue and No.1 Avenue, Longting District, Kaifeng开封市龙亭区郑开大街与一大街交汇处大宏万达广场
Tel: 0371-23238896 - Pullman Cafe(铂尔曼咖啡厅)
Address: No.16, Longting North Road, Longting District, Kaifeng开封市龙亭区龙亭北路16号
Tel: 0371-23589999 - Yinzuo Coffee(银座咖啡)
Address: Jinming Avenue, Longting District, Kaifeng开封市龙亭区金明大道
Tel: 0371-23625666 - ZOO COFFEE
Address: Qishengjiao Commecial Street, Longting West Road, Longting District, Kaifeng开封市龙亭区龙亭西路七盛角商业街 - Zhuanjiao Cafe(转角咖啡)
Address: Intersection of Jinming Avenue and Jinan Road, Longting District, Kaifeng开封市龙亭区金明大道与晋安路交汇处
Tel: 0371-22613313 - Maosu(猫宿咖啡)
Address: Shudian Street, Longting District, Kaifeng开封市龙亭区书店街
Tel: 15738080755/15837710699
Watch the Performance of Traditional Opera
Kaifeng has a long history and rich folk culture. Kaifeng people like to go to the teahouse to enjoy tea while listening to the traditional opera. Xiangfu Tune of Henan Opera, Henan Zhuizi and Qu opera are all local favorites. At present, some traditional plays will be staged from time to time in some grand theaters in Kaifeng.
Tea Houses in Kaifeng
- Mingren Tea House(茗仁茶楼)
Address: No.87, Yishan Avenue, Longting District, Kaifeng开封市龙亭区夷山大街87号 - Zheng Da Xiang Tea House(正大祥茶庄)
Address: No.69, Gulou Street, Gulou District, Kaifeng开封市鼓楼区鼓楼街69号
Tel: 13839998123 - Wang Da Chang Tea House(王大昌茶荘)
Address: No.53, Gulou Street, Gulou District, Kaifeng开封市鼓楼区鼓楼街53号
Tel: 0371-25955710/13183251133 - Chuo Cha Ji(啜茶记)
Address: Sida Street, Longting District, Kaifeng开封市龙亭区四大街
Tel: 18637850068 - Jing Pin Hui Tea House(经品慧茶馆)
Address: Binhe Road, Weishi County, Kaifeng开封市尉氏县滨河路
Tel: 0371-27939966 - Chi Cha Qu(吃茶去)
Address: No.117, Jinming West Street, Longting District, Kaifeng开封市龙亭区经济开发区金明西街117号
Tel: 0371-23908005
Traditional Operas in Kaifeng
Xiangfu Tune of Henan Opera(豫剧祥符调)
In Ming Dynasty, Kaifeng was one of the centers of northern drama activities. After the death of Ming Dynasty, Bianliang Tune, Bangzi Tune and other operas were popular among the people in the suburbs of Kaifeng. At the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, Qin opera was introduced into Kaifeng and a unique Bangzi was formed, the common name of which was “Ou Opera”. Later, when it spread in Henan and Shandong, forming various genres, collectively called Henan Bangzi, also known as Henan opera. Xiangfu Tune(祥符调) is the authentic Henan opera. Traditional plays include Mulan Joins the Army, Qin Xianglian, My Wife Is Princess, and Silver Spear. Famous actors include Chen Suzhen, etc.
Henan Zhuizi(河南坠子)
Henan Zhuizi is one of the ten major sorts of Quyi in China, which was created by Qiao Zhishan in Kaifeng in Jiaqing of Qing Dynasty. Henan Zhuizi has a far-reaching influence in Kaifeng. In the late Qing Dynasty, the city established the country’s first Zhuizi research institute. The earliest Zhuizi records were made in Kaifeng and have since spread to Beijing and Tianjin, sweeping the country.
Qu Opera(曲剧)
Qu Opera is developed on the basis of folk quyi. The libretto and spoken parts in Qu opera have strong local flavor and deep and vigorous music. It is good at performing tragedies and humorous comedies. Qu opera was called Kaifeng folk opera in the Ming dynasty and was introduced to Luoyang and Nanyang in the Qing dynasty. After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, Qu Opera entered Kaifeng and began to be called Nanping Tune(南平调). Later it was called Quzi Opera and was loved by the masses. Its outstanding plays include “Chen Sanliang”, “Qiantang County”, “Racoon for a Prince(狸猫换太子)” and other traditional plays, which have also been performed for a long time.
Theaters in Kaifeng
- Yu Opera Theater in Kaifeng(开封市豫剧院)
Address: No.1-1, Sanshenghou Street, Longting District, Kaifeng开封市龙亭区三圣后街1号付1号
Tel: 0371-22886336 - Mass Theater(大众剧院)
Address: No.1, Gulou Street, Gulou District, Kaifeng开封市鼓楼区鼓楼街1号
Tel: 0371-25996966 - Song and Dance Theater in Kaifeng(开封市歌舞剧院)
Address: No.7, Laodong Road, Shunhe Hui District, Kaifeng开封市顺河回族区劳动路7号
Tel: 18637853622
Performance in Kaifeng
Song Dynasty Dongjing Dream Performance(大宋·东京梦华)
“Song Dynasty Dongjing Dream Performance” is a large-scale live-action water show produced by live-action performance planner Mei Shuaiyuan, well-known live-action performance director Zhang Rensheng and Kaifeng Millennium City Park. The 70-minute performance of Song Dynasty Dongjing Dream Performance, with more than 700 actors participating, is another masterpiece of China’s live-action performance. Song Dynasty Dongjing Dream Performance is an impressions scroll about the heyday of the Northern Song Dynasty. It is a historical representation of Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival and Dongjing Meng Hua Lu(东京梦华录). It draws the historical picture of Dongjing, the capital city of the Northern Song Dynasty, using eight well-known classical Song Ci poems and their artistic conception, such as “Yu Mei Ren(虞美人)”, “Zui Dong Feng(醉东风)”, “Love of Butterfly” and “Man Jiang Hong(满江红)”. The whole performance was divided into 6 acts and 4 performances, namely “Preface- Yu Mei Ren”, “Drunken Dongfeng”, “Love of Butterfly”, “Qi Tian Le(齐天乐)”, “Man Jiang Hong” and “End- Prelude To Water Melody”. The gorgeous scenes, classic Song poems and high-tech dance beauty bring strong audio-visual shock to the tourists, and vividly and truly reproduced the prosperity of the capital Bianliang of Song dynasty.
Venue: No.5, Longting West Road, Longting District, Kaifeng(inside the Millennium City Park)开封市龙亭西路5号(清明上河园内)
Performance Time: 20:10-21:20
Tel: 0371-60956015
Cockfight in Kaifeng
Cock fighting was a top-level folk custom event in the Song Dynasty. The cock fighting competition in Kaifeng has a long history. Viewers watching the cock fighting competition can also bet on it. Although there is a gambling element, its purpose is to entertain. The 2nd day of the first lunar month is the day of the cock fighting competition. In addition, the 2nd day of the 2nd lunar month, the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month and the 4th day of the 4th lunar month are also good days for cock fighting. When you come to Kaifeng, you may as well go to Daxiangguo Temple or Iron Pagoda Park to see the cock fighting performance.
Chrysanthemum Appreciation in Kaifeng
The custom of cultivating chrysanthemum and appreciating chrysanthemum in Kaifeng began in the Tang Dynasty and flourished in the Song Dynasty. By the Ming and Qing Dynasties, chrysanthemum cultivation had become a common practice. Chrysanthemums were everywhere in Kaifeng city. Kaifeng was the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty at that time. During the Double Ninth Festival, there were not only flower markets and chrysanthemum competitions in the folk, but also the customs of hanging chrysanthemum lanterns, drinking chrysanthemum tea and drinking chrysanthemum wine in the palace.
