Dragon Pavilion

Dragon Pavilion at southeast part of Kaifeng, Henan Province is a well-known scenic area and historical place of interest.

As the main scenic site of Kaifeng, Dragon Pavilion Park totals more than 80 hectares, half of which is water area. Strictly speaking, the Dragon Pavilion at Kaifeng is the former imperial palace in Song Dynasty (960-1279A.D.). In front of the palace, are 72 stairs and a huge stone on which caved with nine dragons, there are fences made of stone surrounding the hall.

The architectural highlights of Long Ting Park include Wu ("Noon") Gate, Yudai ("Jade Belt") Bridge, the Chao ("Wise, Benevolent Spirit") Houses on either side of Imperial Road, Long ("Dragon") Pavilion, Chaomen Gate, the ruins of the Northern Song Dynasty Imperial Palace, Monument Pavilion, North Gate, and East Gate. Dragon Pavilion is an immense hall built atop an imposing, 13-meter high, flood-proof stone structure that has a moderately-sloped, 72-step stone staircase leading up to the entrance. In the center of the hall stands a large dragon carving. The hall's ceiling is decorated with yellow glazed tiles, reinforcing the link to China's imperial past, as yellow was the favorite color of emperors. On either side of Dragon Pavilion are placed eight Chao Rooms, which, together with the palatial courtyard, form an impressive whole. The pavilion also houses a Waxwork Hall that exhibits vivid waxwork likenesses of prominent personages.

The back yard of Dragon Pavilion is now a public park. Walking along the park, you will see two lakes, Pan Lake and Yang Lake, a bridge across two lakes. A pair of stone lions stands on each side of the South Gate of the Dragon Pavilion. There is a long path from the pavilion to the street outside the South Gate, which was exclusively for Emperors, now known by the people of Kaifeng as "A Street in Song Dynasty"

This former imperial palace in Song Dynasty and all antiques in the palace were either missing, destroyed by wars, or damaged by the flood of Yellow River. Much architecture portion has been rebuilt in Qing Dynasty (1616-1911A.D.).