Fengqiu County 封丘县

History

The county was set up in the Western Han. The county government traces its name to Liu Bang (刘邦), founder of the Han, who granted the land as a reward to a woman named Zhai (翟母) who fed him when he was in trouble. The Spring and Autumn covenants of Huangchi (黄池), Pingqiu (平丘) and Chonglao (虫牢) were sworn here. At Chenqiao (陈桥) in the south of the county, Zhao Kuangyin (赵匡胤) staged the mutiny that ended the Five Dynasties and began the Song. The county also claims the love story of Han Ping (韩凭) and his wife at the Qingling terrace (青陵台) in Liuguang town (留光镇) as the origin of the "intertwined branches" in Bai Juyi's famous couplet on lovers.

What to see

Chenqiao town lies 16 kilometres south of the county town on the Yellow River. Its relics include the "place where Emperor Taizu of Song put on the yellow robe" (宋太祖黄袍加身处), a Henan provincial protected site, together with the Chenqiao post station, the Ximahuai (系马槐), the pagoda tree where the horse was tied, and the Bandao Well (扳倒井). East Lake wetland (陈桥东湖湿地) at Chenqiao lies in the Xinxiang national wetland nature reserve for birds, which covers 1,800 hectares and is thick with cattails; 129 bird species have been recorded, among them the reed parrotbill, tundra swan and mandarin duck.

Fengqiu is the birthplace of the Xiangfu tune (祥符调), the parent style of Yu opera (豫剧), and the Yu opera singer Chen Suzhen (陈素真) came from here.

Food and local products

Fengqiu is known as China's home of raspberries and of honeysuckle (金银花), which has been grown here for more than 1,500 years. The county's groundwater is naturally slightly alkaline, with a pH of 7.5 to 8.0.

Getting oriented

From Chenqiao, the Lanyuan and Daguang expressways and the Fengqiu-Kaifeng pontoon bridge over the Yellow River connect to Kaifeng, 35 kilometres away.

Highlights

• Song Taizu yellow-robe site, Chenqiao 宋太祖黄袍加身处: Where Zhao Kuangyin's mutiny founded the Song; Henan provincial protected site.
• Chenqiao East Lake wetland 陈桥东湖湿地: In a national wetland bird reserve where 129 species have been recorded.
• Qingling terrace 青陵台: Linked by the county to the Han Ping love story behind the 'intertwined branches' image.
• Honeysuckle 金银花: Grown in Fengqiu for more than 1,500 years.