Dragon Pavilion

34°48′34″N 114°20′48″E / 34.809469°N 114.346647°E / 34.809469; 114.346647 The Dragon Pavilion (simplified Chinese: 龙亭; traditional Chinese: 龍亭; pinyin: lóngtíng) or Wanshou pavilion is located in Kaifeng in the eastern part of Henan province, People's Republic of China. During the Northern Song (960–1127) and Jin (1115–1234) dynasties, Kaifeng was an imperial capital city. The imperial palace of that time is largely lost to time, but a few parts, such as the Dragon Pavilion, remain visible today. Kaifeng became the capital of the Northern Song dynasty in 960. An imperial place was built here and the city prospered, perhaps with a population reaching over 400,000. During that time the city took the name Dongjing (literally: Eastern Capital) or Bianjing. The city of that time is thought to be depicted on the famous painting Along the River During Qingming Festival. The painting by the artist Zhang Zeduan shows a typical Qingming Festival scene. The city of that time is also integral to the famous writing, Dongjing Meng Hua Lu (Dreams of Splendour of the Eastern Capital). The Jurchen-led Jin dynasty captured Kaifeng in 1127 and made the city their southern capital sometime between 1157 and 1161.