Letan Bamboo Sea

Zhuxian Town

Zhuxian Town in Kaifeng County, Henan Province, is situated 20 kilometers south of Kaifeng City, Henan. Along with Foshan in Guangdong, Jingdezhen in Jiangxi, and Hankou in Hubei, it is one of China's four great commercial hubs. Legend has it that during the Warring States period, it was the hometown of Zhu Hai, who lived in Immortal Village, hence the name Zhuxian Town. Zhu Hai was originally a butcher, but due to his exceptional bravery, he was recruited by Lord Xinling as a retainer. He later made significant contributions in battles such as repelling the Qin, saving Zhao, and preserving Wei. Thus, Lord Xinling’s legendary reputation is also inseparable from his discovery and appointment of Zhu Hai.

Zhuxian Town reached its peak during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. At that time, the town covered an area of 25 square kilometers, with a population of over 200,000 and more than 40,000 merchant households. Streets crisscrossed the town, and goods were abundant. The Jialu River divided the town into East Town and West Town. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, East Town was an important commercial district. After the Qianlong era, due to frequent flooding caused by the Yellow River’s breaches, and because East Town was at a lower elevation, most merchants moved from East Town to West Town.

The woodblock New Year paintings of Zhuxian Town originated in the Tang Dynasty, flourished in the Song Dynasty, and reached their zenith during the Ming and Qing dynasties. With a long and rich history, they are one of China's four major woodblock New Year painting styles. Yue Fei once achieved a great victory over the Jin army here at the Battle of Zhuxian Town. Yue Fei famously routed an army of 100,000 Jin troops with just 500 elite cavalry, prompting Jin Wushu to lament, “It is easier to shake a mountain than to shake the Yue Family Army.”

Travel Tip: You can take a direct long-distance bus from Kaifeng Long-Distance Bus Station to Zhuxian Town (7 yuan). When you visit, it’s a good idea to buy some New Year paintings and other souvenirs.

Address: Zhuxian Town, Xiangfu District, Kaifeng City

Type: Ancient Town/Village

Recommended Visit Duration: About 1 day

Opening Hours: Open all day

Ticket Information: No entrance fee for the ancient town itself. The Yuewang Temple within the town charges 20 yuan, while other attractions are free.

Zhuxian Town: Nestled by the Jialu River and Yunliang River, Zhuxian Town has been a vital water and land transportation hub and commercial center in North China since the Tang and Song dynasties. During the late Ming and early Qing periods, it was ranked among China’s four great towns alongside Foshan in Guangdong, Hankou in Hubei, and Jingdezhen in Jiangxi.

Established in the early Warring States period, the town was named Zhuxian Town after Zhu Hai assisted Lord Xinling in the “Stealing the Token to Save Zhao” campaign. It is recognized by the Henan Provincial People’s Government as one of Henan’s 117 key towns and selected by the state as one of the 100 small-town socio-economic comprehensive development pilot towns. It is also known as the “Hometown of Chinese Woodblock New Year Painting Art.”

Zhuxian Town enjoys convenient transportation and a prominent location advantage. To the north… Zhuxian Town Detailed Information ++