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Northern Song Bianjing Capital

Type Object Region China Time 960–1127

Bianjing (modern Kaifeng, Henan), capital of the Northern Song, was among the world's largest and most commercially vibrant cities of the 11th centur…

Timeline

  1. 960Bianliang (Eastern Capital Kaifeng Prefecture) · HenanAfter founding the Northern Song, Zhao Kuangyin made Bianliang the capital, renaming it the Eastern Capital Kaifeng Prefecture, and established the three-walled layout of palace city, imperial city, and outer city, laying the foundation for a century of capital construction.
  2. c. 1071–1080Confluence of the Bian River and Grand Canal · HenanDuring the Xining and Yuanfeng eras, Bianjing relied on the Bian River and Grand Canal grain transport system to become the national hub for distributing grain taxes and goods, with bustling markets and a dense population, as the urban economy reached its Northern Song peak.
  3. 1127Bianjing · HenanJin forces breached Bianjing, ending the Northern Song; Bianjing's history as the Northern Song capital concluded, the city suffered severe destruction, and the Southern Song moved the capital to Lin'an.

Sources