Great Cities

During the Song Dynasty, China had some of the largest and richest cities in the world. One important city was Kaifeng, the early capital of the Song. Kaifeng was crowded and busy, with huge markets, shops, bridges, and canals. People from many places came to trade goods like food, silk, books, and art. At night, the city stayed lively with lanterns, food stalls, and music.

Later, the Song capital moved south to Hangzhou, which became famous for its beauty and wealth. Hangzhou was surrounded by rivers, lakes, and farmland. Many people believed it was one of the most beautiful cities on Earth.

Nearby was the city of Suzhou, which became especially famous during the Song period. Suzhou was known for its booming silk industry, rich farmland, and beautiful gardens filled with ponds, bridges, and flowers. Because of its beauty and comfort, people called Suzhou “heaven on earth.”

Long after the Song Dynasty ended, a European traveler named Marco Polo visited these cities during Mongol rule. He was amazed by how rich and advanced they were. One thing that surprised him most was that people burned black rocks to stay warm. These rocks were coal, something rarely used in Europe at the time. Marco Polo found Song China’s cities far more advanced than anything he had seen before.