Access to Kaifeng in Where Winds Meet is tied directly to main story progress and character level, not to free exploration. Trying to swim or ride into the region early will simply teleport you back, because the area only opens once you advance the main storyline far enough.
Story and level requirements to reach Kaifeng
The game is split into two main regions at launch: Qinghe (your starting area) and Kaifeng (the later region with its city and surrounding provinces). Kaifeng is locked until you move into Chapter 2 of the story and accept the first Kaifeng-focused quest.
The table below summarizes what needs to be done before you can travel there.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Finish Chapter 1 | Complete the Heaven Has No Pier storyline, ending with the quest For Whom Does He Return. |
| Campaign blocks | Clear the Still Shore and Blissful Retreat campaign segments in your Journal to reach the final Chapter 1 boss. |
| Suggested level for the final Chapter 1 phase | Be around level 35 when starting the second phase of the first act that leads into For Whom Does He Return. |
| Unlock Chapter 2 | After the Chapter 1 finale, Chapter 2: Universal Furnace becomes available. |
| Minimum level for the first Kaifeng quest | Reach at least level 32 to accept the Chapter 2 main quest New Arrival in Kaifeng (also called New Guest in Kaifeng). |
Reaching these milestones unlocks the story quest that actually carries you from Qinghe to Kaifeng and also ensures your level is high enough for the early fights in the new region.
How to start the Kaifeng main quest
Once Chapter 1 is complete and your level meets the requirement, the first story quest in Chapter 2 automatically appears in your quest log. This quest begins the transition from Qinghe to Kaifeng and includes your first visit to Wheatwind Bazaar and Kaifeng City.
Use the table below to see how the transition quest is structured.
| Quest name | Chapter | Region | Main objectives (summary) |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Arrival in Kaifeng (also referred to as New Guest in Kaifeng) | Chapter 2: Universal Furnace | Starts in Qinghe, continues in Kaifeng | Leave for Kaifeng by boat, investigate Wheatwind Bazaar, follow Yingying, trade 20 bags of grain, enter Kaifeng with Shopkeeper Fu. |
This quest is mandatory to physically enter the Kaifeng region for the first time and to unlock Kaifeng City as a usable hub for later exploration and activities.
Traveling from Qinghe to Kaifeng
The actual move from Qinghe to Kaifeng is done through a story-controlled boat trip, not by walking or riding across the map border. The game intentionally blocks attempts to swim or glide over the boundary before you start the correct quest.
Start the voyage to Kaifeng
Step 1: Open your quest Journal and look for the main quest tied to Chapter 2, titled New Arrival in Kaifeng or New Guest in Kaifeng. Make sure it is set as your tracked quest so its markers appear on the map and screen.
Step 2: Travel to the dock area around Blissful Retreat and Harvestfall Village in Qinghe. A dockmaster or boatman NPC waits there and is marked with the main quest icon when the quest is active.
Step 3: Speak to the dockmaster or boatman and choose the dialogue option to leave for Kaifeng. If you are not ready, you can decline and return later; the option remains available once unlocked.
Step 4: After confirming, a cutscene plays and your character boards the boat. This journey is story-driven and cannot be skipped by other means of travel.
Step 5: When the cutscene ends, you arrive in the Kaifeng region at the local dock. At this moment, Kaifeng is added to your world map as an unlocked region and the rest of the quest continues in the new area.
Completing the New Arrival in Kaifeng quest
Arriving at the Kaifeng dock does not immediately grant full freedom across the region. You must progress through the early steps of the first Kaifeng quest, which introduces the city, local mechanics, and key characters.
Objective 1: Leave for Kaifeng
Step 1: From the Qinghe dock, confirm your departure in the dialogue with the boatman. This triggers the story transition and moves you to the Kaifeng dock.
Step 2: After arriving, follow the marker off the dock to complete the first objective and update the quest to focus on Wheatwind Bazaar.
Objective 2: Investigate Wheatwind Bazaar
Step 1: Mount your horse and ride along the road toward Wheatwind Bazaar, following the on-screen path indicator. This is your first overland trip within the Kaifeng region.
Step 2: As you approach the bazaar, enter the crowded market area until a scene begins around a Treasure Basin scam led by a hulking man.
Step 3: Interact with the basin or the highlighted NPC to inspect the scam. When the dialogue ends, defeat the hulking man and his allies in combat to resolve the disturbance and complete this objective.
Objective 3: Follow Yingying
Step 1: After the fight, a character named Yingying appears and offers to help you. Follow her through the streets, staying close to keep the quest marker active.
Step 2: Continue along the path until you reach an inn. Sit where prompted and wait while Yingying leaves, saying she will return shortly.
Step 3: When the wait prompt appears, choose the option labelled Wait No More to move the story forward. This leads to a discussion with the waiter about payment for the meal.
Step 4: Talk to the waiter outside the inn to negotiate. You then pawn the wine item called Parting Tears as collateral to settle the issue for now.
Objective 4: Buy and sell 20 bags of grain
Step 1: Follow the new quest marker to a traveling merchant near Wheatwind Bazaar. Speak to this merchant to open the shop interface.
Step 2: Purchase 20 bags of grain from the merchant. You need 10,000 Coins to buy the full set from one seller, so make sure you have enough money beforehand.
Step 3: After buying the grain, follow Old Jin when the quest directs you to him. He guides you to Shopkeeper Fu, who is willing to buy the grain.
Step 4: Sell all 20 bags of grain to the vendor indicated by the quest marker. This trade provides profit and completes the trading portion of the objective.
Step 5: Return to the inn and speak to the waiter again to redeem your Parting Tears using the profit you just earned. This closes the debt and updates the quest toward entering Kaifeng City itself.
Objective 5: Follow Shopkeeper Fu to the Revelry Hall
Step 1: Locate Shopkeeper Fu (also referred to as Little Fu) at the new quest marker and start following her towards Kaifeng City. Stay close to avoid resetting the escort.
Step 2: Approach the city’s South Gate with Fu. A cutscene plays that shows you the busy side of Kaifeng and then the harsher reality behind the city’s appearance.
Step 3: On the way to Revelry Hall, government guards stop the group and check for banned Tang Coins. You are given a choice during this event, and the quest soon forces a fight against the guards.
Step 4: Defeat the government guards in combat when the objective switches to resisting them. The enemies are tuned for your current story level, so standard combat tactics work well.
Step 5: After the fight, crouch and follow Big Zhao as instructed to hide from additional soldiers and safely leave the immediate area with him and Fu.
Step 6: Once you exit with Big Zhao, the quest completes and you receive your rewards, including Echo Jade, Kaifeng Exploration points, Coins, and stored EXP. At this point Kaifeng City is properly unlocked as a major hub.
What Kaifeng unlocks for your character
Reaching and clearing the first Kaifeng quest opens up a large part of the region and several important systems. Initially, you gain access to Kaifeng City and its surrounding southern province; the northern province remains locked until you advance further in the main story and approach level 50.
Within Kaifeng, you can:
| Feature | Where it appears | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| New weapons | Kaifeng-side content and unlock quests | Obtain and develop weapons such as the Thundercry Blade, Rope Dart, and several fans and umbrellas. |
| Player housing | Housing-related quests and city NPCs | Unlock the player housing system and start building and decorating your own residence. |
| Commerce Coin gameplay | Kaifeng’s economic activities | Access more detailed trade and currency systems centered on Commerce Coins. |
| Disguise feature | Kaifeng missions and sect content | Use disguises for specific missions and for Rope Dart sect activities that involve stealth or infiltration. |
| Exploration and side content | Kaifeng City, Granary of Plenty, Jadewood Court | Complete exploration nodes, mini-games, Sentient Beings, and side quests that grant Kaifeng Exploration points and loot. |
Progressing through Kaifeng’s story later unlocks its northern areas, higher-level enemies, and additional advanced systems, but all of that starts with the first crossing from Qinghe through the dockmaster quest.
Once you finish the Chapter 1 finale, meet the level requirement, and ride the boat from Blissful Retreat’s dock, Kaifeng opens up naturally through the main story flow—no need to brute-force the border or wait for a random letter to appear.
