In 1344, the Yellow River experienced a flood strong enough to change the course of its flow south of the Shandong Peninsula. The incidence was devastating to both peasants and landowners alike.

Emperor Shun (元顺帝, reign 1333–1368) commissioned efforts to reverse the damages, including the construction of a new dam for the river; however, the destruction caused by the flood nevertheless prompted many economic, social, and political problems, which all helped give impetus to the downfall of the Yuan Dynasty.

In the 14th century, as the Mongolian Empire began to fragment, the significance of the overland Silk Road began to diminish. Kaifeng and other inland cities became increasingly detached from mainstream Chinese culture. Over time, Kaifeng would lose its status as an enriching global city and become increasingly isolated from the rest of the Jewish world.