Zhenghe Cultural Tourism Festival in Jinning District, Kunming

Overview of The Festival

• Chinese name:昆明郑和文化旅游节
• English Name: Zhenghe Cultural Tourism Festival in Jinning District, Kunming
• Location: Jinning District, Kuming
• Date: 11th – 16th, July

The Zhenghe Cultural Festival, celebrates the legacy of the famous Ming Dynasty explorer Zheng He (also known as Cheng Ho). This festival typically highlights the historical significance of Zheng He’s voyages and his role in promoting cultural exchanges between China and countries in Southeast Asia and beyond.

Jinning is the hometown of the great navigator Zheng He. Jinning is the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Dian, an important birthplace of Dian culture, and a center of bronze culture in Yunnan. Significant archaeological discoveries such as the Shizhaishan Ancient Tombs, the He Bosuo Site, and the Gucheng Village Site attest to the former glory of this land. The mysterious ancient Dian culture, the open and inclusive Zheng He culture, and the diverse ethnic and folk cultures all blend and shine together here. Over 600 years ago, Zheng He led a large fleet on seven voyages to the West over the course of 28 years, consolidating and continuing the “Maritime Silk Road” that connected South Asia, Southeast Asia, and directly reached East Africa. As the hometown of Zheng He, Jinning honors Zheng He’s remarkable achievements in navigation by holding the Zheng He Cultural Tourism Festival every year, inheriting and promoting Zheng He’s spirit of “daring to be the first, dedication to one’s work, neighborly friendliness, and openness and inclusiveness.

The Significance of Zheng He’s Voyages to the West

Economic Significance

In terms of economics, Zheng He’s voyages changed the maritime policies that had been implemented since the Hongwu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, to some extent liberalizing overseas trade. His expeditions brought new crafts, raw materials, and technologies to China, impacting domestic handicraft production. Culturally, Zheng He’s voyages enhanced the exchange of civilizations between China and foreign countries, promoting the Ming Dynasty’s understanding of the outside world and leaving behind the invaluable cultural heritage of the “Zheng He Navigation Map.” Furthermore, Zheng He’s voyages embody the Chinese nation’s fine tradition of loving peace, promoting friendly relations with neighbors, and striving for self-improvement, which has had a profound impact on peace in international relations between Asia and Africa.

Opening the Era of Great Maritime Exploration

Zheng He’s missions at the beginning of the Ming Dynasty marked the dawn of the Age of Great Maritime Exploration, symbolizing China’s embrace of the outside world. Leading a diverse and multicultural approach, Zheng He opened up the Southeast Asian Maritime Silk Road, etching Chinese maritime endeavors into the milestones of world maritime history. Zheng Yijun, a researcher at the Institute of Oceanology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, stated in his report titled “Great Peace Practices During the Transitional Period of Human History” that Zheng He embarked on his first voyage to the West in 1405, thus initiating global maritime activities. Zheng noted that the onset of the Age of Great Maritime Exploration greatly transformed East-West transportation, facilitating interactions among countries and gradually breaking down the previously closed-off relationship between different regions worldwide. This had a profound impact on human society and international relations, leading to an increasingly globalized social structure, heralding a fundamental historical transition. During this crucial period of human development, Zheng He’s maritime achievements inspired countless Chinese people to venture abroad, sailing towards the ocean, and on the grand stage of human civilization, they composed a magnificent chapter in the early 15th-century history of civilization through remarkable practices of peace. Wang Guiyan, a council member of the Zheng He Association in Taiwan, shares similar views with Zheng Yijun. He states that Zheng He led an enormous fleet of over 200 ships and more than 27,000 personnel on his long voyages, marking an unprecedented navigation in world maritime history—an incredible achievement that elevated maritime transportation to its peak, astonishing Western maritime adventurers and igniting their desire to journey eastward. This allowed people around the world to recognize the ocean, opened new maritime routes, and enhanced global economic prosperity and cultural exchanges.

Attempt to Establish a Peaceful and Harmonious International Order

Experts believe that, unlike the contemporary Western explorations, Zheng He and the Chinese who represented him during these voyages encouraged vast numbers of Chinese to go to sea on an unprecedented scale, in an attempt to establish a peaceful and harmonious international social order based on traditional Chinese political and moral ideals. Zheng Yijun noted that Chinese traditional political philosophy is centered around the values of “benevolence” and “forgiveness.” The Zheng He fleet endeavored to spread Chinese culture and education abroad, aligning with the ancient ideals of societal harmony and the pursuit of synchronized development between humanity and nature. This ideal of “great harmony” and “harmony” also reflects the aspiration of peoples from various nations for a “world in harmony,” representing a universal yearning for a better and happier life. Lin Yibiao, president of the Confucius Society in Semarang, Indonesia, articulates the significance of Zheng He’s peaceful voyages through the respect his hometown people have for him. He believes that Zheng He’s expeditions are a remarkable initiative in human history, serving as a monument to Sino-foreign relations. The Zheng He navigation maps were later utilized by Western navigators. He emphasized that Zheng He’s voyages introduced advanced agricultural and handicraft techniques to various countries, propagated cultural civilization, and promoted the economic development of those regions.

The “Spice Journey” of Cultural Ideals

While Zheng He’s voyages made significant contributions to trade, as Ming Dynasty ceramics, silk, and currency were favored and needed by people throughout Southeast Asia, and spices and dyes from those regions were needed domestically—showcasing the importance of trade—experts believe that the most lasting and profound impact of Zheng He’s journeys lies in cultural exchange. Professor Jones from the University of Sydney describes Zheng He’s journey to spread Eastern culture as a “Spice Journey” for the dissemination of cultural ideals, arguing that its influence is broader and more profound than that of the Silk Road traversing Central Asia. Wang Guiyan also asserts that, on one hand, regarding the westward spread of Chinese culture, Zheng He established stone monuments wherever he went to promote Chinese culture; on the other hand, the large influx of Western Christianity into China brought Western academic materials in mathematics, physics, and astronomy, enlightening senior officials and intellectuals of that time, which constitutes an important contribution of Zheng He’s voyages to the cultural exchange between East and West.

The Activities of The Festival:

The Zheng He Cultural Tourism Festival in Jinning District, Kunming, is an annual event that celebrates the legacy of the famous Chinese explorer Zheng He, who embarked on maritime voyages during the Ming Dynasty. The festival typically features a wide range of cultural and tourism activities aimed at promoting local heritage, fostering community spirit, and attracting visitors. Here are some key aspects of the festival’s local activities:

1. Cultural Performances

• Traditional Music and Dance: Local artists often perform traditional Chinese music and dance, including folk dances that reflect the diverse cultures that Zheng He encountered during his voyages.
• Theatrical Performances: Plays and reenactments of Zheng He’s voyages and cultural exchanges are performed, highlighting historical events and the significance of maritime trade.

2. Culinary Events

• Food Festivals: A variety of food stalls feature traditional snacks and dishes from different regions of China, reflecting the culinary influences from the regions Zheng He visited.
• Cooking Demonstrations: Local chefs showcase traditional cooking methods and recipes from the Ming Dynasty and other historical periods.

3. Exhibitions and Workshops

• Cultural Exhibitions: Displays highlighting Zheng He’s life, maritime history, and cultural exchanges are set up, including artifacts, models of ships, and maps from his voyages.
• Workshops: Visitors can participate in workshops on traditional crafts, such as pottery or silk weaving, linking back to the cultural exchanges during Zheng He’s time.

4. Tourist Activities

• Guided Tours: Local tour guides offer tours of significant historical sites in Jinning District, including those connected to Zheng He’s legacy, such as temples or ancient trade routes.
• Outdoor Activities: The festival may include outdoor activities such as boat rides on local lakes or rivers that echo the maritime aspects of Zheng He’s explorations.

5. Community Involvement

• Local Vendors: Artisans and local businesses set up stalls to showcase their products, fostering community engagement and supporting local economies.
• Cultural Exchange Programs: The festival may promote cultural exchanges with other regions or countries, reflecting the spirit of Zheng He’s journeys.

6. Educational Programs

• Lectures and Seminars: Scholars and historians may hold lectures on Zheng He’s impact on international trade and cultural exchanges, educating the public about his significance in history.
• School Programs: Local schools may participate in the festival through performances, art exhibitions, or research projects about Zheng He.

7. Conclusion of the Festival

• Closing Ceremony: The festival usually concludes with a grand ceremony, including fireworks or lantern displays, symbolizing the unity and cultural richness that Zheng He’s voyages brought to different nations.

The Zheng He Cultural Tourism Festival not only celebrates the legacy of this influential figure but also reinforces local culture, promotes tourism, and fosters community pride in Jinning District and the broader Kunming area.