The Zheng He Memorial Hall in Jinning, Kunming

The Zheng He Memorial Hall (郑和纪念馆) is located within Zheng He Park (郑和公园) in Jinning District (晋宁区), Kunming (昆明), Yunnan Province. The memorial hall officially opened on July 11, 2017. Covering an area of 7.19 acres (3 hectares) and built in a Ming Dynasty-style (仿明式风格), the building has a total floor space of 4,721 square meters. The hall features a Zheng He culture exhibition hall, displaying more than 300 historical items, including maritime documents, rubbings of inscriptions, and cultural relics that showcase Zheng He’s maritime achievements and cultural exchanges. The memorial hall was selected as one of the 11th batch of Chinese Overseas Chinese International Cultural Exchange Bases in 2023 and is recognized as one of the first provincial-level patriotic education bases in Yunnan.

Basic Information

• Location: Zheng He Park, Jinning District, Kunming, Yunnan

• Opening Date: July 11, 2017

• Construction Area: 7.19 acres

• Building Area: 4,721 square meters

• Investment: 30 million CNY

• Open Hours: 06:30 – 20:00

• Collection: Over 1,000 pieces of historical relics

• Honorary Title: National-level cultural heritage site (Ma Ha Zhi Tomb 马哈只墓)

Exhibition Content

The main exhibition area is divided into four thematic sections:

1. Zheng He’s Life Exhibit

This section highlights Zheng He’s background through rubbings of the Ma Ha Zhi Tomb Inscription (马哈只墓志铭) and family relics.

2. Maritime History Exhibit

Displays include replicas of the Zheng He Maritime Map (郑和航海图), models of Zheng He’s treasure ships (宝船), and artifacts related to Ming Dynasty overseas trade.

3. Cultural Exchange Exhibit

This section features gifts from Southeast Asian countries and showcases a collection of 2,275 maritime-themed postage stamps.

4. Digital Experience Zone

Visitors can enjoy interactive 3D animations that recreate the fleet formation scenes from Zheng He’s maritime expeditions.

Cultural Heritage and Activities

Zheng He Culture Festival

Every year on July 11, the Zheng He Culture Festival is held. The festival includes maritime-themed educational activities, digital exhibitions, and performances related to Zheng He’s voyages.

International Collaboration

In 2022, the memorial hall became one of the founding members of the Zheng He Cultural Venues Alliance and has partnered with 31 institutions, including the Nanjing Treasure Shipyard Site (南京宝船厂遗址), to further promote Zheng He’s legacy.

Related Facilities

• Ma Ha Zhi Tomb (马哈只墓): A national-level cultural heritage site that records significant details about Zheng He’s family background.

• Sanbao Tower (三宝楼): Designed to resemble a treasure ship, this tower offers stunning views of the southern shore of Dianchi Lake (滇池).

Visitor Services and Routes

Tourist Services

• Opening Hours: 06:30 – 20:00 (free admission)

• Guided Tours: Multilingual guides available; in 2023, over 200 study tour groups were hosted.

Recommended Routes

• Ancient Dian Civilization Exploration Tour: Includes a visit to the Zheng He Memorial Hall, Jinning Museum, and other historical landmarks to explore the thousand-year history of Jinning (晋宁).

Architectural Features and Layout

The main building of the memorial hall is designed in the Ming Dynasty style, incorporating traditional wooden framing and a gray-tiled roof. The layout of the building is centered around a main axis that aligns with Sanbao Tower and the Zheng He statue in the park, reinforcing the maritime cultural theme. The Sanbao Tower is designed to resemble a treasure ship, providing a strong connection to Zheng He’s voyages.

Exhibition Areas

• Zheng He’s Life Exhibit: Features rubbings of the Ma Ha Zhi Tomb Inscription and other artifacts from his family.

• Maritime History Exhibit: Showcases replicas of the Zheng He Maritime Map and models of treasure ships.

• Cultural Exchange Exhibit: Highlights gifts from Southeast Asian countries and features a large collection of maritime-themed stamps.

• Digital Experience Zone: Uses 3D animation to recreate the scene of Zheng He’s fleet.

Cultural Legacy and Activities

Since 2006, Jinning District has celebrated July 11 as Zheng He Culture Festival, where the memorial hall holds maritime-themed educational events and exhibitions. In 2023, the Zheng He Maritime Tour featured a digital performance of Zheng He’s voyages.

In 2022, the memorial hall became a founding member of the Zheng He Cultural Venues Alliance and has partnered with organizations like the Nanjing Treasure Shipyard Site to promote Zheng He’s cultural legacy.

Related Cultural Sites

• Ma Ha Zhi Tomb: A national-level protected site containing key inscriptions that document Zheng He’s family.

• Zheng He Statue: A 5.55-meter high white marble statue, designed by Professor Wang Guanyi (王官乙) from the Sichuan Academy of Fine Arts.

• Jinning District Museum: Houses a special exhibition on Zheng He’s culture and showcases local bronze artifacts.

Honors and Influence

By 2024, the Zheng He Memorial Hall has received several prestigious recognitions:

• 2017: Selected as a Patriotic Education Base in Yunnan Province.

• 2023: Recognized as an International Cultural Exchange Base by the Chinese Overseas Chinese Affairs Office.

• Historical Significance: The memorial’s research has been incorporated into the “Zheng He’s Voyages” long scroll project, which has contributed valuable historical data to the study of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.