Located on a 14.8-acre site with a building area of 14,206 square meters, Zhengzhou Museum in Songshan Road (郑州博物馆嵩山南路馆) stands as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the region. Its origins trace back to August 1928 when it was established as the Zhengzhou Municipal Relics Exhibition Room. Officially founded in 1957, it was christened as the Zhengzhou Museum.
The main exhibition hall of Zhengzhou Museum draws inspiration from the primitive form of the Shang Dynasty bronze square tripod unearthed in Zhengzhou. Its design incorporates a circular disc-shaped roof symbolizing the harmony between heaven and earth, echoing the profound significance of “Heaven is round and the earth is square, with the tripod standing in the Central Plains.” The main exhibition hall comprises three above-ground floors and one underground level, showcasing a unified architectural style that blends the ruggedness and elegance of bronze vessels.
With a collection exceeding 50,000 artifacts, Zhengzhou Museum boasts a diverse array of cultural relics. Among its treasures are ancient fossils like mammoths dating back four to five hundred thousand years, exquisite bronze, jade, and primitive porcelain unearthed from the Zhengzhou Shangcheng Site, as well as various Han Dynasty portrait bricks featuring intricate patterns excavated from the Zhengzhou region. The museum also houses a splendid assortment of porcelain, calligraphy, and paintings from the Ming, Qing, and modern periods, showcasing the artistic achievements of generations past.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Exhibitions in Zhengzhou Museum
- Vlog about Zhengzhou Museum
- Attractions near Erqi Square
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 2 hours |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| Opening Hours | 9.00 – 17.00; Last admission: 16.30 Closed on Mondays |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0371-67714993 |
Location and Transportation
Zhengzhou Museum is located at 168 Songshan South Road, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, near the Erqi Square. To get there, you can choose one of the following ways:
Bus: Take bus 84, 298, 560, B11, S112, S123, or Y61 and get off at Municipal Museum Stop (市博物馆站).
Metro: The closest metro station to Zhengzhou Museum is Lvcheng Square (绿城广场) on line 1 and line 10. After getting out of the station from Exit F, you will be standing right at the entrance of the museum.
Exhibitions in Zhengzhou Museum
The First Exhibition Hall
The first exhibition hall of Zhengzhou Museum is divided into two sections: “Dawn of Civilization” and “Founding Dynasties.” “Dawn of Civilization” focuses on artifacts from the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods unearthed from sites such as Yingyang Zhijidong, Xinzheng Peiligang, Zhengzhou Dahe Village, Zhengzhou Xishan, and Yingyang Qingtai. It reveals the evolution of primitive human habitats from cave dwellings to semi-underground dwellings, then to surface-connected rooms, and finally to early rammed earth castle architecture.
“Founding Dynasties” showcases artifacts unearthed from sites such as Dengfeng Wangchenggang, Xinmi Ancient City, Xinmi New Fort, and Gongyi Huadizui. This section highlights the abundance of Xia Dynasty ancient city sites in the Zhengzhou region. Through these exhibits, visitors can gain insights into the early civilizations that thrived in the area, tracing their development from prehistoric times to the establishment of early dynasties.
The Second Exhibition Hall
The second exhibition hall of Zhengzhou Museum vividly portrays the establishment, prosperous development, and eventual decline of Zhengzhou Shangcheng, an early capital of the Shang Dynasty. This hall, a focal point of the “Ancient Capital Zhengzhou” exhibition, covers an area of nearly 1000 square meters and is divided into four distinct sections: “Royal Power and National Prestige,” “Prosperous Commercial Hub,” “Everyday Life in Shangcheng,” and “Enigma of Shangcheng.”
“Royal Power and National Prestige” showcases tangible artifacts such as bronze ge and bronze daggers, palace foundation stones, pottery tiles, ceramic water pipes, and bronze vessels unearthed from storage pits, providing insights into the origins of the Shang clan, the establishment of royal authority, the regulations of Shangcheng, and the magnificent royal artifacts.
“Prosperous Commercial Hub” illustrates the economic development, bustling trade, and intricate division of labor during the Shang Dynasty through various combinations of artifacts and landscape displays.
“Everyday Life in Shangcheng” exhibits a wide range of artifacts unearthed within the Zhengzhou Shangcheng site, including bronze ritual vessels, wine vessels, jade artifacts, oracle bones for divination, bone tools, daily-use pottery, and the primitive green-glazed ceramic zun, often considered the precursor of porcelain. This section provides a comprehensive glimpse into the daily lives of both the aristocratic and common people, revealing significant aspects of their lifestyle and culture.
The Third Exhibition Hall
The third exhibition hall of Zhengzhou Museum is divided into two parts: “Ancient Homeland, Ancient City” and “Bronze Symphony.” “Ancient Homeland, Ancient City” showcases the evolution of the ancient city through historical figures’ stories depicted on relief walls and maps of the Zheng-Han lineage and territory. Utilizing the poetic verses from the “Book of Songs – Songs of Zheng” and artistic interpretations of scenes with chime bells, this section strives to evoke the graceful ambiance of the “Book of Songs.”
“Bronze Symphony” features a collection of tangible artifacts focusing on the transformation of bronze artifacts in Zheng and Han territories, highlighting the transition in utility and the stylistic evolution towards a more free-spirited, lively, and elegant aesthetic.
