DepthReading

Must-see museums in Henan

Summary: Steeped in history, culture and rich in art, Henan has a plethora of museums with distinct themes. For those who are yearning for an educational and eye-opening trip, each city of this province has so ...

Steeped in history, culture and rich in art, Henan has a plethora of museums with distinct themes. For those who are yearning for an educational and eye-opening trip, each city of this province has something to offer.

Bring along your children, because some exhibitions are also inspirational and might spark their interest in something. Start planning your trip by taking a look at these most visited museums in Henan.

Zhengzhou

Formerly known as Henan Provincial Museum, the Henan Museum is one of the oldest and largest museums in China. It’s easy to spot from afar, as the main exhibition hall at the centre was built into the shape of a pyramid.

Built in 1927, it’s nearly 90 years old and boasts a collection of 130,000 pieces of artefacts, of which more than 5,000 pieces are first- and second-grade national treasure. The entire building spans 10 hectares and the museum has 7.8 hectares of floor space showcasing relics and archaeological finds with the distinct style and cultural characteristics of the central plains of China.

Wander around different exhibition halls in this enormous museum, to view the historical and cultural relics discovered throughout Henan, which were from as early as prehistoric period to the late Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1912). In the special exhibition halls are the bronze vessels from the Shang (1600 BC – 1046 BC) and Zhou dynasty (1046 BC – 256 BC), as well as pottery and porcelain from different periods of Chinese history.

You will get more than just the essence of ancient Chinese civilisation. The museum has exchange programmes with other museums in China and overseas, and organises contemporary exhibits on a regular basis. Any don't worry about your Chinese proficiency. There are audio guide and interactive videos in Japanese and English besides Chinese.

Besides artefacts, the museum is also home to the Huaxia Orchestra, who perform with replicas of ancient instruments unearthed in Henan. Drop by the auditorium for a performance by the ensemble whose performance of traditional music is given an extra touch with the musicians dressed in authentic period costumes.

Located in the urban area of Zhengzhou, Henan Museum is easily accessible by bus, such as service 330, 61, 105 and 209. It opens from 9am to 5pm but closes on Monday. Though admission is free, you will need to collect a ticket with your photo ID at the gate.

Another highly visible spot worth visiting in Zhengzhou is the Henan Art Center, designed by a internationally renowned architect, Carlos Ott to resemble three major ancient Chinese wind musical instruments, the porcelain Xun, the stone pan-pipes and the bone-flute, which were all unearthed in Henan. Situated by a lake, the picturesque yet cavernous egg-shaped building cluster houses an 1,800-seat grand theatre, an 800-seat concert hall and a 380-seat multi-functional theatre.

There is also an art museum and an art gallery in the centre.

Considered the most influential cultural and art venue in Henan Province, the art museum houses prints made from rubbings of ancient hieroglyphics carved into stone, and a “behind the scenes” display and pictorial history of the Henan Opera.

Luoyang

If you are interested in Chinese culture, you should check out the Luoyang Folk Museum. Built on the foundations of an ancient Qing dynasty architectural complex which dates back to 1744, the museum is regarded as a microcosm of Chinese folk culture, showcasing ancient customs and tradition.

Exhibits are categorised into five major themes, including Folk Religions, Wedding Customs, Birthday Customs, Folk Art and Embroidery. You will get to see elegantly designed items that were displayed in the imperial palace alongside ordinary, yet practical tools used by ordinary people.

Along with the exhibitions, there are also live performances of Chinese shadow puppets, wedding ceremonies and traditional costume shows. Every year during the Luoyang Peony Festival , the museum also holds the Folk Culture Temple Fair that showcases a variety of folk art performances.

You can take any of the following buses in Luoyang to reach the museum, including service 7, 16, 17 and 57. The museum opens from 8:30am to 5pm, Tuesday to Sunday, and admission is free.

Sitting at the centre of Luoyang, the Museum of Eastern Zhou Royal Horse and Chariot Pits, or Tianzi Jialiu Museum in Chinese, is within walking distance from Luoyang Railway Station. There are a number of buses that go past the site – just slight at Wangcheng Square, where a prominent statue of a chariot led by six horses serves as a reminder.

Built on sacrifice pits that cover an area of 1,700m2 (770 BC – 256 BC), the museum displays the petrified remains of royal horses and chariots for the emperors of the Eastern Zhou dynasty that are even older than Xian’s terra cotta warriors from the Qin dynasty (221 BC – 206 BC).

The burial site that was found in 2002 provides concrete proof of the rigid hierarchy formed in the Zhou dynasty. The museum has exhibition halls, which are connected to the pits by an indoor corridor, with maps matching the five capitals in Luoyang during the Eastern Zhou dynasty to current-day places today and videos on the history of the Eastern Zhou dynasty. There’s even a virtual mausoleum that exhibits items found in the tombs for 25 emperors, including a display chamber on artefacts from the Eastern Zhou dynasty.

The museum opens from 9am to 5pm, and a ticket costs RMB30 (US$4.84).

Anyang

The Yin Ruins Museum is a stop you can’t miss even if you are not into archaeology and Chinese history. The museum in Anyang is a 4A National Scenic Spot and has been listed as World Cultural Heritage by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation since 2006.

It’s a place of great interest for both tourists and archaeologists alike, as the museum houses the oldest remains of an ancient capital in written record. The relics date back more to the 3,300 year old capital of the Shang dynasty (1700 BC – 1027 BC) of Yin, which is today’s Anyang city.

Built on the ruins of the ancient capital the museum exhibits complete palatial buildings and civil residences, as well as tombs, workshops, artefacts that include bronze wares, pottery and jade. The most significant find is the inscriptions carved on tortoise shells and bones, which have been proven to be the oldest form of Chinese writing.

The museum is only 5km away from the downtown area, and convenient transportation is provided in Anyang. During winter, from October to March, the museum opens from 8am to 6pm; while in summer, the museum stays opens till 6:30pm. Admission costs RMB90 (US$14.51).

Other museums in Henan

Henan has many museums both large and small, each with its unique design and collection. Ticket fees which are mainly to maintain the exhibit and sites are not overly priced. While in Zhengzhou, you need pay only RMB10 (US$1.61) to visit the Xinzheng Museum, which exhibits the artefacts from the Spring and Autumn period (Chunqiu period), Han, Tang, Song, Ming and Qing dynasties. It opens from 9am to 5pm, from Tuesday to Thursday and on weekends.

And don’t miss the Xixia Dinosaur Park in Nanyang. This is a museum as well as an amusement park, where you can see many types of dinosaur remains, eggs and fossils.

Songshan Geological Museum in Dengfeng displays relics from as early as 2.5 billion years ago, and other geological formations from 1.87 billion years ago and 543 million years ago. It’s free admission and the museum opens from 8:30am to 5:30pm.

Luoyang may have the largest outdoor museum in the form of the Longmen Grottoes, but being the capital of 13 different dynasties, a trip indoors at the Luoyang Museum can be just as fascinating with exhibitions that revolve around the theme of the evolving city. Admission is free to view the 11,000 pieces of artefacts on display from 9am to 5pm, from Tuesday to Sunday.

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