Founded in 1927, Henan Museum is one of the earlier museums established in China. Located in Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan Province, the museum is also known as the Henan Provincial Museum.
The Henan Museum is a comprehensive museum of Chinese history, culture and art. There are more than 170,000 cultural relics, including prehistoric relics, bronzes, ceramics, jades and stone carvings. Henan Museum also offers a number of exhibitions, showing the development of Chinese civilization.
Henan Museum is an important platform for learning about the culture of the Central Plains and the Yellow River. The museum is a must-see attraction during your China history tours to Henan.
Quick Facts of Henan Museum in China
- Location: No.8 Nongye Road, Jinshui District, ZhengzhouCity, Henan Province, China
- Opening time: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM(every Tuesday to Sunday)
- Ticket price: Free
- Time Needed: 2-3hours
- Best time to visit: All year round
- Suited to: History and culture lovers
What to See and Do in Henan Museum
Prehistoric Artifacts
The prehistoric artifacts of the Henan Museum show the culture and the living conditions in prehistoric China. Jade artifacts in the prehistoric period are mostly exquisite decorations and ritual objects, reflecting the religious beliefs of the prehistoric society. Stone tools were the main tools used by prehistoric humans, including stone knives and stone axes.
Bronzes of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties
Bronzes in the Shang and Zhou Dynasties are the highlight of the Henan Museum, covering a wide range of rituals, music and weapons. These bronzes contain a rich historical and cultural heritage, showing the aesthetics of the people during Shang and Zhou periods.
See the Bronze Owl-shaped Zun with Inscriptions of Fu Hao, one of the precious Shang Dynasty relics at Henan Museum. It is an exquisite wine vessel, created in honor of the first female general in Chinese history.
Potteries and Porcelains from Different Dynasties
There is a rich variety of potteries and porcelains from different dynasties in the Henan Museum. They are the treasures of ancient Chinese art, reflecting the development of ceramic crafts in different periods.
The most famous porcelain in Henan Museum is Sky Blue Glaze Ru Kiln Vase with Incised and Applied Decoration, a masterpiece of the Northern Song Dynasty. Its graceful shape and perfect glaze demonstrates the excellent craftsmanship of ancient people. Besides, you can witness colorful potteries like Red-Green Glazed Pottery Lamp and Polychrome Pottery Horse with a Turning Head.
Exquisite Jades and Stone Carvings
The Henan Museum also offers a large number of jades, which reflect the cultural features and social conditions of different periods in China. You will see many artifacts with vivid shapes like Ox Head-shaped Pendant, Celodan Jade Bird-shaped Pendant and Jade She-shaped Pendant.
The stone carvings of the Henan Museum is rich, covering Buddhist statues, pictorial stone carvings and stone carvings of ancient mausoleums in Henan. With vivid images, these stone carvings show the life of the ancient society and religious beliefs of ancient people.
Explore Various Exhibitions in the Henan Provincial Museum
There are five permanent exhibitions and many special exhibitions in the Henan Museum.
The permanent exhibitions take the development of the Chinese civilization as its main part. Visit these exhibitions to learn more about the culture in the Central Plains during various periods. Special exhibitions cover a variety of art forms such as sculpture, painting, calligraphy, providing a more diverse art experience.
Best Time to Visit Henan Museum
You can visit the Henan Museum all year round. With a wide range of events and exhibitions, Henan Museum is a great place to learn about Chinese culture and history. If you also want to explore other attractions in Zhengzhou, you can travel to Zhengzhou in spring and fall.
How to Get to Henan Museum in Zhengzhou
By Subway
From Zhengzhoudong Railway Station, you can take Line 1 and then transfer to Line 2 to reach the Henan Museum, which takes 46 min.
By Bus:
From Zhengzhoudong Railway Station, you can take bus No. B202 and then transfer to bus No. B2 to reach Henan Museum. If you travel from Zhengzhou downtown, it will take 34-44 minutes to reach Henan Museum by bus No. S160, B18, 906, 28.
By Taxi:
From Zhengzhoudong Railway Station, you can take a taxi to Henan Museum, which will take 30 minutes and cost 15-24 RMB. From Zhengzhou downtown, you can take a taxi to the museum, which will take 10 minutes and cost 6-10 RMB.
Attractions nearby Henan Provincial Museum
Longmen Grottoes: As a World Heritage-listed site, it is one of the world’s largest treasures of stone carving art. The statues record the lives of ancient people, with great historical and cultural value.
Shaolin Temple: The Shaolin Temple in Zhengzhou is the birthplace of Chinese Kung Fu. There are many spectacular Buddhist buildings and exquisite Buddhist statues. Visitors can also watch the exciting Wushu performances by the Shaolin monks.
