Zheng He Memorial Hall

The Zheng He Memorial Hall commemorates the great Ming-dynasty admiral and explorer who launched seven maritime expeditions from Nanjing in the early 15th century. The museum occupies a building near the site of the original Longjiang Shipyard where Zheng He's treasure fleet was constructed, and covers his voyages, the ships, the trade networks, and the cultural exchanges his expeditions enabled.

The site includes some reconstructed sections of the shipyard and models of the treasure ships. The exhibits are detailed by Chinese museum standards and have good English labelling. Zheng He is an important figure in China's contemporary self-image as a historic maritime power, so the museum has received sustained official support and is well maintained.

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A story
Zheng He's treasure ships were the largest wooden vessels ever built — the largest may have been 120 metres long, dwarfing the European ships of the same era. His seven voyages between 1405 and 1433 reached Southeast Asia, India, the Persian Gulf, East Africa, and possibly further. The voyages were then abruptly discontinued by the next emperor, who reversed China's maritime policy entirely. The shipyards where these ships were built were in Nanjing, on the banks of the Qinhuai River.