Henan Museum 河南博物院Hénán Bówùyuàn

Why go to Henan Museum

The Henan Museum is one of China's oldest museums and the best single stop for understanding the province that was the heartland of early Chinese civilisation. Its collection of well over 100,000 pieces (the museum itself now cites about 249,000) is strongest in prehistoric finds, Shang and Zhou bronzes and ceramics from many dynasties. A morning here makes the sites around Luoyang, Anyang and Dengfeng much easier to place.

The story

The museum was founded in 1927 in Kaifeng, and key relics were moved to Chongqing when war broke out in 1937. It moved to Zhengzhou with the provincial capital in 1961; the present building opened in the late 1990s, and the main hall reopened in September 2020 after a long renovation.

What to see at Henan Museum

• Jiahu bone flute 贾湖骨笛: A Neolithic flute with seven holes made from a crane bone, found at Jiahu in Wuyang county in 1987 and about 8,000 years old, described as China's oldest surviving musical instrument.
• Fu Hao owl zun 妇好鸮尊: A bird-shaped bronze wine vessel about 46 cm tall, from the tomb of Fu Hao at Yinxu in Anyang, dating to the late Shang dynasty.
• Jade-handled iron sword 玉柄铁剑: Nicknamed China's first sword, this late Western Zhou weapon from the Guo state tombs at Sanmenxia has a jade handle and an iron blade, among the earliest man-made iron objects found in Chinese excavations.
• Lotus-and-crane square pot 莲鹤方壶: A large Spring and Autumn bronze vessel about 1.2 m tall, unearthed in 1923 at Xinzheng and one of the museum's earliest acquisitions, listed among its star pieces.

How to visit Henan Museum

Start with the main permanent galleries, which run in time order from prehistory through the bronze ages to later dynasties, and look out for the star pieces, which are sometimes rotated on and off display. Allow two to three hours for the highlights; a full visit with the special exhibitions takes a half day. It sits in the central Jinshui district, so it is easy to combine with the rest of a day in the city.

How to get to Henan Museum

The museum is on Nongye Road in Zhengzhou's Jinshui district, reached by taxi or city bus from the main stations in about 20–40 minutes depending on traffic. Zhengzhou is the province's rail hub, so most visitors arrive by high-speed train.

Where to stay

Stay in Zhengzhou's central districts (Jinshui or Erqi) for the museum, the main train stations and easy day trips to Dengfeng, Kaifeng and Luoyang.

What to eat

• Stewed noodles 烩面: Henan's signature dish: wide hand-pulled noodles served in a rich mutton or bone broth with toppings, found all over Zhengzhou.
• Guanjiang steamed buns 灌汤包: Soup-filled buns from the Kaifeng tradition, widely served in Zhengzhou.
• Hu spicy soup 胡辣汤: A peppery, thickened breakfast soup with wheat gluten and vegetables, sold at Zhengzhou's breakfast stalls.

Tips for visiting Henan Museum

• The museum is closed on Mondays except public holidays (confirmed by the National Cultural Heritage Administration's 2025 museum return); check the official site before travelling.
• Entry is by advance real-name booking through the museum's official booking service (stated on chnmus.net), and slots for popular days can fill up several days ahead; take your passport for the ID check.
• Holiday opening arrangements change from year to year, so confirm before you travel.

Nearby

• Iron Pagoda 开封铁塔 60 km
  A 56-metre glazed-brick pagoda of 1049 that has outlasted floods and earthquakes
• Shaolin Temple 少林寺 70 km
  The cradle of Chan Buddhism and kung fu, at the foot of Mount Song
• White Horse Temple 白马寺 100 km
  China's first Buddhist temple, with Thai, Indian and Burmese halls beside it
• Wanxian Mountain (Guoliang) 万仙山 100 km
  A village that hand-cut a road through the cliff face
• Longmen Grottoes 龙门石窟 110 km
  Some 100,000 Buddhas carved into riverside cliffs, watched over by a serene giant

Also within 30 km: Zhengzhou Mosque 郑州清真寺 (under 10 km), Erqi Memorial Tower 二七纪念塔 (under 10 km), Zhengzhou City God Temple 郑州城隍庙 (under 10 km), Zhengzhou Shang City 郑州商都古城 (under 10 km), Dahecun Site and Museum 大河村遗址 (under 10 km), Ersha Creative Park (former No. 2 Grinding Wheel Factory) 郑州第二砂轮厂旧址 (under 10 km).

On the map

Open Henan Museum on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it, what else is close, and to add it to a trip and plan the days.