Zhengzhou / Zhengzhou Museum

Zhengzhou Museum is quite large. Upon entering, you are greeted by numerous historical figures, with the Yellow Emperor prominently in the center and Shang Tang beside him. Overall, the collection is quite rich, and the experience is enjoyable. The museum focuses on the Shang Dynasty as the cradle of civilization. One particularly interesting exhibit is a replica of the 'Mother Stone.' According to legend, during Yu the Great's flood control efforts, he transformed into a black bear to open mountains. His wife, Tushan, accidentally struck a stone that emitted a drum-like sound while delivering food to him. When Yu reverted to human form to chase after her, he was blocked by a rock. He then called out to his wife to help him give birth to their son. At that moment, the rock split open, and Xia Qi was born. The original stone is located on Mount Song, but the museum has created a replica for display. Initially, I thought it was a piece of installation art. The museum also showcases the excavation site of the Four-Sided Ding. The most fascinating part was the demonstration of how bronze artifacts were made, accompanied by interactive games. In the 'Artistic Realm' section, I saw the fragmented Guanyin statue, often referred to as the 'Eastern Venus.' There were many intriguing exhibits that I personally found captivating. However, I felt a bit regretful that I didn’t have time to visit the Henan Museum. 🥹