[2025 Xinyang Attraction] Travel Guide for Xinyang Museum (Updated Mar)

Henan is an important cradle of Chinese civilization and the foundation of traditional Chinese rituals. Yu the Great, Tang of Shang, and the Duke of Zhou all established capitals and fiefdoms in Henan. The "Lady Huang" yan-shaped he was unearthed from the tomb of the Marquis of Huang and his wife in Guangshan County, Xinyang City. It dates back to the early Spring and Autumn period and is a water vessel shaped like a yan. It is believed to have been made by the Marquis of Huang for his wife, Lady Meng, and is similar to the curved-handle he of the Shu people in the Jianghuai region. The eastern border of the Shang dynasty was the Jiang (Zhumadian) and Huang (Xinyang) Rivers. The Marquis of Huang was once a viscount, and his fiefdom was in Huangchuan, Xinyang. There is evidence of intermarriage with the Zeng state, which was also of the Ji clan. The ancestors of the Huang state were the Huangyi, a branch of the Dongyi people of the Xia and Shang dynasties. They were later conquered by the Chu state and moved to the heartland of Chu. Huang Xie, the Lord Chunshen, was a descendant of the Huang state. Curved-handle he have been found in the border area of Henan, Anhui, and Hubei. Lady Huang was deeply loved by the Marquis of Huang and was buried with him in the same tomb. There were 169 burial objects in her coffin, including 22 exquisite bronze vessels and several modified ancient jades, all of which were of high artistic taste. The Marquis of Huang himself only had 14 bronze vessels, making him a model husband. Even with limited resources, he gave his wife the most and best treasures! Many of the vessels are inscribed with the words "Huangzi made this vessel for Lady Huang, to be treasured forever." "Lingdong linghou" means "to live a blessed life and die with honor, and for one's descendants to be safe and sound."

Xinyang Museum currently houses 15,024 sets (146,424 pieces) of various collections including bronzes, gold and silver wares, jade wares, stone wares, ceramics, wooden lacquer wares, and animal and plant fossils. Among them, there are 71 sets (87 pieces) of first-class cultural relics, 254 sets (303 pieces) of second-class cultural relics, and 1,700 sets (1,770 pieces) of third-class cultural relics. The museum is most famous for its collection of bronzes. The museum has seven permanent exhibition halls with the theme of 'Hometown of Huai River - A Journey through the History and Culture of Xinyang,' following the historical development of southern Henan. It is divided into six sections: Ancient Homeland, Lords of Huai, Kings of Chu, Roots of the World, Tea Fragrance, and Henan-Chu Charm, comprehensively and multi-dimensionally showcasing and interpreting the profound historical and cultural atmosphere of cultural Xinyang. The museum also has three temporary exchange exhibition halls. In addition to the basic displays and special exhibitions of the museum's collections, large-scale temporary exhibitions are held irregularly both domestically and internationally. 📍Attraction Address: Xinyang Museum, Xinliu Avenue, Xinyang City 🏝️Reservation Guide: Direct entry with ID card 🚗Transportation Guide: It is recommended to drive and park in the surrounding parking lots 💗Other Tips: The nearby Boke Alley is also worth a visit; currently, the Alxa Exhibition Hall on the third floor of the museum is being set up and has a strong ethnic characteristic.

Xinyang, located at the southern gate of Henan, is adjacent to Suizhou and Guangshui at the northern gate of Hubei Province. This is a crucial point on the Beijing-Guangzhou Railway, the main artery of China from north to south. In ancient times, it was the site of Wusheng Pass, an important geographical location guarding a key pass in the Central Plains. Jigong Mountain is also nearby. This is also the production area of China's famous tea, Xinyang Maojian. Xinyang is also an important base for the two major migrations of the gentry to the south in Chinese history: during the Eastern Jin Dynasty's Five Barbarians Rebellion and the late Tang Dynasty's Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Therefore, it is a place where many Chinese surnames trace their origins, and it is the root of the Chinese nation. Here, the Chen family once ventured to Fujian and Taiwan to reclaim land... Xinyang is also a place where historical relics from the ancient Shang and Zhou periods have been discovered, earning it the nickname 'Little Shangdu'. The bronzes unearthed here are complete in variety, with exquisitely made vessels for holding wine and food such as gui, zun, and ding, which are of national treasure level. Many are exhibited outside the museum. Even thousand-year-old fine wines have been unearthed here, making one marvel at the wisdom and luxury of the ancients... However, can royal power and wealth be kept forever? The blood and sweat of the founding fathers, once in the hands of pampered descendants living in peace and luxury, often 'rise vigorously and fall suddenly'... This seems to be a law, and the words on these vessels hoping for eternal prosperity for descendants are poignant... Material things will eventually fade away with the passage of time, difficult to maintain or keep. Only the spirit and culture will last forever, enduring and thriving! ——Li, July 9, 2024, Jiachen Year, June 4th