Sailing through centuries, Zheng He's epic voyages remembered
2025-07-08 to 2025-10-10
2025-07-08 to 2025-10-10To mark the 620th anniversary of Zheng He's legendary voyages and the 20th anniversary of China Maritime Day, the China Maritime Museum launched a special exhibition titled "The Legend of the Treasure Fleet Continues" to celebrate the 620th anniversary of Zheng He's voyages into the Western Ocean on July 8.
A digital interactive screen vividly traces Zheng He's maritime routes and the countries and regions he visited, offering a dynamic comparison between the past and present.
Between 1405 and 1433, the great navigator Zheng He led seven expeditions across the vast waters of the Western Pacific and the Northern Indian Ocean.
Acting under imperial orders, he commanded what was then the world's largest ocean-going fleet – a massive armada consisting of hundreds of ships and thousands of crew members, including sailors, soldiers, diplomats and scholars.
The fleet visited over 30 countries and regions across Southeast Asia, West Asia, and East Africa, showcasing China's advanced maritime technology of the 15th century.
Jintou Mian (金头面), a gold hair ornament inlaid with gemstones, was traditionally worn by women during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) to decorate their hair buns.
This exhibition is the first in China to present Zheng He's journeys from the global perspective of maritime trade and shipping. It connects the past with the present and brings together resources from both the cultural heritage and maritime sectors.
The show brings together nearly 150 exquisite items from 14 museums and 6 maritime and port organizations. It provides a comprehensive narrative of Zheng He's seven expeditions and explores their modern-day significance in navigation and cultural exchange.
Silk and aromatic medicines were major commodities traded by the treasure fleet. Through touch and smell, visitors can immerse themselves in the sensory experience of the exotic goods brought back from Zheng He's voyages over 620 years ago.
If you go
Dates: July 8-October 10
Opening hours: 9:30am-4pm (Last admission at 3:30pm) (Closed on Mondays (except public holidays)
Venue: China Maritime Museum | 上海中国航海博物馆
Address: 197 Shengang Avenue | 申港大道197号