Henan Museum sets sights on shaking up scene

Major star

Established in 1927, the Henan Museum is one of the country's oldest modern museums. In 2009, it was chosen to be one of the first national-level museums jointly created by the central and local governments. With a collection of over 170,000 artifacts, it houses a diverse range of treasures, notably prehistoric relics, bronze ware from the Shang Dynasty (c. 16th century-11th century BC) and the Zhou Dynasty (c. 11th century-256 BC), ceramics from various dynasties, jade artifacts, and stone carvings.

Ma encourages tourists visiting Henan to take the time to explore the museum.

"It's a cultural and artistic treasure trove that pays witness to the development of Chinese civilization and showcases the historical evolution of the country," he says. "It's an important window on appreciating the culture of the Central Plains, the Yellow River, and Chinese civilization."

To entice more visitors, Ma recommends a visit to one of the museum's nine treasures — the Lotus and Crane Square Pot.

Unearthed in 1923 in Xinzheng, Henan, the pot is a significant bronze artifact from the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC). Standing 117 centimeters tall and weighing around 65 kilograms, its square-shaped body is adorned with two mythical dragon-like creatures on each side of its neck, with four winged dragons crawling upward around its belly.

"The most spectacular part is the lid, which is adorned with blooming lotus petals and a crane standing in the center, symbolizing the spirit of our time," he adds.

The Lost Treasures archaeological blind box cultural products, which have become a sensation, demonstrate the museum's commitment to blending culture and tourism.

"We merged archaeology with the blind box concept to create these products in order to deepen the public understanding of modern excavation and restoration," Ma explains.

"We've designed them to recreate the experience of excavation and restoration, which allows participants to discover hidden details," he adds.

"The boxes quickly became popular, and became hard to find. Some visitors even choose to stay nearby just for a chance to purchase one," says Ma. He says that the museum began developing cultural products seriously in 2019. Over the years, its range has grown from 100 to over 1,500 items.

"We prioritize social impact over profit. The products are a crucial part of cultural outreach and an extension of our collections," Ma adds.

In recent years, the Henan Museum has pursued an international strategy, promoting cultural exchanges and cooperation.

It has organized exhibitions and academic exchanges in countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Japan. Its cultural products have been displayed in prestigious venues, including New York's Fifth Avenue.

As a member of the International Council of Museums, it collaborates on museum security and through international events and partnerships, continues to foster global cultural dialogue and exchange, Ma says.