Nanjing Zheng He Park

Nanjing Zheng He Park

Nanjing Zheng He Park

Nanjing Zheng He Park was first built in 1953 under the original name Taiping Park. On May 3, 1985, it was renamed Zheng He Park to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Zheng He’s voyages to the Western Seas. Located within Nanjing city, the park sits on the former site of the back garden of Zheng He’s residence. It houses the country’s earliest Zheng He Memorial Hall and the Zheng He Research Association.

Covering an area of 2.2 hectares with a built-up area of 2,100 square meters, the park features classic Chinese-style pavilions, elegant corridors, and a courtyard-style Zheng He Memorial Hall.

The great navigator Zheng He (1371–1435) was a world-renowned Chinese explorer. Over a period of 28 years from the third year of the Yongle reign (1405) to the eighth year of the Xuande reign (1433) during the Ming Dynasty, he led large fleets on seven long-distance voyages across the Pacific and Indian Oceans, visiting more than 30 countries and regions in Asia and Africa. His journeys extended as far as Malindi (present-day Mombasa, Kenya), located south of four degrees latitude in East Africa—covering over 70,000 nautical miles, equivalent to circling the globe more than three times. Zheng He’s maritime expeditions opened up the maritime “Silk Road” between China and countries in Asia and Africa, boosted overseas trade, enhanced mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese people and those in Asia and Africa, and created favorable conditions for overseas Chinese to settle, survive, and develop in Southeast Asia. At the same time, they spurred the development of China’s shipbuilding industry, improved navigational skills, and enriched geographical knowledge. All of these achievements have written a remarkably glorious chapter in both China’s maritime history and the world’s navigation history.

Zheng He’s Tomb is located at the southern foot of Niushou Mountain. It stretches 300 meters from north to south, 60 meters from east to west, and is about 8 meters high. The tomb is built in Islamic style, featuring a “回” (Hui) character-shaped layout. The steps in front of the tomb consist of four groups of 28 steps across seven levels, symbolizing Zheng He’s seven voyages to the South Seas over 28 years, visiting more than 40 countries and regions. Locally, the tomb is commonly known as “Ma Huihui Tomb.” Since the Ming and Qing dynasties, his descendants have regularly visited the site to pay respects—a tradition that has continued uninterrupted through the generations.