Cheng Ho's Cultural Museum | Melaka | Malaysia

Interesting Places In Malaysia

Cheng Ho Cultural Museum (Muzium Budaya Cheng Ho) is located in Bandar Hilir, Melaka. It was built in the honor of a Chinese Ming Dynasty admiral called Cheng Ho or Zheng He. Cheng Ho was a famous Chinese explorer, who went to the Middle East, Africa and South East Asia between 1405 and 1433. In one of these voyages he came to Melaka, and he is credited with the honor of discovering the Melaka Port for the Chinese.

In the mid-15th Century, he was entrusted to bring the Emperor's daughter, Princess Hang Li Po to marry the Sultan of Melaka. The Princess' entourage consisted of several hundred sons of ministers and handmaidens, a group of people who eventually intermarried with locals in Melaka, creating the Baba Nyonya culture.

The museum is filled with artifacts related to the great explorer. There are about 2,000 items of historical importance related to Cheng Ho and the Ming Dynasty on display at the museum, including crockery, coins, the Cheng Ho Well, clothing and a replica of Cheng Ho’s ship.