Zheng He's Mansion in Nanjing

Located at No. 35 Taiping Lane, Qinhuai district, Zheng He Park is the original site of the private garden of Zheng He's mansion when he was the garrison officer of Nanjing 600 years ago. [Photo/chinatravelpage.com]

Zheng He (1371-1435), the great Chinese navigator and explorer who led seven voyages to the Indian Ocean from 1405 to 1433 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), was given a mansion in the Ming capital of Nanjing by the Emperor Yongle. The venue where the remains of the mansion are located in Nanjing is open to visit by public.

Born as Ma He into a Muslim family in Yunnan province, he was taken captive in 1382 as the Ming army invaded Yunnan.

He was trained as an imperial eunuch and assigned to the court of Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan. Over the next 20 years, Zheng He became one of the most important aidesto the prince.

As a key strategist in the rebellion that allowed Zhu Di to overthrow his nephew, the Emperor Jianwen, and to take the throne as Emperor Yongle in 1402, he was given a 72-room mansion in Nanjing. Later he was given the new surname "Zheng" by the Emperor Yongle and appointed to be the commander-in-chief of the naval missions to sail across the Indian Ocean.

In 1405, Zheng He started his first voyage with a fleet of 62 ships to the Indian Ocean. He returned from his sixth voyage in 1422. When Emperor Yonle died in 1424, he was appointed as garrison commander in Nanjing by Emperor Hongxi and tasked to disband his troops.

Before his last voyage in 1431, Zheng He lived in his mansion in Nanjing. The street where Zheng's mansion located was named Mafu Street due to his eminent position. The 72-room mansion was ruined by flames of war during the Taiping Rebellion (1850-64).

Today, the original site of the private garden of Zheng He’s mansion was named Zheng He Park. Inside the park are the Memorial Hall of Zheng He, the earliest one in China, and the Shuangbao Pavilion in graceful ancient style.