CULTURAL MUSEUM CHENG HO

This important museum recounts the extraordinary saga of the Grand Admiral of the Chinese fleet, Cheng Ho (or Zheng He). In 1381, aged just 10, he was captured by the Chinese army following the execution of his father, who had served the Mongols. He then became a eunuch in the imperial court and, in 1405, was promoted to admiral of the western seas. Between 1405 and 1433, he undertook seven expeditions on an unprecedented scale, reaching Borneo, Thailand, Ceylon, the Indian coast, the Arabian Peninsula and even the African coast. Five of his voyages took him to Malacca, where he built a huge warehouse to store the wonders he had gleaned from his travels. As confidant to the third emperor of the Ming dynasty, his influence on Sino-Malaysian relations was considerable. But in Malacca, he is most revered for his intercession in securing the marriage of Princess Hang Li Po (daughter of the Chinese emperor) to the Sultan of Malacca in the ^mid-15th century. Unknowingly, Cheng Ho initiated the Peranakan or Baba Nyonya culture. Following these royal nuptials, members of the princess's entourage entered into further marriages. The museum was inaugurated in 2006, on the supposed site of the Cheng Ho warehouse. Statues of Chinese warriors greet you at the entrance. Inside, you'll see a number of Chinese antiques, maps showing the Admiral's travels, models of Chinese junks, and playlets depicting scenes from traditional life of the time.