Ships of peace along Maritime Silk Road sail into the present

Five decades ago, wreckage of a 24-meter-long ship was salvaged from the sea near Quanzhou, Fujian province. It is believed to be a cargo carrier dating to the Southern Song period (1127-1279).

Judging from its structure and objects found on board, it is suggested that the ship was loaded with commodities and on its way back to Quanzhou, a bustling port in the ancient times, to undertake several voyages between China and the world.

If one comes to this historic city in southern Fujian, one will find a lot of things and folk activities to explore, some of which have been passed down throughout centuries and some of which reflect its longtime status as an important connection between the East and the West, even now.

The Ship of Peace, an exhibition to show the history and rich culture of Quanzhou, is being held at the Fujian Plaza in Beijing until Oct 7, allowing people to feel the charm of this city, where dozens of relic sites and monuments testify its prosperous maritime trade scenes from the 10th to 14th centuries, and inscribed it onto the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2021 as an "Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China".

On show are replicas of varying sizes to show ship manufacturing in ancient China, the Dehua white porcelains — better known as "Blanc de Chine" in the West — fired by potters in the town of Dehua, also in Fujian, and favorable on the international market, and works of crafts and photos to show Quanzhou's cultural dynamics.

The exhibition opening was enriched with local performances such as the marionette show, which was introduced to the world audience at the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, Nanyin music, a genre of over 1,000 years, and tea ceremony during which guests tasted fine brews produced in Fujian.