On July 3, Start from Guangzhou: Nanhai I Shipwreck and The Maritime Silk Road exhibition kicked off at the King's Tomb Exhibition Area of Nanyue King Museum. Over 400 pieces/sets of cultural relics from 12 cultural institutions in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Huizhou and Foshan, as well as the Hong Kong and Macao SARs, are on display. More than two-thirds of relics are exhibited for the first time.

(Photo provided to GDToday)

The Nanhai I Shipwreck is an ancient merchant ship that sank in the waters of Yangjiang in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). It was thought to be carrying 60,000 to 80,000 pieces of cargo, especially ceramics.

This exhibition is divided into three chapters: The Confusion about Nanhai I, The Journey of Nanhai I, and The Code of Start from Guangzhou. With porcelains, golden and silver coins, bronze wares, golden ornaments and more heritage found in Nanhai I that were produced in Zhejiang and Fujian as well as those unearthed in Guangdong, the exhibition presents the sailing track of this ship to the public, showcasing the prosperous foreign trade of ancient China.

(Photo provided to GDToday)

The Song Dynasty established its first Shibosi (maritime trade office) in Guangzhou. Before the departure of the merchant ships, the office would hold a farewell banquet for them. The wine consumed at the banquet was mainly stored in jars at Gongshiku (an institution set up in the Song Dynasty for feasting and entertaining), which was located at the archaeological site of Nanyue Kingdom Palace.

According to the latest archaeological findings, some brownish-glazed jars discovered at Nanhai I Shipwreck and the archaeological site of Nanyue Kingdom Palace were produced at kilns in Foshan's Nanhai, confirming that Nanhai I had been to Guangzhou, and finally departed from here.

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Xiao Dashun, director of the underwater research institute at the Guangdong Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, mentioned that the exhibition provides a complete picture of the cultural relics from their origin to the market at home and abroad. He believes that materials like those "Guangdong jars" from Tang and Song dynasties to Ming and Qing dynasties link Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, demonstrating the common cultural feature of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and its commercial contacts with other places.

Furthermore, based on exhibits and historical documents, audiences can also learn about other ancient shipwrecks carrying porcelains produced in Guangdong, such as Lingga Wreck and Pulau Buaya Wreck found in Indonesia as well as Flying Fish Wreck that sank in Malaysia.

(Photo: Holly)

"These ceramics prove that these ships sailed from or passed through Guangzhou at that time," said Li Zaoxin, deputy director of Nanyue King Museum, "And this exhibition is intended to tell the story about Guangzhou as a major port of China's foreign trade."

Time: 9:00-17:30 (closed on Mondays), July 3 to October 8, 2023

Venue: 3rd floor, General Exhibition Building, the King's Tomb exhibition area of Nanyue King Museum (南越王博物院王墓展区综合陈列楼三楼)

Add.: No.867, Jiefang North Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou (广州市越秀区解放北路867号)

Nearest metro station: Take Metro Line 2 and get off at Yuexiu Park Station (越秀公园站), use Exit E