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History–Tours
14051405–1433 · Nanjing

Zheng He's treasure voyages

Long dock basin of the Ming treasure shipyard in Nanjing, with a replica ship beyond
Photo: Rolfmueller. CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

On the Yongle Emperor's orders, shipyards on the Yangtze at Nanjing built a fleet of giant junks for the Muslim-born court eunuch Zheng He. Between 1405 and 1433 his seven expeditions, each with tens of thousands of men, sailed to Southeast Asia, India, the Persian Gulf and East Africa. The court then ended the voyages, and China turned away from long-distance naval power.

Sites

  1. Site 1: Treasure Shipyard Site ParkExcavated dock basins of the Ming shipyard and a full-size ship replica.Map ↗
  2. Site 2: Jinghai TempleTemple founded in honour of Zheng He's voyages; also the Treaty of Nanking museum.Map ↗
  3. Site 3: Tomb of Zheng He, Niushou HillHillside tomb, thought to hold only his clothes and hat.Map ↗

Guides who take you there

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