Eight hundred years ago, a merchant ship of the Southern Song Dynasty, loaded with cargo, set out from Quanzhou Port, Fujian, China, to go to Southeast Asia for trade. Unfortunately, the ship sank while sailing near the Huaguangjiao. Eight hundred years later, the wreck of Huaguangjiao No. 1 was successfully brought back to land. It was discovered in 1996, trial excavated in 1998-1999, and officially excavated in 2007-2008. More than 10,000 cultural relics were found in the ship, mainly ceramics, as well as iron, wooden ship plates and a few bronze fragments. The discovery of the Huaguangjiao No. 1 wreck is a witness to the magnificent history of the ancient Chinese Maritime Silk Road, where vessels sailed to every corner of the world, highlighting the historical significance of the South China Sea in the Maritime Silk Road. 

Model of Huaguangjiao No.1 Wreck / CFP

Porcelains found in the Huaguangjiao No.1 in Xisha / CFP

Green and white glazed printed powder box (Southern Song Dynasty) found in the Huaguangjiao No.1 in Xisha / CFP

Green and white glazed handled ewer (Southern Song Dynasty) found in the Huaguangjiao No.1 in Xisha /CFP

Celadon-glazed porcelain bowl with carved flowers (Southern Song Dynasty) found in the Huaguangjiao No.1

in Xisha / CFP

The restoration of the underwater archaeological site of "Huaguangjiao No. 1" / CFP

Green and white glazed porcelain bowl agglomerated with coral reef (Southern Song Dynasty) found in the Huaguangjiao No.1 in Xisha /CFP