For more than two millennia, Chinese fishermen, in their continuous exploration of the South China Sea, have given vivid and descriptive names to various islands and reefs. 

From scattered folk names among fishermen to the establishment of a national standard naming system, China has continuously refined and upgraded the nomenclature of the South China Sea islands and reefs. 

This is not merely the labeling of geographical entities, but also a commemoration of China’s long maritime history and its sovereign claims. 

Click the video for a 5-minute overview of the brief history of naming these islands and reefs.