Silk is a great creation of China and the "Silk Road" was the famous ancient trade pass between the East and the West. Whenever speaking of China's silk road to the West, people associate it with the yellow desert in Western China, or the ringing bells on the camels outside of the Great Wall.

There is, however, an equally brilliant Marine Silk Road. And Guangzhou was once the starting point of the Marine Silk Road to the overseas countries, such as Arabic and Southeast Asian countries. Silk, porcelain and tea were the three major oriental commodities at that time. According to historians, Guangzhou was already a foreign trade port more than 2000 years ago. The excavated shipyards of the Qin, Han, Sui and Tang dynasties display that, over 2 000 years ago, the local ship construction had already reached a fairly advanced level in seamanship and technology. Nanhai Divine Temple was built in the Sui Dynasty. In front of it there was a dock, which was said to be the starting place of the "Silk Road of the Sea". In the later Qing Dynasty, Shisanhang (the Thirteen Trades Monopoly) and Shamian Concession are historic reminders of that time. Guangzhou was once the only port (1757-1837) opened to the outside world.

With the passage of time and the expansion of intercultural exchange and overseas trade of silk, china, tea and oriental handicrafts, Guangzhou gradually grew into a major trade port in South China and contributed a great deal to the advancement of both Chinese civilization and world civilization. Now there are three large international ports: Guangzhou Port and Huangpu Harbor, while Nansha Port as the largest river port is still under construction.

Editor: Catherine