Editor's note: May 18 marks the International Museum Day, with the theme "The Power of Museums". Guangdong is home to 367 registered museums as of April 2022, ranking third in China. In this series, we will share with you several national first-class museums and some of their ongoing exhibitions in the province, to explore the potential of museums to bring about positive change in our communities.
(Photo provided to Newsgd.com)
Nanhai No.1 is an ancient wooden ship that crashed and sank while transporting porcelain from 1127 to 1279. Experts speculate that the ship sailed from China to Singapore, India and other Southeast Asian or Middle East countries for overseas trade. It is the oldest, largest and best preserved among the shipwrecks found in the world so far. There were 60,000 to 80,000 cultural relics on board, and many of them are precious national treasures.
In 2007, Nanhai No.1 was salvaged as a whole. The sunken ship, cultural relics and their surrounding seawater and sediment with a total weight of 3,000 tons were lifted and transported at one time in their original state and moved to the "Crystal Palace" of the Maritime Silk Road Museum of Guangdong, built specifically for this ancient ship protection, research and exhibition.
(Photo provided to Newsgd.com)
The Crystal Palace is transparent so visitors can witness the entire process of the shipwreck's excavation up close through an immersive experience and, through multimedia shows, picturing the glorious sight of the ship sailing on the Maritime Silk Road.
About the Maritime Silk Road Museum of Guangdong
The Maritime Silk Road Museum of Guangdong is the first submarine archaeology-themed museum in China. It focuses on the excavation, protection, display and research of the relics discovered within the wreck of the Nanhai No.1. It is hailed as one of the three biggest shipwreck museums in the world, along with the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth, UK and the Vasa Museum in Stockholm, Sweden.
Covering a construction area of nearly 20,000 square meters, the museum is designed with distinct maritime features which are reflected in its resemblance of waves and the employment of ancient keel structures, against the backdrop of the surrounding sea and mountains.
There are seven display units showcasing precious cultural relics collected from the Nanhai No.1, including exotic golden accessories, elegant ceramics and the rarely-seen lacquer ware of the Song Dynasty.
Opening hours: 9:00-17:30
Ticket price: 70 RMB
Add.: Nanhai No.1 Avenue, Shiliyintan, Hailing Island Economic Development Experimental Zone, Yangjiang City, Guangdong Province (广东省阳江市海陵岛试验区十里银滩南海一号大道)
Author: Ariel, Tonny (intern)
Editor: Wing, Monica, Nan, Abby, Jerry
