Come to the China Maritime Museum and Listen to the Story of the Sea and Us

**Trip Summary**

– **Duration**: 1 day
– **Time**: July
– **Cost per person**: 50 yuan
– **Companions**: Friends
– **Mode of travel**: Self-driving, boutique, weekend trip

**Journey Highlights**

The author visited these places: China Maritime Museum, Shanghai Dishui Lake, Yangshan Deep-Water Port, Donghai Bridge, and Bai Le Men. Published on 2020-07-10 14:37.

**Introduction to the China Maritime Museum**

Many people yearn for the vast sea; many take cruises across the ocean; and many others live their entire lives in dependence on the sea… But how well do we truly understand the sea? Perhaps most of us do not. So, let’s visit the China Maritime Museum to listen to the story of the sea and us.

Not many people may know about the China Maritime Museum, so let’s introduce it briefly. Located near Dishui Lake in Nanhui New City, Shanghai, it is China’s first national-level maritime museum. The museum, themed around ‘maritime’, features six main exhibition halls dedicated to maritime history, ships, navigation and ports, maritime affairs and safety at sea, seafarers, and military navigation. There are also educational and entertaining interactive projects.

Although it is more suitable for family extracurricular activities, it is also a great opportunity for us to understand ‘navigation’. The museum is only a 10-minute drive from the sea, and there is a cluster of related marine-themed schools, buildings, and more, forming a whole area of maritime culture, which is particularly interesting and has always been one of my favorite places.

**Exploring the Museum’s Main Attraction**

Without further ado, let’s dive into the charm of the maritime museum! The museum’s main attraction is the design of the venue, which requires visitors to walk up the stairs from the main entrance to enter. This design allows everyone to see the museum’s main treasure, the Ming Dynasty treasure ship, from the best angle at a glance.

This Ming Dynasty treasure ship is built to the exact size of the original ship. The treasure ship is one of the ancient Chinese sea vessels, also known as one of the ‘Four Great Ancient Ships’, and is a general term for the pointed-bottom sea vessels along the coastal areas of Fujian and Zhejiang. More importantly, this treasure ship is modeled after the ships used during Zheng He’s voyages to the Western Seas, representing the formal commencement of China’s maritime endeavors.

Visitors are allowed to board the treasure ship, but during the pandemic, no more than 10 people per group are allowed. The main attraction on the treasure ship is the deck, while the interior can only be viewed from a distance. Everything from living quarters to kitchens, and even places for raising chickens, are all well-equipped, which is quite impressive!

My friend’s baby Kai Kai took great interest in ‘tasting’ everything on the ship repeatedly. For children, it is indeed a great opportunity to broaden their knowledge, something that is hard to come across in daily life. Looking up at the sails, they stretch directly to the top, merging with the museum’s stylish ceiling, and setting off towards an unknown future.

**Classic Ship Models and Maritime History**

On the same floor where the Fujian ship is docked, there are many classic ship models on display. Compared with the exhibitions in the venue, this area is relatively concentrated and representative. You can visit it together by the way!

Human maritime history is our memory through time. Let’s start to understand human maritime history from the past. The Maritime History Hall takes time as the main line, from ancient times to modern times, and tells the evolution and development of navigation. It is also the most important exhibition hall in the entire museum.

Before talking about navigation, let’s talk about ships. The sheepskin raft placed in the middle of the exhibition area immediately takes us back to the era when people depended on ‘floating’ on rivers. It was also the earliest time when people began to live and work on the water by using buoyancy.

The fragments of dugout canoes unearthed in Shanghai. This is the ‘dugout canoe’ still in use in contemporary Lugu Lake. Although the dugout canoe seems sturdy, it is very suitable for local people to work in the river, catch fish and shrimps, and has been used until now.

Tower ships were widely used in the Qin and Han dynasties and are also one of the large ancient warships. They are named because there are multi-story buildings on the ship that look like towers.

The pottery ship of the Eastern Han Dynasty and the five-oared wooden ship of the Western Han Dynasty. The bronze drum with ship patterns of the Western Han Dynasty has dragon boat race patterns of the ancient Dian people on its waist.

This is another treasure of the Maritime Museum – the large warship with wings in the Spring and Autumn Period. Made of gold throughout, it is a representative warship in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, reflecting the economic strength and production technology level of the State of Wu at that time.

The passenger ship in ‘Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival’ is a representative inland river ship. There are large windows on both sides with good lighting.

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**Storage Capacity and Ship Models**

The storage capacity in the cabin is commendable. A replica model of an ancient sunken ship found in Quanzhou Bay represents the Fujian ship type. Despite being a replica, the intricate design on the model ship provides a glimpse into the ship design and economic progress of that era. Accompanying pictures showcase relics and pottery bottles retrieved from the sunken ship at the seabed.

**The ‘Comprehensive Map of the Great Ming Empire’**

The ‘Comprehensive Map of the Great Ming Empire,’ drawn by the Chinese, is the earliest and largest colored world map in existence. It uniquely includes Africa, which was seldom depicted at the time, and thus holds immense collectible value. Displayed alongside are ship body accessories bearing the marks of time.

**Cultural Exchange and Foreign Trade**

The mountain temple stele of Buddhist culture from Ceylon (present-day Sri Lanka) was transported to China by Zheng He through maritime trade. These are exquisite foreign trade products from the Guangzhou Thirteen Hongs. Varied sails used on ancient ships and a ship rudder salvaged at the Yangtze River mouth, similar to the ‘Six Work Ponds’ in the Ming Dynasty’s Nanjing, are also exhibited. This large ship rudder is a rare sight and is considered well-preserved.

**Ancient Maritime Defense and the Opium War Era**

Exquisite displays reminiscent of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ and detailed Jiangsu coastal defense maps from ancient times include islands and embankments of each sea area. As history progressed to the Opium War era, frequent foreign trade led to the great powers’ insatiable desires, which in turn inspired the Chinese to strengthen themselves and embark on their own shipbuilding journey.

**The Yidun Ship and Modern Maritime Development**

The Yidun ship, a steam-powered mail ship purchased from a British shipping company, was the first merchant ship owned and operated by China’s modern national shipping industry. Transitioning to the contemporary era, the exhibition hall features replicas of ancient ships, a testament to history. Modern times have seen the emergence of various cargo ships, icebreakers, aircraft carriers, and submarines, with China’s maritime industry advancing rapidly and setting leading standards. These ship models instill pride and national pride.

**Shipbuilding Curiosity and the Ship Hall**

The Ship Hall answers the question, ‘How are ships built?’ Four different ship bows are displayed, each with unique functions, such as icebreakers and cruise ships. The main exhibition hall features a large ship body, revealing the internal structure of modern ships with intricate model-making, including lifelike sailors. Maritime rescue equipment like air cushion ships, fire extinguishers, and life jackets are also on display. The significance of the orange color of life jackets is explained, highlighting both their fluorescent properties for visibility and their resemblance to a poisonous sea snake, which deters sharks.

**Ming Dynasty Shipbuilding and Modern Ship Structure**

A wooden ship from the Ming Dynasty, a fast ship, has been restored at a 1:2 ratio, with water-repellent boards on both sides and a dissected section for easier understanding of shipbuilding technology at the time. Modern shipbuilding processes are intricately detailed in beautiful ship structure drawings, which are not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing. These drawings are the blueprints for constructing modern ships.

**Shipyard Models and Surround Sound Cinema**

A model displays the shipyard’s shipbuilding site, providing a more intuitive understanding than an on-site visit. Welding experiences have been temporarily suspended due to the pandemic, but there’s hope for future opportunities. The most vivid display in the Ship Hall is the surround sound cinema, where visitors can watch the shipbuilding process, an exciting experience.

**Note on Exhibition Duration**

Due to the extended duration of the display, please be prepared for potential queue times.

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