10. Shuomen ancient port ruins site, Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, from the Song Dynasty (960-1279)
New findings at the Shuomen ancient port ruins site in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, unveil the old Wenzhou port which prospered during the Song and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties. Major remains of the site include architectural remnants, docks, wells, a wooden trestle, shipwrecks and more than 10 metric tons of porcelain items, lacquerware and brick carvings.
Song and Yuan periods saw a peak in ancient Chinese maritime trade, and Wenzhou used to be an important port on the ancient Maritime Silk Road.
According to Liang Yanhua, director of Wenzhou Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, findings at the site provide key evidence proving Wenzhou used to be the starting port for the export of Longquan celadon produced in the Longquan Kiln, Zhejiang province.
From the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) to the middle of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Longquan celadon played a major part among the porcelain sold to overseas countries, and was called the first commodity with global appeal from China before the Age of Exploration.
Wenzhou became a main distribution center and starting point transporting Longquan celadon to other countries, proved by the dock relics and piles of porcelain pieces discovered at the site.
Shuomen ancient port thus provides important clues as a port site on the Maritime Silk Road. It is a large-scale site with a complete port system and rich cultural connotations, and plays an important role in the history of marine navigation.
