Zhanjiang's heritage as China's ancient gateway to the Maritime Silk Road has been recognized in a new list of the most important historical landmarks in Guangdong province associated with the millennia-old marine trading route.

The city contributed more entries than any other place in western Guangdong to the shortlist of 30 sites, which was produced by the Guangdong Federation of Literature and Art Circles, Guangdong Folk Artists Association and the Pearl River Culture Research Association and released on Oct 7.

The list will be put to an online public vote in November to decide on a final top 10, with Zhanjiang sites considered strong contenders to win the contest.

Zhanjiang's Xuwen Port is the main frontrunner. Before the ruins of the 2,000-year-old trading hub were discovered in the 1990s, UNESCO had assumed that the Maritime Silk Road dated back only to the Southern Song Dynasty (AD 1127-1279). However, the find at Xuwen confirmed that trade along the route began at least 1,300 years earlier than that.

Xiajiang Port in Leizhou county is also likely to feature in the top 10 thanks to its history as an important base for trade along the South China Sea route of the ancient Maritime Silk Road.

Ye Wenjian, president of Zhanjiang Folk Literature and Art Association, was not surprised by the high number of Zhanjiang landmarks featuring in the list.

"Zhanjiang, which first flourished due to its ports, was one of the first batch of 14 coastal cities to open up to the outside world in 1984. Its Xuwen Port was the ancient departure port for the Maritime Silk Road," said Ye.

The organizers hope that the list will help to promote Guangdong's heritage as a center for international trade as China seeks to build ties with countries along the ancient Maritime Silk Road as part of its 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative.