Throughout its 2000-year history, the Maritime Silk Road saw two cities played an unparalleled role in its development. They are Guangzhou in Guangdong Province and Quanzhou in Fujian Province . However, among all the ports that contributed to the maritime Silk Road trade, Guangzhou was the only port where maritime trade never ceased.

The history of the Guangzhou port can be traced back to as early as the Southern and Northern Dynasties (420-589). Later in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the government set up Shibosi in Guangzhou, an office in charge of maritime trade with foreign countries. It was the first government department that appeared in China to specially manage such trade. Historical records showed that as many as 120,000 foreign businessmen and merchants lived in Guangzhou in the Tang Dynasty, taking up a third of the city’s population. In the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the local government even held a grand farewell ceremony every October for foreign businessmen in an effort to promote maritime trade.

The routes of such trade in Guangzhou covered the existing lines of the Maritime Silk Road.  New ocean routes from Guangzhou to Latin America and Lisbon were also explored. Many countries in the Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and Europe and to the Red Sea were also  able to establish trade relations with China.

The prosperous trade left Guangzhou with a lot of places of interest to witness the city’s role in exchanging trade and cultures. The Huaisheng Mosque was the first Islamic mosque set up in Chinese territory. What’s more, the biggest temple of the Sea God 　 Nanhai Shenmiao (Temple of the Southsea God) 　 was located in Guangzhou. You will see one of the gods worshiped in the temple by the local people is a typical  Indian sailor.

 Nanhai Shenmiao

Nanhai Shenmiao was located near the Guangzhou dock  where every ship had to pass before setting out their journey. The unique location gained the temple great popularity among local sailors and businessmen at home and abroad. The custom was for every  ship that was launched to have its sailors attend  the temple and offer sacrifices to the South Sea God and pray for a happy and safe journey. The Fuxu Town near the temple therefore frequently saw a throng of businessmen and travelers in its streets. In seasons when most of the businessmen gathered in the town, a local temple fair would be held for the convenience of traders. 

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