In the early days of the Ming Dynasty, that is, early in the 15th century, China was an advanced country in the world, with a booming economy and prosperous culture. In order to strength the relations with countries lying to the west of China as well as to flaunt the national power of the Great Ming Empire, Emperor Ming Chengzu launched a series of marine activities.

Between 1405 and 1433, Zheng He was ordered seven times to act as an envoy to these countries, known as "Zheng He 's voyages to the west Seas", as the main activities were carried out in the west sea area of today's Kalimantan Island, known as west seas in ancient times.

In 1405, a huge fleet of more than 300 ships manned by over 27, 800 men, including sailors, clerks, interpreters, officers and soldiers , artisans, medical men and meteorologists, set sailfrom Liujia Harbour near Suzhou on a distant voyage under the leadership of Zheng He. On board the ships were large quantities of cargo that could be broken down into over 40 different categories, including silk goods, porcelain, gold and silver ware, copper utensils, iron implements, cotton goods, mercury, umbrella s, and straw mats, etc. The fleet sailed along China's coast to Champa close to Vietnam and, after crossing the South China Sea, visited Java, Sumatra and reached Sri Lanka by passing through the Strait of Malacca.

On the way back it sailed along the west coast of India and returned home in 1407. Envoys from Calicut in India and several countries in Asia and the Middle East also boarded the ships to pay visits to China. Zheng He's second and third voyages taken shortly after, followed roughly the same route.

Each time he had under his command a big fleet and a staff of more than 20,000 men. His fleets had sailed in the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean. They had gone further south to Java in today's Indonesia. Sailing then in a northwest direction, they had visited Yemen, Iran and the Holy City of Islam Mecca and further west to today's Somalia in East Africa. In all, he had made calls at more than 30 countries and territories. All this had taken place about half a century before the famous European sailor Columbus's voyage to America. For this reason, Zhen He's expeditions could rightfully be called "an unprecedented feat in mankind's history of navigation. "

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