Over 200 Cultural Relics Showcase Guangdong’s Pioneering Spirit in Global Commerce

Guangzhou, October 16, 2025 — The exhibition “Mutual Prosperity: A Millennium of Guangdong’s Foreign Trade” opened its doors on October 15 at the Guangdong Museum, drawing enthusiastic visitors on its first day.

Visitor Ms. Zhu expressed her admiration: “What impressed me most is how deeply rooted Guangdong’s openness, innovation, and pioneering spirit truly are.” The year-long exhibition features over 200 relics, each telling vivid stories that reveal Guangdong’s thousand-year legacy of maritime trade and cultural exchange.

Trade Across the Seas: Every Exchange a Win-Win Opportunity

Among the many highlights is a coral piece unearthed from the tomb of Wei Juan, a Ming dynasty maritime official, displayed alongside a Bengal silver coin. “The coin’s minting date closely matches Wei Juan’s burial time, showing how swiftly global trade reached Guangzhou,” explained Ding Lei, Deputy Director of the Research Department and the exhibition’s executive curator.

Ceramics, a hallmark of Chinese exports, also shine in the exhibition. A Yuan dynasty blue-and-white Yuhuchun vase depicts the story ‘Visiting a Friend with a Qin’ — a fine example of East-West artistic fusion. Similar vases were among the earliest Chinese porcelains found in European shipwrecks, highlighting China’s global reach in maritime trade.

Guangdong’s local ceramics likewise captivated foreign markets. A brown-painted Lei Zhou jar with phoenix and lotus patterns demonstrates how southern kiln craftsmanship evolved under overseas demand, blending regional traditions with northern porcelain techniques. Guangdong’s colorful ceramics later influenced Southeast Asian pottery in Vietnam and Thailand between the 12th and 15th centuries.

Organizers noted that Guangdong’s foreign trade history embodies the openness and peaceful exchange of Chinese civilization. “The ocean connected cultures through harmony and mutual benefit — every voyage was a journey of friendship, every exchange a chance for shared prosperity,” they remarked.

Hidden “Economic Codes” in Ancient Shipwrecks

Several shipwreck discoveries, recovered through underwater archaeology, fascinated visitors as direct witnesses of ancient maritime trade.

The Nanao I ship, a Ming dynasty vessel discovered in 2007 off Nan’ao Island, filled a major gap in the study of the Maritime Porcelain Route. One of its most notable finds is a large double-phoenix jar containing 256 blue-and-white dishes and five Yuhuchun vases, demonstrating merchants’ ingenuity in maximizing cargo space for profit.

Also on display is a Southern Song gold necklace from the legendary Nanhai I shipwreck — the first gold artifact recovered from the site. With its distinctive West Asian style, the twisted-chain necklace with decorative clasps suggests personal ownership, likely belonging to a wealthy foreign merchant returning home. It stands as a powerful symbol of the dual commercial and cultural nature of the ancient Maritime Silk Road.

Through these relics, “Mutual Prosperity: A Millennium of Guangdong’s Foreign Trade” vividly illustrates how Guangdong has long served as a bridge between China and the world, fostering cultural exchange and shared growth through trade and openness.