While the visiting Swedish replica of the Gotheborg merchant
ship is stirring the souls of many Chinese people as they think
about the past, a full-size replica of its Chinese counterpart will
be built in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province.
The vessel will be a copy of one used by famous navigator Zheng
He (1371-1435) in his naval expeditions. First setting sail in
1405, Zheng He led his fleet across 30 countries and regions in
Asia and Africa seven times over nearly 30 years. He helped extend
China's maritime and commercial influence throughout the regions
bordering the Indian Ocean.
Costing US$10 million to build, the replica will be 71.1 meters
long, 14.05 meters wide and 5.4 meters high, exceeding the
Gotheborg, the world's largest wooden ship, by 10 meters in length,
said builders.
Construction kicks off later this month and should be completed
in 2008. The ship is expected to sail as the country's "image
envoy" in water events in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
It will also travel to countries along the ancient maritime Silk
Road, explored by Chinese sailing pioneers, to promote bilateral
relationships, added the project's conceptors.
Treasure ships served as a commanding presence in Zheng's fleet
and were very well designed and equipped. They carried
distinguished foreign guests as well as treasure, according to
experts in ancient naval history.
The size of the replica is not exactly the same as the original
ship due to difficulties recovering accurate records of former
treasure ships, according to a senior engineer surnamed Xia with
the Junlong Shipping Management Company.
Junlong, co-invested by the Malaysian Jinlong Group and the
government of Gulou District in Nanjing, is in charge of developing
the vessel.
Xia said the Chinese ship is different to the Gotheborg whose
components are mostly hand-made. The Chinese ship will use ancient
wooden shells made from oak trees but be equipped with modern
facilities inside.
It will have computers, three engines and central air
conditioning and will be able to sail at 12 miles an hour.
The ship will be able to carry 30 sailors and 36 guests.
Xia said the two replicas represent the two countries' differing
ancient styles. The Gotheborg is designed in a more austere and
compact way while the Zheng He treasure ship emphasizes exquisite
structure and decoration.
Jia Tiejia, deputy general manager of Junlong, said captain
Peter Kaalings of the Gotheborg and a group of sailors will visit
Nanjing this month to share with their Chinese counterparts their
experiences in ship reconstruction. Jia said some sailors from the
Gotheborg said they were willing to stay in China to help with the
replica project.
According to Jia, the money being spent on the ship should be
recovered in four years, with most of it from ticket sales garnered
during the ship's world tour. However, some critics doubt that the
huge costs can be recouped.
(China Daily September 4, 2006)
