Underwater treasures mesmerize Binhai

Visitors view the exhibits at the National Maritime Museum in Binhai New Area, Tianjin. [Photo/WeChat account: tjbhxqfb]

Over the past weekend, the National Maritime Museum in Binhai New Area, Tianjin, saw a surge in visitors to the underwater archaeological artifacts exhibition Sunken Treasures. Featuring over 300 precious artifacts, the exhibition offers a journey through the heyday of the Maritime Silk Road and an immersive experience of underwater archaeology.

Exhibits include relics from the Belitung shipwreck, the Cirebon wreck, and the Nanhai One wreck. Notable items also include porcelain and gold and silver from other shipwrecks.

The exhibition covers 16 ancient shipwreck sites. According to staff member Wang Yuanyuan, the Nanhai One, discovered in 1987, has undergone over 30 years of excavation. Two wrecks found on the Northwest Continental Slope, lying 1,500 meters deep in near-freezing darkness, carried fine porcelain and tropical ebony logs, reflecting the prosperity of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) overseas trade.

The exhibition is guided by Art Exhibitions China and the National Cultural Heritage Administration and hosted by the National Maritime Museum alongside 13 co-organizers. It will run until February 28, 2027.