Chinese Treasure Ship

exploration · Ming dynasty · ocean voyage · shipbuilding

Massive wooden junks. The treasure ships were the largest wooden ships in the world at their time, measuring at least 70 meters long, which is about as long as two school buses parked end to end. Some records suggest they may have been even bigger, possibly over 100 meters.

Admiral Zheng He's fleet. A Chinese explorer named Zheng He commanded these ships on seven amazing voyages during the 1400s, sailing across the Indian Ocean and beyond to places like Africa and India.

Precious cargo aboard. The ships carried valuable goods like beautiful silk cloth, fine porcelain bowls and vases, and fragrant tea to trade with people in distant lands.

Record-breaking voyages. Zheng He's fleet was the largest group of wooden ships ever built before modern times, showing the incredible skill of Ming dynasty shipbuilders and sailors.

Chinese junk design. These treasure ships were built as junks, a special type of Chinese ship with flat bottoms and square sails that made them perfect for ocean exploration.