Established in 1959, the Quanzhou Maritime Museum (泉州海事博物馆), also known as Quanzhou Overseas Transportation History Museum (泉州海外交通史博物馆), was originally located on the eastern side of the renowned Buddhist temple, Kaiyuan Temple. In February 1991, the main building of the new museum was completed on Donghu Street. In 2003, the Quanzhou Islamic Culture Exhibition Hall was added to the east side of the main building. Today, the museum spans a total area of 35,000 square meters, with a building area of 17,300 square meters and an exhibition space of 11,000 square meters.
The Quanzhou Maritime Museum focuses on the history of ancient overseas transportation, the Maritime Silk Road, and the economic and cultural exchanges that arose from these activities. The museum centers around the history of Quanzhou, also known as Zaitun, which was the largest port in the East during the Middle Ages. Through its extensive and unique maritime artifacts, the museum vividly brings to life China’s ancient and illustrious maritime culture.
Visitors to the museum can explore exhibits that celebrate the Chinese people’s heroic spirit in conquering the seas, showcasing China’s significant contributions to the development of the Maritime Silk Road. The museum also highlights numerous great inventions in navigation and shipbuilding technology. By reflecting on the historical significance of Quanzhou as a major port, the museum underscores the bravery and ingenuity of the Chinese people in their maritime endeavors.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Highlights of Quanzhou Maritime Museum
- Vlog about Quanzhou Maritime Museum
- Attractions near Mount Qingyuan
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 2 hours |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| Opening Hours | 9.00 – 17.00; Last admission: 16.30 |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0595-22100561 |
Location and Transportation
The Quanzhou Maritime Museum is located at 425 Donghu Street, Fengze District, Quanzhou, Fujian Province, China. To get there, you can take bus 19, 22, 25, 41, 44, 202, 203, 604, K502, or L1 and get off at Qiaoxiang Stadium Stop (侨乡体育馆站).
Highlights of Quanzhou Maritime Museum
Quanzhou Bay Ancient Ship Gallery
The Quanzhou Bay Ancient Ship Gallery is situated within the Kaiyuan Temple complex. Spanning an exhibition area of 800 square meters, this gallery primarily showcases a Song Dynasty shipwreck excavated from Houzhu Harbor in Quanzhou Bay in 1974. Alongside the ship, various artifacts discovered in the Quanzhou waters are also on display, including ship-related items such as stone anchors, wooden anchors, and iron anchors from the Song and Yuan Dynasties. The gallery provides a detailed account of the excavation process and the ancient ship’s structure, offering a glimpse into the maritime history of the region.
Quanzhou Port and Ancient Overseas Transportation Gallery
Located on the west exhibition hall of the first floor of the main building, the Quanzhou Port and Ancient Overseas Transportation Gallery covers an area of 700 square meters. This gallery is dedicated to the “Maritime Silk Road” and highlights the achievements of Quanzhou Port in shipbuilding, navigation, foreign trade, and scientific and cultural exchanges. Through a combination of artifacts and images, the exhibition narrates the history of Quanzhou’s ancestors from the Neolithic Age to the Qing Dynasty. It showcases their contributions to handicrafts, overseas trade, technological and cultural exchanges, and their efforts in resisting foreign invasions.
Quanzhou Religious Stone Carvings Gallery
The Quanzhou Religious Stone Carvings Gallery is housed in the east exhibition hall on the first floor of the main building, covering an area of 800 square meters. This gallery features hundreds of stone carvings left behind by foreign merchants and missionaries from the Song and Yuan Dynasties, including tombstones, tomb covers, stone statues, and various architectural components from religious buildings. The carvings represent several major religions, including ancient Christianity, Hinduism, and Manichaeism, blending elements of medieval Eastern and Western cultures. Many of these stone carvings have been designated as national first-class cultural relics.
China Boat World Exhibition Hall
The China Boat World Exhibition Hall is located on the second floor of the main building of the Quanzhou Maritime Museum, occupying both the east and west exhibition halls with a total area of 1,500 square meters. This exhibition explores the origins of boats in human history and showcases famous boat models from various water bodies throughout different Chinese dynasties, as well as significant inventions in ancient shipbuilding and navigation technology. The hall features over 140 ship models, including various boats from the Yangtze River, the Yellow River, historical warships, ancient diplomatic vessels, and luxurious pleasure boats. Notable displays include models of the grand fleet of Zheng He’s voyages to the Western seas and the fleet of Koxinga (Zheng Chenggong) in his battles against Dutch colonizers. Additionally, the hall exhibits actual boats collected from across China, such as the Yami boat from Taiwan, the yak-skin boat from Tibet, the sheep-skin raft from the Yellow River, the dugout canoe of the Mosuo people, and the black awning boat from Shaoxing.
Arab-Persian Quanzhou Exhibition Hall
The Arab-Persian Quanzhou Exhibition Hall is located on the second floor of the Islamic Culture Exhibition Hall in the new section of the Quanzhou Maritime Museum, covering an area of 1,200 square meters. This hall displays over 300 Islamic stone carvings left by Arab and Persian immigrants who settled in Quanzhou during the Song and Yuan Dynasties. It also introduces several important Arab descendant families still residing in Quanzhou. The stone carvings mainly include mosque architectural carvings and tombstone carvings, with tombstone inscriptions predominantly in Arabic, and some in Persian and Turkish. A few inscriptions feature a mix of Chinese, Persian, and Arabic. These tombstones provide insights into the lives of the deceased. Several dozen of these tombstones have been recognized as national first-class cultural relics.
Folk Culture Exhibition Hall
The Quanzhou Maritime Folk Culture Exhibition Hall is located in a warehouse-style building behind the main building of the Quanzhou Maritime Museum, with an exhibition area of 750 square meters. This hall displays various folk artifacts from the Quanzhou region, including production tools, everyday utensils, festival and religious items, and architectural components from the modern era. A significant portion of the exhibition is related to maritime activities, featuring traditional sailing and fishing tools, navigation instruments, and equipment for coastal and inshore operations. Additionally, it showcases objects associated with maritime-related religious beliefs, festival celebrations, and other cultural practices.
