Documentary on Zheng He's Western expedition
Guangzhou Broadcasting Network and the Consulate General of the State of Qatar in Guangzhou have agreed to jointly produce a 4K documentary to mark Chinese navigator Zheng He's expedition to the Western Ocean more than 600 years ago.
Production of the documentary, titled Sunshine Road, shares the same name with a novel by Ali Alhajri, consul-general of the Consulate General of the State of Qatar in Guangzhou. His book was the first Arabic literature work that covers the historical story of Zheng He's voyages to the Western ocean.
The documentary will tell history of the friendly exchanges between China and Qatar, explore the far-reaching influence of Zheng's activities on their bilateral relations and demonstrate the ancient Maritime Silk Road culture.
The documentary is expected to be completed in August 2023 and will be broadcast on television stations in both countries.
Zheng He, a eunuch of the Ming Dynasty, has been regarded as a Chinese hero for leading seven great voyages to the Western Ocean, building bridges between major human civilizations at that time.
His expeditions are unparalleled achievements in Chinese history and even in the history of world navigation.
Zheng was ordered by Emperor Yongle to explore the world by sea with the purpose of expanding the Ming's political influence and developing overseas trade. His fleet first set sail from Liujiagang Port in Taicang of Jiangsu province on July 11, 1405.
For the next 28 years, Zheng commanded six more sailings and visited more than 30 countries and regions from Southeast Asia, the Middle East to as far as eastern Africa, marking the peak of trade along the ancient Maritime Silk Road.
At that time, people in western countries were crazy about Chinese products such as porcelain, silk and coins. Zheng's fleet shipped these treasures overseas for trade or use as diplomatic gifts, and returned with spices, dye, gems, ivory, rare animals and other specialties from abroad.
Among the countries and regions Zheng had visited, Qatar, where the land and sea trade routes of the ancient Silk Road met, was an important leg of his journey.
Under the rule of the Arab caliphates, the Qatar peninsula and its surrounding regions had come into their prime. Qatar was developed into a famous center of horse and camel breeding and a vital stop-off for seaborne trade, as it holds a strategic position linking Asia, Africa and Europe.
Back then, merchant ships leaving the Iraqi city of Basra often called at Qatar before heading to China and India. Porcelain from China and gold coins from West Africa were once found in Qatar.
Qatar's historic pearl trade also played a pre-eminent role in connecting eastern and western cultures. The Persian Gulf region, where Qatar is situated, had a proud tradition of pearl diving which dates back around 7,000 years.
Pearls and related products of the Gulf area had been exported to markets worldwide by land and sea, enjoying a high reputation for their supreme quality and becoming the favorites of royals and aristocrats.
Before the discovery of oil and natural gas reserves in the mid-20th century, the pearl industry had been Qatar's main source of income and brought prosperity to the region.
Al Zubara, an ancient town sitting on the coast of northwest Qatar, emerged as one of the most influential pearling and trading ports in the region between the late 18th century and early 19th century. The archaeological complex of Al Zubara was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2013.
Zheng He's voyages brought the people of China and Qatar closer together and the friendship between the two nations has continued to grow over the years. The documentary is expected to help convey the strong and lasting relations between China and Arab countries in modern days.