V. “The Guangzhou Sea Route Leading to Foreign Countries”

During the 40s to 50s of the 8th century, Emperor Li Longji of the Tang dynasty asked his ministers about foreign countries, Honglu Minister Wang Zhongsi, who was in charge of foreign relations, presented the Map of the West in which up to a dozen of countries were recorded. Several decades later from 785 to 804 (during the years of Zhenyuan), Chancellor Jia Dan compiled The Four Routes Leading to Foreign Countries, which included well-researched locations of overseas countries, distances from China and the routes to them. Among the seven routes leading to foreign lands listed, the Guangzhou sea route was the most famous, which traversed more than ninety countries or regions.

The sea route started from Guangzhou, across the traditional sea lane in the South China Sea to Malacca (Malaysia), into the Indian Ocean, and finally to Sri Lanka and the south of India. The lane extended to the northwest, and then was divided into two: the east route and the west route. The east route went into the Persian Gulf. Locals set up ornamental pillars made of marble at the Gulf, when night fell, they lit torches on them as navigation signals. After a day's travel in the Gulf, a ship arrived at Basra in the mouth of Euphrates; sailors could change to small boats. Going along the river for two days, they could arrive at the important town Moluo (present day Basra) of the Arab Empire. Continuing northwest, the capital of Persia, Bagdad could be seen. The west route entered the borders of Persia, along the coast of the Arabian Peninsula, then on across the Red Sea to Basra and Bagdad.

The "Guangzhou Sea Route leading to Foreign Countries" passed through more than 90 countries or regions; excluding resting time on the journey, voyaging alone would last for 89 days with a total course of about 14, 000 kilometers. It was not only the most important traffic line connecting with other countries, but also the longest sea route during 8th and 9th centuries.

The "Guangzhou Sea Route leading to Foreign Countries" in the Tang dynasty extended considerably measure from that of the Han dynasty, but surprisingly,voyages on the route only took a quarter of the time that was spent in Han times. The advancement of navigation and shipbuilding made the Maritime Silk Road far more convenient and speedier.

In 1980, it was following the Maritime Silk Road that an Omani navigator sailed on an Arabian sailing antique sailing ship of the Medieval style to Guangzhou from the Persian Gulf, according to the story of Cincinnati in A Thousand and One Night.