Stormy waves cut short the voyage of the Chinese merchant ship as it left a southern port loaded porcelain (瓷器) to sell its wares along the ancient trade route known as the Marine Silk Road. 800 years later, Chinese scientists awakened the ship (lie) upright on the seabed miles off the coast of Guangdong, which was (true) amazing and impossible to value.
It is Chinese experts' (believe) that the ship dates back to the second period of the Song Dynasty. At 25 meters long and 10 meters wide, it has been the largest cargo ship from that golden period of Chinese merchant history (discover) so far.
The ship was well preserved. The scientists used a huge steel basket (lift) it out in one piece, better to preserve its (origin) looks. They then stored in a purpose-built museum.
Discovered by accident in 1987, the ship (name) Nanhai No. 1. Being buried in two meters of mud did much to protect the ship, it made excavation (挖掘) very difficult.
