The significant excavation launched on an ancient shipwreck in China 

Shanghai announced the kickoff of an archaeological excavation of a shipwreck site at the mouth of the Yangtze River on Wednesday.

The shipwreck, known as boat “Number Two” on the Yangtze River Mouth, is one of the largest and best-preserved, with many cultural relics on board.

The merchant ship, dating to the reign of Emperor Tongzhi (1862-1875) in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), sits 5.5 meters below the ocean bed at a shoal on the northeast tip of Hengsha Island in Chongming District.

Archaeologists found that the ship is about 38.5 meters long and 7.8 meters wide at its broadest. A total of 31 cargo chambers were detected, with piles of ceramic objects made in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, and purple-clay wares from Yixing, Jiangsu province.

It is the first case in China where excavation, research, and museum construction are being carried out simultaneously for a shipwreck. 

The shipwreck is tangible evidence illustrating Shanghai’s historical role as East Asia’s shipping and trade center.