An exhibition showcasing the history and culture of water transportation in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region opened at the China Maritime Museum in Shanghai's Lin-gang Special Area on Nov 12, and will run until Feb 18, 2025.

The "Shipping in Jiangnan" exhibition is underway in the Lin-gang Special Area. [Photo/WeChat ID: hanghaibowuguan]

Co-hosted by 12 museums and cultural institutions, the exhibition has gathered over 200 precious artifacts, presenting a comprehensive view of shipping-related content in four sections: boats and ships, ports and harbors, commerce and trade, and families and abodes.

A model of five-mast large junk. [Photo/WeChat ID: hanghaibowuguan]

The YRD region, with its dense water networks and developed shipping since the Tang and Song dynasties (618-1279), has gradually established a transportation system that facilitates the smooth flow of goods and people, contributing to the current high-quality integrated development of the region.

The new exhibit highlights how key ports like Mingzhou Port (now known as Ningbo Port) in the Song and Yuan dynasties (960-1368), Liujia Port (Taicang Port today) in the Yuan and Ming dynasties (1271-1644), and the modern Shanghai Port have served as vital nodes for economic and cultural exchanges between China and the world.

A silver ingot from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). [Photo/WeChat ID: hanghaibowuguan]

Moreover, the exhibit explores how the region's natural environment, rich in water resources, has nurtured a long-standing shipping culture, marked by the boats and water networks symbolic of Jiangnan culture.

Academic lectures and educational activities themed around the unique charm of transportation and shipping culture will also be held over the course of the exhibition.