Quanzhou Overseas Relations Museum, Maritime museum in Quanzhou, China.
The Quanzhou Maritime Museum (Quanzhou Overseas Relations Museum) consists of an old section on the grounds of Kaiyuan Temple, where ancient boats are exhibited, and a new section completed in 1991 near East Lake Park. The new building, covering 3,000 square metres with 7,300 square metres of built-up area, resembles a large sailing ship and houses four exhibition halls: the Quanzhou Maritime Exhibition Hall, the Quanzhou Religious Stone Carving Hall, the Quanzhou Ethnic Culture Exhibition Hall, and the Ancient Chinese Model Hall.
The institution was established in 1959 and situated on grounds previously occupied by a major religious temple, reflecting its role in the city's past. An additional exhibition wing was added in the 1990s near an existing park to accommodate the growing collection.
The Religious Stone Carving Hall holds stelae and tombstones inscribed by Buddhist, Islamic, Christian and Hindu communities. Among the exhibits are Dehua porcelain pieces exported from Quanzhou, the medieval port known as Citong or Zaytun. The collection shows the city as a terminus where merchants of several faiths left their marks.
The museum has two separate sites: the new building at 425 Donghu Street in Fengze District, near East Lake Park, and the old boat hall on the grounds of Kaiyuan Temple. Plan to travel between them rather than expecting one continuous route. The new building holds four exhibition halls.
The old section, on the grounds of the Kaiyuan Temple, is a purpose-built hall for ancient boats; the new 1991 building near East Lake Park was shaped to resemble a large sailing ship afloat on the sea. Among the navigation equipment is a four-claw iron anchor from the Ming dynasty (1368–1644).
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