Sailboat "Phoenix"

A Chinese sailboat named "Phoenix", under a TV feature program initiated by the Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV Station, accomplished voyage tracing journey of ancient navigator Zhegn He.

Grand ceremonies were held in Mombasa, Kenya to welcome a sailboat that has accomplished a 23,150-km voyage tracing the journey of a prestigious Chinese ancient voyager.

The sailboat named "Phoenix" which set out from Taicang in eastern China's Jiangsu province on August 8 last year, under a TVfeature program initiated by the Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV Station, arrived at its end point in the port city of Mombasa, Kenya on March 16.

At the receiving ceremony, captain WengYixuan said "we have come through great difficulties, caught in typhoons and tsunamis. Too many difficulties, but at last we win."

The eight-month hard journey is to commemorate the 600th anniversary of the beginning of seven voyages of Zheng He, a Chinese navigator in the Ming Dynasty who traveled to southeast Asia, west Asia and east Africa between 1405 and 1433 with large fleets.

At the party celebrating the successful voyage, Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Chongli hailed the captain and the two sailors as "courageous heroes."

"This journey is to commemorate Zheng He who is the greatest navigator in the history of China and the world, " said the ambassador. "His seven voyages promoted understanding, friendship and trade relations between China's Ming Dynasty and many countiesin southeast Asia, west Asia and east Africa, including Kenya."

Some Kenyan government officials including Minister of Culture Ochillo Ayacko, Minister of Tourism Morris Dzoro and Minister of State for National Heritage Najib Balala were present at the party.

They congratulated the sailors on their accomplishment, saying that Zheng He was a distinguished guest of the Kenyan people 600 years ago and it was Zheng who upbuilt the first contact between Kenya and China. They hoped that nowadays there will be more Chinese tourists coming to Kenya.

Pioneering the first express sea-route through the western Pacific and the Indian Ocean, Zheng He's voyages were considered early demonstrations of China's peaceful diplomacy and his voyageswere 87, 92 and 114 years earlier than that of Columbus, Vasco da Gama and Magellan.

The 12-meter-long "Phoenix" during its journey has passed through a number of ports in various countries, including Vietnam,Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka,the Maldives, India, Pakistan, Iran, United Arab Emirates and Oman.