(CFP)

The first Zheng He Cultural and Art Festival, alongside the Nanjing Maritime Silk Road Expo, opened at the Nanjing International Expo Center on July 11, which is also the Maritime Day of China.

Organized by the Zheng He Research Association of Jiangsu Province, the expo highlights exhibitions of silk, tea, Yunjin brocade, traditional Chinese medicine, shipbuilding, ceramic crafts, rice wine, specialties from Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, cruise tourism and digital economy.

During the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Zheng He's fleet had sailed to dozens of countries and regions in Asia and Africa.

The first Zheng He Cultural and Art Festival, alongside the Nanjing Maritime Silk Road Expo, opened at the Nanjing International Expo Center on July 11, which is also the Maritime Day of China. (CFP)

The first Zheng He Cultural and Art Festival, alongside the Nanjing Maritime Silk Road Expo, opened at the Nanjing International Expo Center on July 11, which is also the Maritime Day of China. (CFP)

The first Zheng He Cultural and Art Festival, alongside the Nanjing Maritime Silk Road Expo, opened at the Nanjing International Expo Center on July 11, which is also the Maritime Day of China. (CFP)