Model of Zheng He's treasure ship built in E.China city

After four months' work, construction of the "Zheng He's treasure ship" by Wei Wenxi, a grass root expert on ancient ships, and his fellow workers was completed recently.

2005 is the 600th anniversary of Zheng He's voyage to the west oceans. To commemorate the great navigator, Wei Wenxi, 71, a resident in Changshu, east China's Jiangsu Province and an expert on ancient ship, spent his savings on constructing a model of "Zhang He's treasure ship" in the proportion of 1:40. According to historic records, the treasure ship of Zheng He is 44 Zhang (a Chinese unit of length, one Zhang equals to 3.3 meters) and 4 Chi (a Chinese unit of length, one Chi equals to approx. 33.3 centimeters) in length, 18 Zhang in width. The ship has "9 masts and 12 sails".

The model has won praise from many domestic experts specializing in ancient ships, and they all believe that Wei's model is the only one that possesses the original characteristics among the model ships on display so far.

Wen Wenxi (L1) made final decorations and adjustments to the model of Zheng He's treasure ship.

Workers adjusted the model.

Wei Wenxi made adjustments to porthole on the ship.

Wei Wenxi (R) and a worker placed sampan model on the treasure ship.