Hepu's 1st port of Maritime Silk Road: Estuary of Han Dynasty trade route

During the 2025 National Day-Mid-Autumn holiday, the First Port of Maritime Silk Road Scenic Area in Hepu County, Beihai, Guangxi, saw a tourism boom.

As night fell, Lianzhou Bay was lit up, and visitors walked among Han-style buildings, immersing themselves in the charm of the ancient Maritime Silk Road.

Hepu's First Port of Maritime Silk Road is the estuary and departure port of the Maritime Silk Road in the Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD).

Recorded in The Book of Han: Geography, this port was once a lively center where numerous merchant ships departed, transporting goods and fostering cultural exchanges along the ancient trade routes.

To breathe life into this thousand-year-old history, the scenic area provides interactive experiences. Actors perform close to visitors, narrating the port's stories through singing, acrobatics, and dramas.

Grand ship departure ceremonies, fireworks shows and bonfire dances also recreate the port's former prosperity, making the past feel vivid.

Visitors actively engage as well: they dress up as Han Dynasty merchants, practice trade negotiations, handle cargo or learn gem-processing techniques. "I used to only read about the Maritime Silk Road in textbooks. Being here makes this history come alive," said a student from Heilongjiang.

Since beginning trial operations in 2021, the scenic area has welcomed over 4 million visitors, generating more than 20 million yuan ($2.78 million) in night tourism revenue.

"Our goal is to let more people understand Hepu's role in the Maritime Silk Road. This port's glory deserves to be known by more," said Xu Chengrong, the scenic area's brand director.