At the mention of the world renowned Silk Road, the first comes to mind would be the wide spread Silk Road on land, but indeed, there is a Silk Road on water which is less known by people.

Overview of the Silk Road on Water
After Zhang Qian opened the trade route to the western regions as the Han envoys, merchants, western messengers and businessmen flooded to the east. They bought China silk and textiles, from Luoyang, Changan through the Hexi Corridor, Xinjiang to the west, forming the famous Silk Road on land. After Han Dynasty, merchants saw the opportunity of marine trade and opened another Silk Road - this is the famous Silk Road on water. The Silk Road on water connected China with other parts of the world. Chinese silk was greatly exported to Central Asia, West Asia and Africa, European countries not only by the trade route on land but also via the trade route on water. Therefore, after the German geographer Richthofen named the land trade route named the Silk Road, some scholars also called the other route as the Silk Road on water. Later, Chinese famous ceramics were sold all over the world through this route, some scholars therefore also name this route the ceramic road, the incense or porcelain road.

Specific Routes of the Silk Road on Water
The silk road on water was formed in the Han Dynasty when. Starting from China sailing west, is the main line of the Silk Road on the sea. At the same time, there is a route starting from China eastward to the Korean Peninsula and Japan islands. Merchants started from Rinan (now central Vietnam) or Xuwen (now Guangdong), Hepu (now Guangxi) by boat sailing to the sea, along the east coast of the South China peninsula, through the Mekong Delta till they reached Duyuan (now Dishi in Vietnam). The sail continued along the South Peninsula northbound, after four months of voyages to the Menam River till they arrived at the Yi Lu (Nakhon Pathom in Thailand). Then sail along the east coast of the Malay Peninsula, after more than 20 days arrived at the Yellow Zhiguo. Sailing through Yibucheng (now Sri Lanka), after eight months of sailing reached the Strait of Malacca, then arrived at Xianglin County (now in Vietnam). The whole sailing journey ends.

By the way, there are still some historical relics left along the Silk Road on Water and worth tracing.