The Shuomen port ruins in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, is a classic example. Archaeologists have found architectural remains, shipwrecks and a large quantity of pottery and porcelain items at the site that was a port that prospered during the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties. "It is the most important discovery made in the country that is linked to the Maritime Silk Road," Huo said.

"Last year witnessed fruitful results in archaeological studies in China," said Guan Qiang, deputy director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration. "Active excavations made a better proportion of the archaeological projects, and scientific and technological measures played a key role in them," he added.