(LIN CHUNWEI)

(LIN CHUNWEI)

Porcelain is salvaged on April 30 from an ancient merchant vessel sunk off the coast of south China's Guangdong Province.

Archaeologists have recovered more than 800 pieces of antique porcelain and copper coins from the 400-year-old ship, dubbed Nan'ao 1, since the salvage operation started on April 9. They believe some of the big porcelain bowls were probably made for foreign trade, because such ware was then not common in China.

In ancient China, Guangdong was a major hub for maritime trade.

Local fishermen found the wreck of Nan'ao 1, estimated to be about 25 meters long and 7 meters wide, in May 2007. It is buried in silt 27 meters underwater and about 5.6 nautical miles from Shantou City.