Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c4.s2.97

v1.c4.s2.97

As sea travel became more convenient, bulk commodity exchange began between China and India. According to Zhu Fan Zhi (*The Barbarian Countries*) by Zhao Rukuo of the Song Dynasty, in the port of Quanzhou there were many foreign merchants, including those from India and Indian monks preaching Buddhism. Evidently, Quanzhou then was a centre of commerce as well as religious activities. According to *Ling Wai Dai Da* (volume II) by Zhou Qufei of the Song Dynasty, at that time, Gulin (now Kollam) at the southern end of the west coast of India also had close connections through sea traffic with China.