Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c16.s1.t2.5

v2.c16.s1.t2.5

The ancient name of Quanzhou City, Fujian Province was “Citong” and it was an importance business port for foreign trade in ancient China and a starting point of the “Overseas Silk Road”. It had close business links with Southeast Asia, South Asia, Middle East and Europe. Quanzhou’s interactions with foreign countries were frequent in the period from Southern Song Dynasty to the early Ming Dynasty particularly ie during several hundred years between the 10^th^ century CE and the 15^th^ century CE. It played an important role in India-China cultural exchanges. Its Hindu stone carvings displayed in Religious Stone Carving Exhibition Hall are powerful historical witnesses.