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Culture Corner Zheng He and His Seven Voyages Zheng He (1371-1435) was one of China's most famous explorers. Towards the end of the fourteenth century, his fleet sailed to countries very far away. Zheng He had over 300 ships, some of which were over 150 metres long and could carry up to 1,000 people. In addition to the supplies for the long journeys, the ships carried gold, silver, silk, china and other treasures to give as gifts to the rulers of the neighbouring countries. Some of the ships even had earth on board so that the sailors could grow their own crops for food. On Zheng He's first voyage, he set sail across the Indian Ocean. His fleet travelled for many days far away from land. One day, they were hit by a storm. All the sailors thought the fleet was going to sink. Then a strange light appeared at the top of the ships' masts, and after that, the storm passed. The strange light that appeared on the masts was probably electricity from the thunderstorm. Many sailors today see such lightning on the masts of their ships during a storm. But the sailors in Zheng He's fleet believed it was a sign of protection from the gods. From then on, they were happy to follow Zheng He wherever he led them. Zheng He completed seven famous voyages between 1405 and 1433. He visited many countries in Asia and Africa. Zheng He also brought back many gifts from the countries he visited, such as medicines, pearls and strange animals. The most famous of these gifts were a giraffe and a zebra. When Zheng He came back from his seventh voyage in 1433, he was sixty-two years old. In 28 years of travelling, he had managed to share the glory of China with many different countries. When he died in 1435, the stories of his travels made him one of China's most famous sailors. 文化广角 郑和和他的七次航行 郑和（1317-1435）是中国最有名的探险家之一。 14世纪末，他的船队驶向很远的国家。 郑和有300多只船，其中有些船长超过150多米，可以承载1千人。 除漫长旅途所需物资外，船上还装有金银、丝绸、瓷器和其他宝物，作为送给邻国统治者的礼品。 有些船的甲板上甚至有泥土，这样船员可以种他们吃的农作物。 第一次航行时，郑和起航穿越了印度洋。 他的船队在离岛很远的地方航行了很多天。一天，他们遭遇了一场暴风雨。 所有的船员都以为船队会沉没。 后来，船的桅顶出现一道奇异的光，接着，暴风雨过去了。 出现在桅杆上的奇异的光可能是雷暴产生的闪电。 现在，许多船员在暴风雨时都在船的桅杆上看到过这样的闪电。 但郑和船队的船员们认定那是神灵庇佑的预示。 从那时起，他们愿意追随郑和去他带领的任何地方。 1405至1433年间，郑和完成了七次著名的航行。他游览了亚洲和非洲的许多国家。 郑和还从他游览的国家带回来很多礼物，像药品，珍珠和珍禽异兽。 这些礼物中最有名的要数一只长颈鹿和一匹斑马。 1433年，郑和第七次航行回来时，他已经62岁了。 在长达28年的旅行中，他成功地与其他国家的人们分享了中国的荣耀。 1435年他逝世时，他航行的故事使其成为中国最有名的航海家之一。 |
