Port's history on view

An exhibition, 'The Fragrant Harbour, Overview of its Maritime Trade and Port Development' is on at Hong Kong Museum of History, Kowloon Park until May 4.

The exhibition features the development of the maritime trade and the port of Hong Kong from the Tang Dynasty to the present day.

Through some 100 photographs, visitors will see interesting historical evidence about the territory's early growth as a seaport. Among them are an early sea chart, excavated fragments of an ancient wooden ship and ceramics from several centuries ago.

There are also photographs of items from the early tea trade and pictures of what the docks must have looked like.

Tuen Mun was already a Guangzhou port as early as the Tang dynasty. By the Ming Dynasty, Hong Kong had probably become a stop on the Maritime Silk Route.

The museum is open weekdays except Mondays, from 10 am to 6 pm and 1 pm to 6 pm Sundays.