At 10am, July 10, the "South Sea God", in all her finery reminiscent of the Ming and Qing-dynasty royal magnificence and splendor, was unveiled at the Fangcun Wharf to the media in Guangzhou. Captain Wang Xia showed reporters around the RMB 14 million luxurious replica of an antique Chinese sailing vessel. 

The "South Sea God" will serve as a protocol vessel, carrying members of the Swedish royal family, to celebrate the arrival of the "Götheborg" in Guangzhou on July 18. The "South Sea God" will rendezvous with the "Götheborg" and then guide her into Guangzhou harbor and on to the Temple of the South Sea God. Since her arrival at the Fangcun Wharf from the Jiangmen Shipyard, the "South Sea God" has been undergoing interior decoration and final testing.

Captain Wang, a graduate from the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts and a designer by training, said that, since her appointment as the captain for the "South Sea God" last year, she has been under a lot of pressure, learning various sail control techniques and readying the ship for the arrival of the "Götheborg".

After the unveiling ceremony, the "South Sea God" sailed out of the Fangcun Wharf for her maiden voyage on the Pearl River.

According to He Zhaojie, Vice General Manager of the Jiangmen Shipyard Co., Ltd., the "South Sea God" sailing vessel is the first ancient-style tour ship with sails on the Pearl River, with three eye-catching massive sails, each rising scores of meters. The ship is 48 metes long and displaces 625 tons, slightly larger than the "Götheborg". The ship's exterior design incorporates the features of Cantonese ships and official vessels of the Ming and Qing dynasties, with an upturning poop deck, multi-hole helm and fan-shaped sails, features common to Cantonese ships. The ship's design has also drawn upon information and data about the ships used by Zheng He for his western expeditions during the reign of Yongle during the Ming Dynasty.

During her visit to Guangzhou, the "Götheborg" will be moored at the Zhoutouzui Wharf, where a temporary Gothenburg museum will be built. The "South Sea God" will be moored at the Fangcun Wharf and opened to the public from July 23 to August 15 for an admission price of RMB 30 per person. Tourists taking part in a daytime Pearl River cruise tour will be allowed to board the "South Sea God" at no extra cost. On July 18, to commemorate the creation of sister relationship between the "Götheborg" and "South Sea God", the local post office will issue 10,000 commemorative envelops bearing the signature of the "South Sea God" captain. Reservation can be made by calling 020-84440546.

The "South Sea God" is equipped with 150 seats. The ship has three floors, with the lower hold designed to display exhibits of the ancient Maritime Silk Route and artifacts from ancient vessels. A model of the "Götheborg", presented by the Swedish to Guangzhou Daily as a gift, will be displayed in the 94-square meter museum aboard the "South Sea God". As a floating museum on the Pearl River, the "South Sea God" will display pictures and documents illustrating Guangzhou's history of maritime transport and its interactions with the original Götheborg. Visitors will be able to develop an understanding of Guangzhou's essential position on the ancient Maritime Silk Route.

Exhibits in the lower hold of the "South Sea God" will include actual commodities traded along the Maritime Silk Route, porcelain recovered from the wreck of the original Götheborg, and related artifacts. Exhibits in the cargo compartment will be arranged in the same way that the goods were stored onboard two and a half centuries ago, with silk on the top shelf, tea on the second shelf, and porcelain on the bottom shelf.