The documentary "Guangji Canghai" premiered on CCTV's documentary channel on October 15th. Its first episode focuses on the legendary wooden sailing ship Empress of China, recounting the history of the first direct trade between China and the United States.

After gaining independence in 1783, the United States faced economic hardship, heavy foreign debt and British trade restrictions. Seeking a way out, the newly established nation turned its attention to China. On February 22nd, 1784, the 360-ton Empress of China set sail from New York. After a 188-day voyage, it reached Huangpu Port in Guangzhouvia Macao, opening a new chapter in direct trade and cultural exchanges between China and the United States.

The ship stayed in Guangzhou for more than three months. With the assistance of Chinese Hong merchants, it sold all its cargo, including ginseng, fursand cotton, and purchased Chinese goods such as tea, porcelain and silk textiles. The voyage generated a net profit equivalent to about 25% of the initial investment. The American crew's diaries recorded that foreign merchants were treated with courtesy and tolerancein Guangzhou and completed all trade formalities smoothly.

The successful maiden voyage caused a sensation in the United States and sparked the country's first "China craze." George Washingtonalso purchased Chinese porcelain. The substantial returns encouraged many American merchants to enter the China trade. From 1786 to 1833, a total of 1,104 American ships arrived in China, and the scale of U.S.-China trade grew rapidly, second only to that of Britain.

Professor Jiang Yinghe of Sun Yat-sen University believes that the voyage of the Empress of China demonstrates that mutually beneficial cooperation has been a defining feature of exchanges between the two countries. This remarkable story of trade across oceans stands as a valuable historical testament to more than two centuries of people-to-people friendship, exchange and mutual benefit between China and the United States.

粤产纪录片《广济沧海》热播！“中国皇后号”追溯中美交往起点

10月15日，纪录片《广济沧海》在央视纪录频道开播。首集聚焦传奇木帆船“中国皇后号”，还原中美首次直接通商的珍贵历史。

1783年美国独立后，经济凋敝、外债沉重，还遭到英国的贸易封锁。为突破困局，新生的美国把贸易目光投向中国。1784年2月22日，载重360吨的“中国皇后号”从纽约出发，历经188天远航，经澳门抵达广州黄埔港，拉开中美直接贸易与文化交往的序幕。

商船在广州驻留三个多月，在中国行商协助下，船上人参、皮货、棉花等货物全部售罄，购进茶叶、瓷器、丝织品等中国商品。本次航行纯利约占投资额25%。美方船员日记记载，当时广州对外来客商态度宽厚，顺利完成全部贸易手续。
首航成功在美国引发轰动，掀起第一次“中国热”，华盛顿也曾购置中国瓷器。丰厚收益吸引大批美国商人投身对华贸易。1786至1833年间，共有1104艘美国船只抵达中国，美国对华贸易规模迅速攀升，仅次于英国。

中山大学江滢河教授认为，“中国皇后号”的远航印证互利合作是两国交往的主流。这段跨越山海的商贸佳话，成为两百多年来中美民间友好交流、互通共赢的珍贵历史见证。

文 | 记者 何文涛 朱绍杰

译 | 郑书悦

审 | 曾敏