Chinese Navigation near the Coast of Central Guangdong

Maps, nautical accounts and geographical works of the Ming period often refer to Nantingshan 南亭山 and Nantingmen 南亭門. Both locations were key sites for Chinese navigation. While it is possible to identify the first site with modern Da Wanshandao 大萬山島, an island in the Wanshan liedao 萬山列島, the identification of Nantingmen remains difficult. The present article examines diverse references to both places, trying to explain why they were important and how we should deal with them. This makes it necessary to also consider other nearby islands and spaces, and to discuss certain commercial, administrative and cultural aspects. Portuguese sources provide additional data, but the navigational priorities of the Portuguese were different from those of their Ming counterparts, which is addressed in the final part of this study.