Zheng He was the greatest explorer in Chinese history. He travelled widely through Asia and Africa, with some historians alleging that he discovered America before Christopher Columbus.

Zheng He, who is also known as Cheng Ho, was born in 1371 into a family of poor Muslim peasants. He was captured and castrated by the Chinese army when he was still a young boy and later joined the court of the Ming dynasty, where his leadership skills became apparent.

The explorer visited many countries of Asia and Africa, including Java, Sumatra, Sri Lanka, India, Persia, Arabia and Taiwan. He sailed with huge fleets of up to 300 ships, with 30,000 men under his charge and brought priceless treasures back to the Chinese court in large quantities.

Zheng He died at sea in 1435, at the age 60, as he returned from an exploration of Africa. He was buried in a large tomb outside Nanjing, which was rebuilt in tribute to the explorer in 1985.