A historian in southeast China's Xiamen City says the first Zheng He Temple in the Chinese mainland has been found in Hongjian Village, off the northern coast of the city.

Zheng He is a legendary navigator of the Ming Dynasty, who made a total of seven epic voyages, spanning over 30 countries throughout the South Pacific, the Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf and Africa.

The year 2005 marks the 600th anniversary of his maiden voyage, which began in east China's Jiangsu Province.

The small temple occupies an area of less than twenty square meters.

Figures of Zheng He and his assistant Wang Jinghong were worshipped inside the temple.

The historian says that the temple was found by an anthropologist of Xiamen University in 1989.

He added that the temple was built in the early Qing Dynasty and has great value for research.

(CRIENGLISH.com July 13, 2004)