"We are going to scatter ancient coins of 1405, which Zheng He brought to many countries in Ming dynasty, into sea during the next two legs of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race," said a Chinese Clipper sailor on Monday.

Zheng He, a famous voyager in Ming Dynasty, led a Chinese fleet to Southeast Asia, South Asia and East Africa, collectively referred to as the travels of the Western Ocean, from 1405 to 1433.

"We are going to scatter about 70 coins of Ming Dynasty, called Yong Le Tong Bao, pasted with one yuan coins released in 2009, into the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean in the next two legs of the Clipper race." said Zhang Feng, a civil servant of Qingdao city, who will participate in the 6th leg of the Clipper race from Qingdao to California, then to Jamaica.

Another Chinese Clipper sailor, Zhang Yanzhi, will do the same thing at the 7th leg from Jamaica to New York, then to Hull Humber of Britain.

"The reason that we will scatter the ancient coins into sea, which Zheng He had brought to many countries, is that we want to tell the world that China is back to adventure at seas." Zhang Feng said.

The Clipper yachts, which arrived in Qingdao from February 20 to February 23, will leave for California on March 2.

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, held every two years, is the largest amateur yacht race in the world. This is the third time that the Clipper race came to Qingdao, host city of the Beijing Olympics sailing events.

(Xinhua News Agency March 2, 2010)