The United States, which just gained its independence in 1784, sought to start trading with the Qing Dynasty. The trading vessel was a sailboat originally serving in the navy, and it was named "empress of china" after modification to show its respect for the royal family of the Qing Dynasty. The English name is "The Empress of China".
"empress of china" did not choose the route across the Pacific Ocean, but crossed the Atlantic Ocean, bypassed the Cape of Good Hope, and then crossed the Indian Ocean to reach the South China Sea, with a total distance of 11,3 nautical miles, which took 188 days. It can be said that it is a long route. First, I arrived in Macau and got the "China Pass" with the official seal of the Qing Dynasty, and then I sailed into the Pearl River. Then on August 28th, he entered Huangpu Port in Guangzhou. It is said that after entering the port and landing at that time, "empress of china" fired thirteen shots to show the respect of thirteen American states to the Qing Empire, and raised an American flag.
Shisanhang, an organization specializing in managing foreign trade in Guangzhou, was the only legal monopoly organization of Sino-Western trade at that time. Simply speaking, it was a middleman. No matter whether China businessmen exported tea or other commodities or foreign merchant ships wanted to buy or sell their own foreign goods, they had to go through Shisanhang.
"empress of china" stayed in Guangzhou for about four months. During this period, thirteen merchants passing through Guangzhou not only sold out all the goods on the ship, but also brought back a lot of goods from China. For example, black tea and green tea alone add up to hundreds of tons, and there are a large number of China native products such as porcelain, silk, cinnamon, tooth carving, lacquerware, lacquer fans, umbrellas, purple cloth, printed cloth and hand-painted wallpaper. In addition, Guangzhou officials also specially presented two silks and satins to the American government.
on December 27th, 1784, she set sail for home. The trade route opened by "empress of china" was of great significance to the United States at that time. It can be said that the early trade with China allowed the newly born United States to accumulate a large amount of original funds, and finally broke the blockade and semi-blockade of maritime trade by the old colonial countries, and the United States gradually grew into an important economic force in this process.