Following in the wake of Zheng He

For the journey next year wind power will be harnessed. "We will use the engine only when necessary, for example, to avoid boats when entering a port, or when confronting bad weathers or waves," Hsu said.

According to SEE Taiwan's plan, after about 33 months of voyaging, the team will stop at Taiwan's Kaohsiung and Keelung ports for a few days, and then return to Taitsang City in June, for a closing press conference in Beijing in July. The date will coincide with the opening of the 2008 Olympics Games in Beijing.

But, during the three years of the voyage, what will team members be doing? Zheng He exacted tributes from China's neighbors, participated in religious ceremonies (Zheng was a Muslim) and helped open up trade routes to the Middle East.

This time round, the team members will revisit the relics and monuments Zheng left in countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Also, history researchers from the Chinese Social Science Academy will do field research during the journey. One of the team members will be responsible for making a documentary film about the three-year voyage.

"And don't forget, we have to be careful about the pirates on the sea," said Peter Yu (余世豪), a member of SEE Taiwan, who said he was particularly concerned about the Malacca Strait as a potential safety threat.

Established in 1999, SEE Taiwan's first exploration activity was "Trekking Without Genghis Khan, 800 Years Later" (尋找成吉思汗). A team of six young Taiwanese went on the trek in April 1999, revisiting Genghis Khan's expedition route to the of West. This trek of 11,000km, mainly by foot and occasionally on camels, took them 21 months and just three people managed to complete the entire journey.

Alan Hsu, the initiator and organizer of SEE Taiwan, is himself a fanatic for adventure. From 1985 to 1987, Hsu and three companions went on a trek of 15,000km around the globe, becoming the first four Taiwanese to walk around the world.

After being a journalist concentrating on outdoor and exploration activities for 10 years, Hsu decided to quit the job and started his Society of Extreme Exploration.

"It's not only just my personal interest. I think in each country or culture, there is a need for the spirit of exploration and adventure. This is particularly deficient in Taiwan," he said.

For more information to apply for the expedition team:

Contact the Society of Extreme Exploration by calling (02) 2933 6075

www.zheng-he.org http://www.zheng-he.org