viewed from the rocky outcropping of dondra head at the southernnmost tip of sri lanka, the first sighting of the ming fleet is a massive shadow on the horizon.as the shadow rises, it breaks into a cloud of tautly ribbed sail, aflame in the tropical sun.with relentless determination, the cloud draws ever closer, and in its fiery embrace an enormous city appears.a floating city, like nothing the world has ever seen before.no warning could have prepared officials, soldiers, or the thunderstruck peasants who stand atop dondra head for the scene that unfolds below them.stretched across miles of the indian ocean in terrifying majesty is the armada of zheng he, admiral of the imperial ming navy.

　　从斯里兰卡最南端“栋德勒角(dondra head)”上的岩石露头望去，初入眼帘的大明舰队，只是地平线上的庞大阴影。随着阴影渐升，却化为众帆如云，肋纹毕现，在热带的阳光下映出闪闪红光。彤云徐徐掩至，耀眼光芒中逐渐浮现出一座巨大的城市。这是一座世所未有的漂浮之城。对于立在岩石顶端的官员、士兵或惊呆的农民而言，这番景象若非亲见，如何也无法想象。这是明帝国海军统帅郑和率领的船队，展现慑人威仪，在印度洋中绵延数里。