The holy city of Mecca, in present-day Saudi Arabia, was the birthplace of the prophet Mohammed, the founder of Islam. Mecca is the most sacred site in the Muslim world. It is where the prophet Mohammed first started teaching and is known as the cradle of Islam.

During the Ming Dynasty, numerous countries to the west of China were followers of Islam. By assigning Zheng He, a devout Muslim, to lead diplomatic missions to these countries, the Ming emperor established a common religious ground for developing friendly relations.

As a Muslim, Zheng He had a strong desire and religious duty to make the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. By successfully reaching Mecca, Zheng He was instrumental in forging ties between the Ming Dynasty and the Islamic countries of the Middle East.

(ChinaCulture.org June 16, 2005)