The Story of the "Ning Po" - The Legendary Chinese Pirate Junk

[@meadmaker4525]

Such a sad ending to a beautiful, powerful piece of maritime history. She deserved better. I wish they'd hauled her out, put her on a stand and built a small museum around her. I would have loved to have seen her in person.

[@margaretsnead30]

Pppp

[@pelmel1990]

Does she deserve better... think how many innocent women and children and men suffered fates worse than death on that ship.

[@nsh1980]

@@pelmel1990yeah all of history was awful, that doesn’t mean that we don’t want to preserve and learn from any available artifacts

[@snoutysnouterson]

Boats do not have gender

[@nsh1980]

@@snoutysnouterson of course they do, they are girls silly

[@normtrooper4392]

I laughed out loud when you said the highest bidders were pirates. What a lovely video and about history I had no idea about

[@janisi9262]

I replayed that part of the video so that my spouse, who is descended from pirates, could hear!

[@shaynewheeler9249]

😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@geigertec5921]

I think the best part was when the modern owners found the treasure in the secret chamber behind the eye. Who wants to bet that plate is somewhere in someone's house and they have no idea they own an 18th century pirate ship treasure. This whole story reminds me of when I was a kid. My grandpa had a boat and we would go out of a harbor in NY. One day a 100-year-old three masted wooden ship with full rigging sailed into our harbor. It was sinking and needed urgent repairs. The owners tied it up close to the land and began pumping water out of it hull but it wasn't enough and she settled on the bottom. Many attempts were made to re-float her but she always sank back down in this same spot until one day they stopped trying and she was abandoned. Every day me and my grandpa would have to sail past this magnificent wreck. At low tide the water would be low enough that the top half of the deck would be exposed. I would watch as small waves would open and close the door to the center structure and hear the creaking of the wooden timbers as the masts swayed. I was still in the single digits in age during all this so no matter how much I begged grandpa to let me explore the sunken ship he never let me (and a good thing too because I would have drowned). Had I been my current age that I am now back then I would have salvaged so many treasures from that wreck, but now 30 years later it's all long gone now.

[@PhazonEnder]

Do you happen to remember the name of the ship?

[@beckiejbrown]

This blew my mind... It just kept going and going. I didn't realise a ship could go that many years!

[@shaynewheeler9249]

🎉😢😢😢😢😢

[@MDBandit]

Damn, some of your stuff is criminally underviewed. This is some of the best of this type of content that KZbin has to offer. Putting the History Channel, Discovery, etc to absolute shame. If I ever stumble upon a winning lottery ticket I am gonna become Indiana Jones and hunt down that lost silver plate from behind the eye.

[@tomriley5790]

Shame she didn't make it to the museum she would have been an amazing exhibit - literally a legend from another time! It's almost unbelievable that she was still afloat after all that time. Can't believe they let the scouts hack up a mast. Such a sad end for her. Amazing she lasted so long only to end like that...

[@owellafehr5191]

Fascinating story. Looking at the thumbnail I thought this was going to be something from around the 1300s-1500s; I'm amazed that it's so comparatively modern. I'm also stunned by just how long this ship was usable; I had no idea that a 150+ year old wooden ship could still sail. What a tragic history with all the slaves and captives on board.

[@carolecotter599]

I really enjoyed watching this video. I remember being in Cat Harbor in late 50's and seeing an old mast sticking out of the water. After watching this video, I believe now that it was the Palmyra, not Ning Po.

[@shaynewheeler9249]

Chicken

[@ATippePodcast]

Yeah. I love listening to these. I drive truck cross country. These are absolutely fantastic. All of them. Thank you for your time putting these together

[@thecunarder7297]

This ship had quite a fascinating history, thanks for sharing this and keep up the good work!

[@ButterBallTheOpossum]

I remember when the history Channel had awesome documentaries like these on the their channel. This was so damn good.

[@shaynewheeler9249]

😢😢😢😢

[@Charlie-de2nv]

Her Stern Decor Was Lovely, Such a long and amazing story too.

[@kaiapparent2653]

what an amazing legacy. thanks for telling her story, i wish i could have seen her and walked her decks.

[@Patrick-pm1sn]

I still hope for the promised vids about the Catalina Island ships. Really, really looking forward for the next episode(s). Keep up the great work Tom and Emma! Best wishes and cheers all the way from Bavaria Germany.

[@PartTimeExplorer]

Danke! Honestly, I've been sitting on them for a while since I didn't think there was much interest. Good to know that there is!

[@Patrick-pm1sn]

@@PartTimeExplorer There is always interest for your exploring videos ;-)

[@Puzzoozoo]

She was a testament to Chinese maritime engineers and the craftsmen who built her.

[@supremeoverlorde2109]

What an interesting story! I just found your channel recently and have loved catching up on your videos. You are such a gifted story-teller and bring history to life in a fascinating way.

[@shaynewheeler9249]

China food 📡

[@SamwiseOutdoors]

Gosh, I remember hearing vague bits of this story from camp counselors when I was on the Island with my Scout Troop as a kid. It's really cool to hear the whole story fleshed out, I never knew that it had such a long life. Thank you for delving into this.

[@DesmondBedarte]

I have recently discovered this channel and I Absolutely love the great work you are doing here. The production quality and care and great audio additions are a joy to me every time I watch. A minor critique I will mention is concerning the pronunciation of calliope which I have noticed in this and another video on the channel- [KUH]+[LY[+[UH]+[PEE] is the only pronunciation I know for that word. Again, I would like to thank you and praise you for your phenomenal word on these videos. They are beyond good!

[@ankylosaruswrecks3189]

It bothered me as well. Thank you.

[@fritzpollard266]

Something this interesting and unique is not something you find on KZbin everyday.

[@shaynewheeler9249]

😢😢😢😢😢

[@fritzpollard266]

@@shaynewheeler9249 Normally I would err on the on the side of caution and apologize for offending someone even if I don’t understand how why someone was offended, since there is no logical reason for someone to take offense to what I said I’ll just ask what the hell is your problem.

[@shaynewheeler9249]

China food

[@fritzpollard266]

@@shaynewheeler9249 Ok thanks.

[@shaynewheeler9249]

China ancestor

[@thomasandrewsjr6520]

Such interesting and often unknown story to the public. Outstanding work Tom.

[@shaynewheeler9249]

😢😢😢😢😢

[@connern5791]

I heard that the Ning Po appeared in a movie called "The Willow Tree" from 1920

[@PartTimeExplorer]

That’s news to me- I’ll have to check it out!

[@shaynewheeler9249]

😮😢😢😢😢😢

[@Foiled_Foliage]

Love that man’s hat. Can’t always find everything on google and google will never replace a good long conversation and or interview with an expert.

[@waynejones8481]

Woah dig the beard dude. Your looken like a real seaman! You do such a great job in your videos. I hope folks realize the work it takes to do what you do!

[@anniewang9723]

A fascinating story beautifully told. As a history lover and native Chinese, I learned something new about the tumultuous past of Chinese coast. I have to say that the background music beautifully done and authentic Chinese!

[@SgtRocko]

That was outstanding, Tom! THANK YOU. Really found that interesting and enjoyable. Oh - and the beard looks FANTASTIC. Suits you very well.

[@kaisailor1]

I just wanted to say thank you gor the great Maritime history lesson. I'm an archaeologist who at one point wanted to become a nautical and/or maritime archaeologist and historian. I decided against it somewhere around the eight-years of college mark. But I still love it none-the-less. I'm so glad to have found your channel. New Sub.

[@robbieallan6522]

Its amazing way to construct a ship, they also build temples and other buildings without a single nail and they are really complex structures, takes some talent to master a skill like that in an era of basic tools.

[@Mrcaffinebean]

Excellent video of a fascinating ship! Subscribed!

[@Lykas_mitts]

A bit late to the party, you'd probably not respond or see this. But the eyes on the bow, they're meant to let the ship "see" where she's going and prevent crashes. A lot of small wooden boats about asia still have these eyes to prevent them from bumping into something, usually painted on.

[@markbowles2382]

Thank you mr.Tom, I always wondered why camphor wasn't used more for things but not being a craftsman that would make sense. Coming up surveying i've seen a lot of it dumped (illegally) back in the mid 80's after a cold spell a few years before that wiped out a large percentages of the orange crop in Fla as well as huge camphor trees. Anyway it was interesting about the old chinese raider being partially made out of camphor - in ne florida it is a fast growing tree that i think smells nice but others i know says it stinks to high heaven to them - its got to be good for something other than insect bites as your most interesting history lesson has shown, hope you are well and the family is good.

[@barrydysert2974]

i look forward to both upcoming videos. i'm especially excited about the archeological surveys !:-)

[@720jlconner]

Another great vid. Glad I stumbled onto your channel after watching titanic movie again

[@mrdelaney4440]

The ships name made a cameo in james bond "you only live twice" as a ship Blofield was using for the osako corporation.

[@bonnerscott5374]

What a great Channel. Enjoyed this and the clinical Precision in the details, nice.🚢Thank you.

[@211212112]

Pirates loved her and she loved the pirates.

[@diane1390]

I've been long interested in California history. I've been reading about it since I was a 4th grader, and I'll be 70 in October. I'd never heard of this ship, and I'm glad I watch this channel. Very interesting. Thanks.

[@nofx77j3]

Absolutely love your work. Please never change

[@gregsmith1719]

Great story! I grew up in Newport Beach in the 50s and visited Catalina a few times but never heard anything about this! Thanks!

[@evanrandall1675]

This was a spectacular video. Thank you. I would love to know more about all of that all wood construction

[@cook13doodle16]

New favorite series!!!!!❤

[@littledeel]

WE NEED MORE CONTENT. You make AMAZING content.

[@DesmondBedarte]

Thanks!

[@PartTimeExplorer]

Thank you very much!

[@dawnmcneal5944]

I live less that 10 miles from where hms calliope was stationed on the Tyne and her replacement still is and yet neither there nor in any history site on the ship and her service does mention her capture of the ning po. Something else that would no doubt be lost to history if it weren't for the incredible research you put into your videos. Another fab video

[@paull5609]

Great channel. Really like the way you present the topics.

[@lareinabrown]

Considering how long ago the Ning Po was in operation, I think it’s absolutely amazing that anything’s still left of her at all! Especially bc she was completely made of wood! What a strong ship

[@spencersholden]

“Catalina Island, California.” Me, a Californian history buff: “I’m sorry, WHAT!??!?”

[@connern5791]

A fascinating story

[@Electriceye1984bySam]

Fantastic story, thank you so much for your channel, it’s one of my favorites!👍🏻

[@john-carlosynostroza]

this was so fantastic to watch, thank you!

[@kellyblack4897]

Very fascinating! Great narration I thoroughly enjoyed it!

[@Bigger-Than-Jesus]

interesting history!! Really looking forward to your findings on the history of the Mutiny on the Bounty! you must be having a great deal of fun researching this! a great deal of details are lost in the 3 films or flat out misrepresented Peace Tom

[@arsenal10141014]

Excellent - thank you

[@binong7366]

Ningpo(nowadays, Ning Bo) is the second largest city in Zhejiang Province by wealth, and could make top 20 amongst all Chinese cities. But yes, it literally means peaceful waves.

[@danielwardwell914]

This was fascinating to learn about. I’ve never heard of this ship before! Can someone make a really good film about it? It’d make for an amazing pirate movie! Thanks for sharing about this crazy cool ship!

[@michaelsteyn5325]

Best history lesson yet... subbed.

[@OneDullMan]

Thanks for.investigating and researching this piece of maritime history. Glad that there be some bit of her left.

[@powellriver100]

Very enjoyable channel !

[@nonow1353]

Great stuff third video I've seen, subscribed

[@93MANIAC]

Once a pirate always a pirate

[@erikgilson1687]

Lmao at the British putting the ship up for auction and pirates winning she auction

[@EnragedByCorn]

Awesome vid. Looking forward to what else you have in store.

[@alexdenton1073]

You are the best all your videos are so interesting you are quite the commentator

[@matthewcox6615]

Interesting video Tom! Have you considered having a look at the SS America? She was a beautiful ship with quite a history and then one of the most famous shipwrecks in the world.

[@spaceace8628]

Soo cool such a good video good joob!

[@TrailToughTrailers]

Wow... great video!!!

[@rancidschannel3206]

What a great ship and story!

[@rockstarofredondo]

This is absolutely nuts!

[@Corgis175]

Being familiar with Catalina, this was most interesting and a story I wasn't aware of.

[@starkillerdude1914]

Bearded Tom is too powerful

[@popeyethepirate5473]

I've begun to binge...

[@RailPreserver2K]

Tom you might want to look up the doulos phos it's a ship that was built under a different name in 1914 and wasn't retired until 2009 and even after that it ended up being preserved it's now a hotel

[@Waiting_to_Exhale_era]

Have link to pic of the ship or video?

[@niklar55]

😊👍 Built like a '''Chinese Puzzle,'' probably applies. Pity the carpentry, or some of it wasn't preserved. so that carpenters could learn from it. .

[@tcm4891]

Brilliant! Don't let its craftmanship be unknown!

[@Daocpwnswow]

Fascinating story. It's sometimes hard to remember amongst the European Sea (space) Race era, there's an entire ocean with its own historical significance on the other side of the U.S. Heck, what I know about that is still heavily influenced by the West as all information is related to the East India Companies (in particular the Swedish). Kin Tai Foong. Beautiful. At the respectful age, she met an unfitting end. Despite her record.

[@rexluminus9867]

At least she wasn't totally lost.

[@MotoWorld777]

Great video, thanks guys!

[@discostew115]

Awesome video!

[@willsimpkins7278]

When I was just a young boy I remember driving across the causeway down here in Mobile Alabama and there were multiple old Wooden Ships that had been run aground and abandoned and the homeless people of that era moved into them an occasionally there was a fire really have no clue about what caused the fires but they were eventually all burned up but there was many of them at one time I forgotten era not to be seen ever again except in my memories

[@colinmerritt7645]

A wooden ship, captured and recaptured, battered by God knows how many fights and storms, lived around 200 years. Wow. She's up there with Victory and Constitution. Amazing!

[@danielkapp9468]

I wonder if the majority of the vessel sank under its own weight into the substrate, would be interesting to see what a gpr crew could uncover.

[@marijorieholoway6783]

Great video! Ty

[@sarahcartier3393]

I love the name, dead mans island, has a long John Silver feel. "Me hearties"

[@guydegregg6869]

Well done and fascinating.

[@Amphitera]

chinese spelling: ning bo 宁波 jin taifeng 金台风 there is a city of the same name today. great story about a fascinating piece of history!

[@LainsWonderland]

RIP to all the women who suffered at the hands of the pirates, people are the worst

[@Thelastmanalive565]

Yep very true

[@randomrazr]

if ning po can make it across the pacific. zheng treasure fleet surelty could have

[@SaugotChowdhury]

That cap fits the story very much

[@bosunbill9059]

The Ning Po at this point become as cursed as Queen Anne`s Revenge or the Flying Dutchman due to the crimes committed on board.

[@geoffreypiltz271]

Fascinating. If ships have souls then this one's was evil, always returning to piracy. btw In ship construction dowels are known as treenails or trenails. Calliope is pronounced Cal-eye-oh-pee.

[@Guangrui]

Interesting to know the vessel had been to San Diego, kinda wonder in the Bay or somewhere? and what role did she play in those days

[@MuzixMaker]

Ning Po was also the name of Blofeld’s transport ship in You Only Live Twice.

[@orangehat9057]

That’s truly tragic. Would have been awesome to of seen it exist today much like the USS Constitution.

[@filipdemski8303]

Ahh, it'll be lovely evening!

[@scofab]

Another great video, arrrrrr. Break open a cask of rum, and one of beer, and tell the cook's boys to be dam quick getting that pig roasted up. Steady as she goes.

[@jjamo1225]

This is great.

[@AndyHappyGuy]

Could you put the actual Chinese words up next time?

[@scottowens1535]

👍 just excellent Sir.

[@cardboardindustrys9871]

I love these videos and I think they deserve more attention but, what happened to thg?

[@dirkhartman9572]

When will you make the follow up video about the wrecks in the harbour

[@defwebsolutions]

Great job 👍

[@ellenbryn]

Hard to believe she was still above water when my aunt first moved to La Jolla, and she's a wreck now. She was older than the United States. Despite her terrible history as a slave ship, it's hard not to feel the loss that we almost, *almost* had a nearly 300 year old Chinese tall ship preserved to the present day, and lost her.