The legendary "Götheborg" made three voyages from Gothenburg to Guangzhou between 1743 and 1745, pioneering trade between Sweden and China.

On its last return trip to Sweden in 1745, tragedy struck when it smashed into rocks about 900 meters from its destination after a 30-month voyage to China. It sank with its entire cargo, including tea, china and silk, outside the port of Gothenburg.

The wreck was recovered in 1984 and excavation was conducted from 1986 to 1992. The discovery led to the idea of rebuilding a replica of the ship by using the same traditional techniques and materials and sailing it to China again.

The replica, Götheborg III, is 58.8 meters long and 11 meters wide. It cost US$30 million and 10 years to build by more than 4,000 shipbuilders. Its voyage to China took nine and a half months.

The 2nd of October 2005, the rebuilt replica of the East Indiaman Gotheborg is leaving  Gothenburg for her voyage to China.