Why is the Maritime Silk Road faster in winter?

The Maritime Silk Road passes through the North Indian Ocean, where the northeast wind prevails in winter, and the ocean current flows from east to west, from China to Africa, and the route is from east to west. When passing through the North Indian Ocean, it is always smooth and faster, so the Maritime Silk Road is faster in winter.

Monsoon current is a unique current in the North Indian Ocean. Ocean currents change seasonally with the Indian Ocean monsoon. In winter, the northeast wind prevails and the monsoon current flows westward. The circulation system consists of monsoon current, Somali warm current and equatorial countercurrent. Schematic diagram of winter ocean current Southwest wind prevails in summer, and monsoon ocean current flows eastward. At this time, the Somali warm current and equatorial countercurrent disappeared, and the Somali coast was affected by upwelling, forming a Somali cold current opposite to the winter wind. The whole circulation system consists of monsoon ocean current, Somali cold current and southern equatorial warm current, which flows clockwise in summer and counterclockwise in winter.

Maritime Silk Road is the artery of ancient maritime traffic. China has been associated with the Malay Peninsula since the Han Dynasty, especially since the Tang Dynasty. As a way of communication, the most convenient way is sailing, and Sino-Western trade also uses this channel to conduct transactions. This is what we call the Maritime Silk Road. During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the main bulk cargo transported by sea passage was silk, so everyone called this sea passage connecting East and West the Maritime Silk Road. During the Song and Yuan Dynasties, the export of porcelain gradually became the main commodity, so people also called it "the road of marine ceramics". At the same time, because the imported goods have always been dominated by spices, it is also known as the "spice road at sea".