During the Sui (581-618) and Tang (618-907) dynasties, Muslims from Arab countries in the Middle east started the trade route between China and Middle East which later became known as the Marin Silk Road. They reached present day Guangzhou and Quanzhou. Due to its strategic location, Hainan Island became an important depot where ships from Arabic countries would stop and get water and necessary food. There once was a Persian village at Lingshuiwan near Sanya. Currently there are tomb stones with Arabic letters on the beach of Lingshuiwan. Those tomb stones are about 63 center meter high. As a matter of fact, there are four Muslim cemeteries in Hainai Island for those early Muslim traders. It is said that Muslim traders from India's Gujarat brought Islam to Hainan Island. The city of Sanya has a large Muslim population whom are decedents of Muslims from Southeast Asian countries like Viet Nam and Malaysia. Currently there are over 10,000 Muslims in Hainan province. Haikou Mosque is the only mosque in the provincial capital city of Hainan province.