Ancient Tianfang (the Holy City of Mecca) possessed abundant natural resources, and produced a wide variety of agricultural products. Among the local specialties were leopards, muntjac deer, rhinoceros horn, gold and silver, agate, and oryx horn. Zheng He was deeply impressed with this beautiful and abundant land when he visited it during his fourth journey, and dispatched envoys to trade Chinese specialties, such as musk and porcelain, for local goods. They returned with all sorts of treasures and rarities, including giraffe (thought to be the mythical Chinese qilin), lions, and ostriches.

　　Greatly impressed by the power and wealth of the Ming Dynasty as displayed by Zheng He's envoys, the rulers of Mecca and Medina dispatched a joint delegation to accompany the fleet back to China. The Arabian emissaries arrived at the Ming court during the eighth year of the Xuande reign period (1433 AD), bringing gifts of giraffes, elephants, and horses. Zhu Zhanji, the Xuande Emperor, personally greeted them at Fengtian Gate, gladly accepting their offerings and presenting them with rich and generous gifts in return.