The sunset view ocean villas overlook a stunning sandbar and are the best choice of accommodation at Loama Resort on Maamigili Island. [Photo by Matt Hodges/China Daily]

Ancient relics plundered from Chinese vessels are turning up in the strangest of places, as luxury resorts literally dig deep into virgin territory in the Maldives, where Chinese tourists now make up one-third of the market.

The Maldives lies along ancient Maritime Silk Road trading routes from Southeast China to East Africa and the Persian Gulf that date back 2,000 years. President Xi Jinping called for a revival of these shipping links to forge closer regional ties during a visit to the Maldives last year.

Loama Resort, which has an enviable monopoly on the Maamigili Island in remote Raa Atoll, is tapping into this narrative to further chase the Chinese dragon after Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) porcelain was unearthed during the early phases of its construction.

"We think it may have been Dutch pirates in the 17th century, but we're still doing some guesswork in that area," says Umair Badheeu, the resort's culture and heritage manager.

This tiny teardrop is Treasure Island with a twist: The pets play nice, the natives are friendly, and the "gold" is buried in the resort's lobby museum. The 40-odd Chinese relics add a new dimension to its impressive 300-piece collection.