Wang Dayuan
From the 7th to the 13th centuries, the island of Singapore was controlled by the Srivijaya empire based in Sumatra. Diplomatic relationship between Temasek and Vietnam may have begun in the 13th century. Temasek was a fortified city and trading centre in the 14th century. It was recorded that during the Yuan dynasty, envoys were sent to "Long Ya Men" ("Dragon's Teeth Gate", thought to be the entrance of Keppel Harbour) in 1320 to obtain tame elephants. The people of "Long Ya Men" then returned in 1325 with a tribute and trade mission to China. In around 1330, the Chinese traveller Wang Dayuan visited the island and mentioned two distinct settlements in Temasek: "Long Ya Men" and "Ban Zu" (a transcription of the Malay name "pancur" meaning a "spring"). In his work "Daoyi Zhilüe", Wang described "Long Ya Men" as the two hills of Temasek that looked like "Dragon's teeth" between which a strait runs, and wrote: