A replica 15th Century junk has sunk off Taiwan, one day short of completing an epic voyage to the US and back.

The Ming dynasty-style Princess Taiping was trying to prove that China's greatest admiral, Zheng He, could have reached North America 600 years ago.

After surviving several storms during its 10-month voyage, the junk broke in two and sank after it was rammed by a freighter just off Taiwan's coast.

All 11 crew members were rescued after being found adrift on the wreckage.