China to build national museum of marine archaeology

Construction of a national museum of marine archaeology will begin this year in the eastern coastal city of Qingdao, located in Shandong province. This has been confirmed by local authorities.

According to the Qingdao administration, the museum will be built in the Qingdao Oceantec Valley. It will cover an area of 29,333 square metres.

The Qingdao Oceantec Valley Administrative Bureau said the new museum will be the first of its kind in China and will focus on the history of maritime archaeology, achievements in the field and the country's ancient maritime civilisations. The museum will permanently display rare underwater cultural relics. This is reported by Xinhua News Agency, a partner of TV BRICS.

The museum will also provide an important platform for public education and scientific research on maritime archaeology, reflecting China's efforts to protect its underwater cultural heritage.

It will have four main exhibition zones: the national archaeological research centre, the underwater archaeology restoration zone, the underwater archaeology tour zone and the Qingdao marine archaeology zone.

According to authorities, the new museum will help Qingdao promote the preservation of cultural relics and archaeological research, as well as develop the city as a tourist and historical and cultural centre.