China's National Cultural Heritage Administration recently approved the establishment of the National Museum of Marine Archaeology in the eastern coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province.

Qingdao boasts picturesque coastal landscapes. [Photo/VCG]

This marked the start of construction plans for the country's only underwater archaeological museum.

The museum will be built in the Qingdao Oceantec Valley with a planned area of 29,333 square meters and a total construction area of about 26,000 sq m.

The museum will contribute to Qingdao's efforts in promoting cultural relics conservation and archaeological work, and building a coastal tourism city and a national historical and cultural city, according to Qingdao authorities.

When it is put into operation, the museum will become the first State-level underwater heritage display platform, increase Qingdao's marine culture, and provide new impetus for the city to build itself into an international marine culture city.

In recent years, the Qingdao Oceantec Valley has attached great importance to the protection of the national underwater cultural heritage, and has fully cooperated with the National Cultural Heritage Administration in the protection of underwater cultural heritage.

The Oceantec Valley is a leading high-tech zone for marine research in Jimo district, Qingdao.