A number of experts gather in Guangzhou, capital city of South China's Guangdong Province to select a scheme for the construction of China Marine Silk Road Museum, which is said to be the largest theme museum of its kind in Asia after its accomplishment in 2007.

The most exciting part of the museum is a huge underwater 'crystal palace', displaying an ancient vessel 'Nanhai No.1', which was a wooden ocean merchant ship built in Song Dynasty, over 800 years ago. The ship, about 30 meters long and 10 meter wide, is the largest Song ship found so far. The vessel sank 20 nautical miles away from Hailing Island, Yangjiang. Relics found on the vessel are tens of thousands in number, many out of which are state-level treasure. The china on the vessel is of fine craft.

The relics found on Nanhai No. 1 ancient vessel

The other two parts of the museum will exhibit the history and current development of China's marine archaeology, as well as the pictures of the ancient 'Marine Silk Road', relics and researching achievement.

The museum is located on the beach of Hailing Island, Yangjiang, and some 200 kilometers from Guangzhou. The museum will cover an area of 16,650 square meters, according to Jing Lihu, deputy director of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Culture.

This merchant ship indicates Guangdong had been the commercial and trading hub of South China since ancient times.

The proposals of the museum:

Editor: Catherine

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