Relics from an ancient sunken warship belonging to a national hero Zheng Chenggong, are to be salvaged.

Zheng Chenggong's warship sank in today's Dongshan sea area in the East China Sea, Fujian Province. Chinese archaeologists have conducted an underwater survey to locate the relics and the salvage plan has been approved by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage.

Previously, archaeologists have salvaged a number of iron cannons, bronze blunderbusses, shells, landmines and porcelains at the relics site.

Archaeologists say more relics still remain on the sea bed.

Salvage operations will coincide with this year's commemoration of the 340th anniversary of Zheng Chenggong's reoccupation of Taiwan. China Central Television will report the salvage live.

At the end of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Zheng Chenggong led his army to drive out Dutch invaders who occupied Taiwan in 1624, and Taiwan was reunited with China. Zheng died later that year.

(Xinhua News Agency January 14, 2002)