The construction of Nanhai No 1 Museum, designed to display more than 300,000 historical relics, will begin in Hailing Island, Yangjiang, a city of Guangdong, on December 28.

The complex, which will also contain the China Marine Silk Road Museum, will open to the public in 2007.

It will display ancient vessels, such as the Nanhai No 1 ship and its contents, which have been salvaged from the South China Sea.

Covering an area of more than 130,000 square metres, it will be the largest themed museum of its kind in Asia.

A research centre for the China Marine Silk Road will be set up in the museum, examining social and economic development in southern China during the ancient dynasties.

The museum includes a water stage for performances related to the China Marine Silk Road.

A diving club, sailing club, shopping street and other facilities will also be built near the museum to attract and entertain tourists from around the world.

(Guangzhou Daily December 14, 2005)