Valuable resource
The current survey area includes the hull turret and the ship's magazine. So far more than 150 relics that were on the ship have also been discovered under the water and extracted.
"One of the most representative relics was the suit of armor that soldiers wore during the war. Two meters long and 2.6 meters wide, it is relatively intact," Zhou said
According to Zhou, their current priority is to protect the site. Whether or not they will actually be able to salvage the ship depends on available manpower and time.
The decision will require the comprehensive consideration of experts in various fields including salvage, cultural relics restoration and archaeology.
Zhou said the discovery of the Dingyuan will prove useful for the study of Sino-Japanese shipwrecks, and has important historical and scientific value for the study of the naval history and ship history.
"Underwater archaeological work of the First Sino-Japanese War provides a rare historical textbook for the study of national strength and the realization of prosperity for the country. It has very important practical significance," Zhou said.
