BEIJING - A documentary about maritime culture has been released in a bid to promote the public's awareness of the ocean, China's oceanic watchdog said Friday.

The documentary "Toward the Ocean" is jointly sponsored by the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's Political department, describing China's maritime activities in its 5,000-year history, the sponsors said at a press conference.

With a total of eight episodes, the documentary, also reviews the current situation of the world's oceans, illustrating a peaceful and harmonious view on ocean of the Chinese nation.

The documentary was recently broadcast on China Central Television and won wide praise, the sponsors said.

The DVD version is available nationwide, as well as the book with the same name, the SOA said.