Members of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage Center for Underwater Cultural Heritage launched an archaeological investigation in the waters off Pingtan, an island county in Fujian province, on July 10.

The research team also announced another unnamed public project of the State Oceanic Administration People's Republic of China.

Both organizations chose Pingtan for these two projects due to the county's history, geography and current excavation situation concerning cultural relics.

Zheng Guozhen, member of the Party leadership group of the Fujian Provincial Department of Culture and head of the Fujian Provincial Bureau of Cultural Heritage, met with members of the research team on August 1, and was given a briefing about their work in Pingtan.

Zheng and officials from the county culture and sports bureau also held a meeting to discuss archaeological research.

Edited by Chen Zhilin and Niva Whyman