Chinese warship wreckage identified through relic fragments

"Dandong No.1", a shipwreck discovered last year near Dandong Port, has been confirmed as cruiser Zhiyuan, one of the warships of the Beiyang Fleet sunk by the Japanese navy during the first Sino-Japanese War 121 years ago.

Zhou Chunshui, head of an archeological team from the National Center of Underwater Cultural Heritage, told Xinhua that they have salvaged more than 100 items from the wreck during the past two months.

"From these items, we can confirm that this is the wreck of the Zhiyuan," said Zhou, who added that two Chinese characters Zhi and yuan were found on a porcelain plate.

Zhou said the Zhiyuan and its sister vessel Jingyuan were designed and manufactured by a UK firm, with their tableware specially made. A plate from the Jingyuan was also found printed with the same font.

The wreckage of the warship was found during underwater exploration for port construction last year. Codenamed "Dandong No. 1", the intact 50-meter hull is located 10 nautical miles southwest of Dandong Port, Liaoning Province.

The inside of the 1,600-tonne ship has been badly damaged. Archeologists found fragments of ordinance inside.

The Zhiyuan was one of the modern warships in the Qing Dynasty Beiyang Fleet, defeated by the Japanese navy in the Battle of Yellow Sea on Sept. 17, 1894.

Records show that captain Deng Shichang refused to leave the ship, despite it being severely crippled, on fire and sinking. Endit