Garlanded with triumph and glory, Jiaolong, the manned submersible returned to Qingdao on July 16 after its record-breaking 7,000-meter dive. It returned to discover that a state-of-the-art deep-sea base, due to be completed at the end of next year, will be its new home.
China's largest oceanographic research center is under construction in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province, which marks the country's latest effort to become a leading force in maritime research.
A 443-square-kilometer swathe of land to the north of Laoshan Mountain and its adjacent seas will soon evolve into the eco-friendly Blue Silicon Valley Core Area, which will provide continuous support for the overall development of Shandong's blue economic zone.
Shandong province aims to develop its "blue economic zone" into a powerhouse of marine science and technology.