Du Xiutang stands beside his homemade submarine. [Photo/CFP]

A Chinese inventor is building his own submarine after he learned that China needed to import the machines from another country, reported Huashang Daily on Monday.

Du Xiutang is a villager in Shenmu county of Yulin city, Northwest China's Shaanxi province. The 53-year-old developed an interest in mechanics and military arms as a boy. As a senior high school dropout, Du used his spare time to read books on maritime and military technology. After learning that China bought an outdated submarine from Russia in the 1990s, the man made up his mind to build one himself.

Du taught himself submarine design, and the self-made man even amazed professional technicians with his inventions such as a hydraulic drainage system which has been awarded a national patent. The man has finished the main part of the submarine which measures 9.2 meters long and 3.1 meters tall, and he plans to take it on a test dive this year.

But he has met with financial problems and has had to borrow more than 200,000 yuan ($32,188) to keep his project going, and even the house he lives in is a rented one. The man said he would like to find an investor to help him finish the submarine.