Salvage of Yangtze No. 2 shipwreck begins in Shanghai(1/9)

File photo shows the testing operation for salvage of Yangtze No. 2 ancient shipwreck in Shanghai, Jan. 26, 2022. (Photo provided to China News Service)

Salvage of Yangtze No. 2, a 160-year-old shipwreck, the largest and best-preserved wooden shipwreck, began on Wednesday, March 2, 2022.

This sunken ship, with a large number of cultural relics, was a merchant vessel during the reign of Emperor Tongzhi (1862-1875) in the Qing Dynasty period. The ship is about 38.5 meters long and 7.8 meters at its widest in the middle. It has 31 cabins and is loaded with exquisite cultural relics such as porcelain made in Jingdezhen, a world-famous "porcelain capital" in east China's Jiangxi Province.

Cultural relics discovered on the Yangtze No. 2 ancient shipwreck in east China's Shanghai, 2019, are on display. (Photo provided to China News Service)

Cultural relics discovered on the Yangtze No. 2 ancient shipwreck in east China's Shanghai, 2019, are on display. (Photo provided to China News Service)

Photo shows a sonar scan of Yangtze No. 2 ancient shipwreck in east China's Shanghai. (Photo provided to China News Service)

Photo shows the launch ceremony of Yangtze No. 2 shipwreck salvage at Waigaoqiao port in east China's Shanghai, March 2, 2022. (Photo: China News Service/Zhang Hengwei)

Photo shows the launch ceremony of Yangtze No. 2 shipwreck salvage at Waigaoqiao port in east China's Shanghai, March 2, 2022. (Photo: China News Service/Zhang Hengwei)

File photo shows the testing operation for salvage of Yangtze No. 2 ancient shipwreck in Shanghai, Jan. 26, 2022. (Photo provided to China News Service)

Photo shows the launch ceremony of Yangtze No. 2 shipwreck salvage at Waigaoqiao port in east China's Shanghai, March 2, 2022. (Photo: China News Service/Zhang Hengwei)

Photo shows the launch ceremony of Yangtze No. 2 shipwreck salvage at Waigaoqiao port in east China's Shanghai, March 2, 2022. (Photo: China News Service/Zhang Hengwei)