Nestled in the heart of Pingtan Island — the "county of islands" off the coast of Fujian province, where the land meets the sea — fishing boats lie at anchor.

Just a stone's throw from the waterfront stands a striking four-story red house, which serves as China's Underwater Archeology Training Base.

For retiree Cui Yong, one of the country's earliest underwater archaeologists and former deputy director of the Guangdong Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, the training center is deeply rooted in maritime history.