After more than 10 years of research, the underwater museum idea was agreed on. Built 40 meters below the water surface and costing 189 million yuan ($25 million), the project consisted of the museum, a connecting passageway, an underwater anti-collision pier and an exhibition venue on land.

The project started in 2003 and the main part of the complex was completed in 2006, before the Three Gorges Dam raised water levels in 2008. On May 18 this year, the public was able to view the relic again underwater.

To enter the underwater museum, visitors have to take a 95-meter-long escalator ride down 40 meters below the surface, and then pass through a 150-meter-long corridor. After going through a specially made door, visitors enter a 60-meter-long annular viewing cabin. There are 23 round viewing windows on one side of the cabin, through which the stone fishes, inscriptions and other designs and marks on the ridge can be seen.