Sunken Heroes

Archaeologists unveil the tragic story of a historic sea battle more than a century ago as they excavate an ironclad warship, Wang Kaihao reports.

An iconic Chinese warship and the 245 officers - soldiers and crewmen who have been keeping a silent underwater vigil for more than 120 years - have won their rightful place in history, thanks to three years of archaeological work.

The ironclad cruiser Zhiyuan (originally spelled "Chih Yuan") is a household name for Chinese people, a witness to a nation's courage, pain and past glory.