It was established in 1984, then moved to its permanent location in the Hainan Cultural Park at 68 Guoxing Avenue.

[1][2] The facility is one of three large public works projects constructed around the same time on Guoxing Avenue alongside one another.

Since opening, it has received more than 800,000 visitors, including former leader Hu Jintao and Premier Li Keqiang.

It will house approximately 10,000 pieces of porcelain and other cultural relics and specimens pertaining to the history of the South China Sea, the maritime Silk Road, and items relating to geopolitics.

Professional narrators and self-service audio guides are available in Chinese, English, Japanese, Russian and other languages.