Construction of Qinglei Academy, a research institute for traditional culture, was started in Leizhou, a county-level city in Zhanjiang, on Aug 23.

Set to be situated besides Leiyang Lake, the academy will have a planned area of about 60 mu (4 hectares) and a total investment of nearly 49 million yuan ($7.08 million). It will mainly carry out collection of documents, analysis of historical materials, investigations of folk customs, as well as studies on dialects.

It will be the largest, as well as the most complete academic research and cultural exchange base in west Guangdong, and is expected to promote the development of cultural tourism in Leizhou and Zhanjiang.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of Qinglei Academy is held in Leizhou, a county-level city in Zhanjiang, on Aug 23. [Photo by Nie An/gdzjdaily.com.cn]