Using its well-established industries and rich resources, the city aims to play a key role in marine economic development.

Qingdao in Shandong province has a thriving high-tech sector much like that of California's Silicon Valley or Bangalore, India, but local officials say the city has one advantage those regions lack: a wealth of marine resources.

When the Shandong peninsula's "blue economic zone" was integrated into the national development strategy in January 2011, Qingdao set out to become the center of international marine science and technological development, a national demonstration site, and a force to drive the peninsula's blue economic zone.

"Marine industries will play a leading role in the city's economic growth, and a stronger blue economic sector will enhance Qingdao's position as one of the nation's first-tier cities," said Li Qun, Qingdao Party chief and member of the standing committee of the Shandong Party committee.

"Qingdao will concentrate on marine industries to achieve a leap forward," Li added.

Qingdao boasts rich marine resources. It has 711 kilometers of coastline, some 50 bays and nearly 70 islands, as well as a total ocean area of 122,000 square kilometers.

Qingdao has nearly 30 marine research institutes and schools, accounting for one-third of the nation's total. These facilities are home to 19 academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering who are top experts in the field of ocean studies.

There are also 20 key oceanography labs and seven large oceanographic research ships, each of which weighs more than 1,000 tons.

Using the city's rich resources, local authorities plan to turn the city into a "blue Silicon Valley" in the east, with a focus on research in high-tech sectors in ocean-related industries.

The core areas of the valley are located in the Laoshan district and Jimo county, including a 5-square-kilometer area for a cluster of marine science and technology research bases.