Officials lay a foundation for the Three Gorges Emigrants Museum in Chongqing on Thursday, October 23, 2008. [Photo: cnsphoto]?

The construction of a commemorative museum that honors the emigrants from the Three Gorges reservoir area formally started Thursday in Wanzhou District of city Chongqing in southwest China, China News Service reported.

The 13,000 square meter museum will cost 150 million yuan, or about 22 million US dollars. It is expected to be finished by the end of 2010.

The museum, upon completion, will be used to display both tangible and intangible records that relate to the construction of the Three Gorges Project and its relevant resettlement programme, which involved an emigration of over 1.2 million people out from some 12 surrounding cities and 114 towns in more than ten years.

The history and culture of the Three Gorges area will also be featured in the museum.

(CRI October 24, 2008)