The origin of the creation of the modern Chinese navy was the Westernization Movement.

Zuo Zongtang founded China's earliest modern shipyard and shipbuilding school (Fuzhou Shipping Bureau) in Mawei, Fuzhou, Fujian. Mawei became the birthplace of modern Chinese ships and the birthplace of the modern navy.

On May 30, 1875, the Imperial Central Committee issued a historic red-headed document: Shen Baozhen and Li Hongzhang were appointed as ministers of the Northern and Southern Oceans, respectively, to build the Northern and Southern Navy as soon as possible, and decided to collect military personnel from the Customs and Lijin (I) every year. 4 million taels of silver were withdrawn from the revenue from taxation on goods as naval military expenditures, which were divided and used by the Southern and Southern Oceans. From the perspective of the overall situation, Nanyang Minister Shen Baozhen believed that "it is better for the navy in the outer seas to first conquer the Northern Oceans. If the division is divided, the strength will inevitably be weak." Success slows down." This Lin Zexu's son-in-law still knew the financial situation of the Qing Dynasty. It was originally a method of sprinkling pepper noodles, but if it is used separately, it will eventually fall short. Shen Baozhen still has the overall concept of a chess game. However, this concession has been widely criticized by later generations. I really don’t know how to write modern history without two words. This is "Beiyang". Shen Baozhen cannot escape the blame for the disaster caused by "Beiyang" to China (a few words of ridicule). Considering that China's main imaginary enemy at that time was Japan, the nominal mother and son in the temple were still sober, so they adopted Shen Baozhen's suggestion and prioritized the creation of the Beiyang First Army. After the Beiyang Navy became stronger, "with a unified Third, become the Sanyo Navy." This was the beginning of the Beiyang Navy's journey to becoming an army.