China's first nuclear submarine has been decommissioned and will be placed in a museum as an exhibit, People's Liberation Army Daily reported on Monday.

Workers from an unidentified museum have begun to check the submarine, which was in active service for more than 40 years.

The decommissioning indicates the Chinese military has gained full capability of managing and disposing of nuclear materials used on nuclear submarines, the report said, adding PLA engineers and technicians have developed a safe and environmentally friendly way to handle the nuclear reactors.