Titanic Theme Park

Chinese firm all set to build replica of Titanic for a theme park in China.

A CHINESE firm plans to spend US$165mil (RM551.26mil) building a full-scale replica of the Titanic as the main attraction for a theme park.

The original and supposedly unsinkable luxury passenger liner struck an iceberg and went down in the North Atlantic in 1912, killing more than 1,500 people.

The famous ship is a subject of immense fascination for many in China, particularly after the 1997 release of James Cameron’s film on the liner’s doomed voyage.

Little known Chinese energy company Seven Star Energy Investment said the replica, which is expected to cost 1 billion yuan (US$165mil), will be the main attraction for a planned theme park located at Sichuan, a landlocked province famous for its spicy food.

The replica will be docked permanently on a river, the South China Morning Post reported.

“When the Titanic was about to sink, the greatest extent of human spirit and responsibility was shown and that spirit goes beyond borders and it is eternal,” Seven Star chief executive Su Shaojun said in an interview with the state-run Xinhua news agency.

“We chose to rebuild the Titanic in China so that such spirit can be promoted or inherited in the east,” he said.

The replica will also recreate the experience of what it felt like when the luxury liner collided with the iceberg, Xinhua reported, though it gave no details of how the deadly collision would be replicated.

Construction of the ship, which is 270m long, is expected to be completed in two years and will be based on designs of the Titanic’s sister ship, RMS Olympic, which was in service from 1911 to 1935, the SCMP reported.

Seven Star is not the only group with dreams of recreating the Titanic.

Flamboyant Australian tycoon Clive Palmer previously unveiled a plan last year to build a seaworthy replica of the Titanic which is scheduled to make its first Atlantic crossing in 2016.

Palmer’s Titanic II will feature modern modifications – including many more lifeboats than the original – but will try to remain as true as possible to the famous liner.

The violin played by the Titanic’s bandmaster as the ship sank beneath the waves sold at auction for £900,000 (RM4.9mil) last October, smashing the previous £220,000 (RM1.2mil) record for memorabilia from the doomed liner. – AFP Relaxnews

Noah's Ark In Hong Kong

At least they'll never be flooded! Billionaire brothers build 450ft long life-size replica of Noah's Ark 

 

Having been built, according to the Bible, thousands of years ago, Noah's Ark has only ever existed in peoples' imaginations.
But now a group of architects who pondered what the Biblical vessel looked like have turned their dreams into reality by constructing a Noah's Ark replica, complete with animals. 

Thomas, Walter and Raymond's land-bound Ark certainly has dimensions on a Biblical scale, measuring a massive 450ft long and 75ft wide. 

The tourists go in two-by-two: The Noah's Ark Theme Park, complete with fibreglass animals, sits in front of the Tsing Ma Bridge in Hong Kong

 

Biblical scale: The Ark in Hong Kong measures 450ft long and 75ft wide

 

Water sight: The Ark also boasts less authentic Biblical touches such as double-glazed windows and a fine dining restaurant

 

The billionaire brothers who built the Ark in Hong Kong claim it is the only full-scale version in the world

 

And the imaginative trio even attempted to give the giant boat an air of authenticity by placing 67 pairs of animals at the entrance, just like the pairs of creatures saved from the Great Flood by Noah in the Bible tale.
The creationist-inspired vessel forms part of a theme park near Hong Kong which was inspired by a young girl's scrawled drawing of the mammoth boat. 

Architects appear to have used some artistic licence in parts of the Ark - for instance including double-glazed windows, a fine dining restaurant and luxurious bedrooms. 

Inside, real-life exotic animals can be found - including a nautilus, a toucan and reams of fish. 

 

All lit up: The Ark shines under Hong Kong's lights as a fibreglass giraffe stands guard near the entrance

 

Authentic: Various fibreglass animals stand outside the Ark to mimmick the Bible tale where Noah took creatures on board the vessel

 

The Noah's Ark Theme Park is now run by Christian organisations, who use it to promote peace and unity.
Matthew Pine, manager of Noah's Ark Theme Park, said: 'They had a vision to do something remarkable, something outstanding.
'They came up with many ideas. Some of them were really outrageous. 

'But then they came across this girl's drawing, and knew it would be something do-able that captured imaginations.
'So they hired architects and engineers to create the replica Noah's Ark.' 

 

Food for thought: The Ark also includes a sophisticated-looking restaurant as one of its on-board attractions

 

Food for thought: The Ark also includes a sophisticated-looking restaurant as one of its on-board attractions

 

Bed for the night: Guests on board Noah's Ark can also stay on the Biblical vessel in one of its luxurious hotel-style rooms

 

Land-bound: The Hong Kong-based Noah's Ark theme park was built in 2009 and is popular among tourists

 

Matthew added: 'The reason we chose that moment in the Bible's story is because this is the message we want to bring to Hong Kong, to China, to the world. 

'In our lives we always face floods, we will face trials, we will face difficulties. 

'Hopefully Noah's Ark will inspire people to pass through those troubles as Noah did in his day.'
The Ark opened in May 2009, 17 years after plans were first mooted for the enormous structure. 

It is just one of a number of real-life Noah's Arks - including one built by a Dutchman that contains pairs of living animals.