Full-Size Titanic Replica In Chinese Theme Park

A theme park in China is planning to build a life-size replica of the Titanic, complete with an 'iceberg hit' experience for people while they are 'on board'.

It's more than a hundred years since the famous disaster happened, but the Titanic shows no sign of loosening its grip on the world's collective interest, as the planned development in the central province of Sichuan shows. The model will cost 1bn yan (£100m) and is expected to open in 2016.

The project is being funded by the Seven Star Energy Investment Group, and Bernard Hill, who played Captain Edward Smith in the 1997 movie, was flown out to Hong Kong to publicly back it, stating, "It's been approached in a very delicate and a very sensitive way and they are very aware of the extent of the disaster in 1912. I don't think it will belittle that disaster."

At the media conference, Seven Star chief executive Su Shaojun added, "We think it's worth spreading the spirit of the Titanic. The universal love and sense of responsibility shown during the Titanic shipwreck represent the spiritual richness of human civilisation."

Describing the exhibit itself, he said "When the ship hits the iceberg, it will shake, it will tumble," Su said. "We will let people experience water coming in by using sound and light effects … They will think: 'The water will drown me. I must escape with my life.'"

The resort will also house a man-made beach, a "6D" movie theatre and, for some reason, replicas of a Venetian church and European castles.

[via Guardian]

(Images: Rex)