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Titanic replica to be built in Chinese theme park | Titanic replica to be built in Chinese theme park |
(35 minutes later) | |
A life-sized replica of the Titanic will become the centrepiece of a landlocked theme park in China, featuring a museum and a shipwreck simulation to give visitors a harrowing sense of the 1912 disaster. | A life-sized replica of the Titanic will become the centrepiece of a landlocked theme park in China, featuring a museum and a shipwreck simulation to give visitors a harrowing sense of the 1912 disaster. |
The Chinese version of "the unsinkable ship", with a price tag of 1bn yuan (£100m) and an expected opening date in 2016, will be built at least 930 miles (1,500km) from the nearest ocean in the central province of Sichuan. | The Chinese version of "the unsinkable ship", with a price tag of 1bn yuan (£100m) and an expected opening date in 2016, will be built at least 930 miles (1,500km) from the nearest ocean in the central province of Sichuan. |
Su Shaojun, the chief executive of the Seven Star Energy Investment Group, which funded the project, said Asia needed its own Titanic museum. | |
"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," he told a media conference on Sunday. | "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," he told a media conference on Sunday. |
The project aims to be more than a museum that replicates the original ship and the 1997 movie that became a global hit. The simulation will allow several hundred people at a time to feel what the shipwreck was like. | The project aims to be more than a museum that replicates the original ship and the 1997 movie that became a global hit. The simulation will allow several hundred people at a time to feel what the shipwreck was like. |
"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.'" | "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 Titanic sank on 15 April 1912 during its maiden voyage from the English port of Southampton to New York, taking more than 1,500 lives with it. | The Titanic sank on 15 April 1912 during its maiden voyage from the English port of Southampton to New York, taking more than 1,500 lives with it. |
The 1997 movie, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, is the second highest grossing film on record after Avatar, bringing in nearly $2.2bn worldwide. | The 1997 movie, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, is the second highest grossing film on record after Avatar, bringing in nearly $2.2bn worldwide. |
Bernard Hill, who played Captain Edward Smith in the movie and flew to Hong Kong to show his support for the Chinese replica, dismissed suggestions that building a theme park based on a tragedy was inappropriate. | Bernard Hill, who played Captain Edward Smith in the movie and flew to Hong Kong to show his support for the Chinese replica, dismissed suggestions that building a theme park based on a tragedy was inappropriate. |
"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," he said. | "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," he said. |
"I don't think it will belittle that disaster." | "I don't think it will belittle that disaster." |
Hill said his flight and hotel had been paid for but he did not get any extra money for taking part in the media conference. | Hill said his flight and hotel had been paid for but he did not get any extra money for taking part in the media conference. |
Construction of the Titanic copy is due to begin early this year. The Romandisea Seven Star International Cultural Tourism Resort will also feature a man-made beach, a "6D" movie theatre and replicas of a Venetian church and European castles. | Construction of the Titanic copy is due to begin early this year. The Romandisea Seven Star International Cultural Tourism Resort will also feature a man-made beach, a "6D" movie theatre and replicas of a Venetian church and European castles. |
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