CHINA / SOCIETY
Doubts prevail over debut of ‘unsinkable’ Titanic replica
Published: Feb 19, 2019 09:58 PM


Main body of a full-sized knock-off of the Titanic is almost finished. The project, which is located in Daying county, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, has over cost 1 billion yuan ($148 million). Photo: IC 



A full-sized replica of the Titanic would hopefully be open to the public in 2020 despite widespread doubts since the project was launched in 2014.

The knock-off, called "the Titanic that will never sink" as it will never really set sail, is going to be part of a theme park in Daying county, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, according to the project's official website.

It is located along the Qijiang River in Suining city, Sichuan. Its main body will be completed in four to five months, followed by interior designing, which is likely to be completed in 2020, the Beijing Youth Daily reported Saturday, citing Su Shaojun, chairman of the Seven Star Energy Investment Group, investor of the project. 

The imitation giant ship will contain features the original one had, including a banquet hall, theater, viewing deck and swimming pool. 

"We want to attract overseas tourists by combining global culture with domestic projects," Su said. 

It already cost more than 1 billion yuan ($148 million), which many net users consider a waste of money. Others said the project is unlucky, given the fact that the real ship had sunk. 

Media reported that tickets for the ship would be about 200 yuan and accommodations would cost as much as 3,000 yuan a night. But Su said the price has not been fixed. 

Bernard Hill, who played Captain Edward Smith in the film "Titanic," attended a press conference for the "unsinkable" Titanic in January 2014 in Hong Kong.