Chinese theme park will build life-size replica of the Titanic

In order to give visitors an opportunity to experience what it would be like to have been on the Titanic in 1912, a Chinese theme park will build a life-sized replica of the iconic boat.

The ship comes complete with a $16.3 million price tag and is expected to open in 2016. In addition to the Titanic replica, the experience will also feature a museum and a shipwreck simulator.

Seven Star Energy Investment Group is funding the land-locked project.

"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 civilization," said Seven Star’s chief executive, Su Shaojun.

The shipwreck simulator will let several hundred people feel what being aboard the disaster that befell the “unsinkable” ship was really 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.'"

More than 1,500 people drowned when the Titanic sank on April 15, 1912 during its maiden voyage from England to New York.

It appears that people can’t get enough of the historic shipwreck as Australian businessman Clive Palmer has announced plans to sail an exact replica of the Titanic in 2016.

The 1997 film Titanic is the second highest grossing movie of all time after making almost $2.2 billion worldwide.

[The Telegraph] [The Guardian]