Russian aircraft carrier opens as a theme park in China (21 images)

Chinese tourists visit the Binhai Aircraft Carrier Theme Park, featuring the ex-Russian heavy aircraft cruiser the Kiev, in Tianjin on July 29, 2014. The Kiev was a heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser that served the Soviet and Russian navies from 1975 to 1993 before being sold to a Chinese company in 1996 for use in a military theme park. Over $15.5 million was spent restoring and outfitting the ex-warship into a luxury hotel developed by tourism and attraction consultant Leisure Quest International (USA). UPI/Stephen Shaver

Chinese tourists visit the Binhai Aircraft Carrier Theme Park, featuring the ex-Russian heavy aircraft cruiser the Kiev, in Tianjin on July 29, 2014. The Kiev was a heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser that served the Soviet and Russian navies from 1975 to 1993 before being sold to a Chinese company in 1996 for use in a military theme park. Over $15.5 million was spent restoring and outfitting the ex-warship into a luxury hotel developed by tourism and attraction consultant Leisure Quest International (USA). UPI/Stephen Shaver

Chinese tourists visit the Binhai Aircraft Carrier Theme Park, featuring the ex-Russian heavy aircraft cruiser the Kiev, in Tianjin on July 29, 2014. The Kiev was a heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser that served the Soviet and Russian navies from 1975 to 1993 before being sold to a Chinese company in 1996 for use in a military theme park. Over $15.5 million was spent restoring and outfitting the ex-warship into a luxury hotel developed by tourism and attraction consultant Leisure Quest International (USA). UPI/Stephen Shaver

Chinese tourists visit the Binhai Aircraft Carrier Theme Park, featuring the ex-Russian heavy aircraft cruiser the Kiev, in Tianjin on July 29, 2014. The Kiev was a heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser that served the Soviet and Russian navies from 1975 to 1993 before being sold to a Chinese company in 1996 for use in a military theme park. Over $15.5 million was spent restoring and outfitting the ex-warship into a luxury hotel developed by tourism and attraction consultant Leisure Quest International (USA). UPI/Stephen Shaver