A Chinese shipbuilder started the construction of the world's first full-size replica of the doomed luxury Titanic ocean liner Wednesday in southwest China's Sichuan Province.
The new Titanic, which will be permanently docked at a reservoir in Daying County of Sichuan, is a fixed tourist attraction as opposed to a moveable ship, according to Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group, based in central China's Hubei Province.
The replica is 269 meters long and 28 meters wide and expected to reproduce facilities of the original Titanic, including a ballroom, theater, swimming pool and premium first class rooms, according to Wang Weiling, deputy general manager of the contractor.
In addition, modifications will be made to improve the tourist experience, such as a WiFi service, Wang said.
The construction is based on the original design of the Titanic and will be assisted by designers and technicians from the United States and Britain.
Parts of the ship body will be manufactured in Hubei and transported to Sichuan for assembly, Wang said.
The project is funded by Sichuan Seven Star Energy Investment Group, with announced investment of 1 billion yuan (145 million U.S. dollars) in the project in 2014
The Titanic sank in 1912 after hitting an iceberg in the Atlantic, causing the loss of more than 1,500 lives.
