Rebuilding a sunken ship: good for the local community, or a Titanic fail?

 

 

Residents of Daying County in China’s Sichuan Province have expressed concerns about the construction of a life-size Titanic replica in their neighbourhood.

 

Many said they’d never heard of the doomed ocean liner before developers chose the site. Their worries centre around fears they will be forced out of their homes.

 

However, Seven Star Energy Investment Group, the company behind the project, insists it is something China “needs”.

 

CEO Su Shaojun said:

“So why China? Because actually, with the Titanic, we’re presenting something for the whole of humanity. It’s not like a certain country owns this thing. Just like the U.S. can make ‘Kung Fu Panda’ and that’s very common. The same goes for ‘Mulan’. For China, the Titanic represents something of universal value.”

 

Seven Star Energy says it aims to create a virtual reality experience of how it felt to be aboard the Titanic, while remaining respectful of the fact that some 1,500 people died when the ship struck an iceberg and sank in 1912.

 

Local resident Li Jieyong said she hoped the project would bring prosperity to the area:

“If we’re not going to have to move out of here then that will be really good for us. Us old folks might do a little business in that case. But then if we have to move then that won’t be any good. They wouldn’t provide enough compensation for us to get by.”

 

 

-- © Copyright Euronews 2016-12-01

Having visited and driven by dozens of ill-conceived and empty Chinese theme parks, I'm not forecasting good things.

 

My personal favorite was a replica of the Forbidden City located about a 30 minute drive from the real Forbidden City.  Strangely, it was always shuttered whenever we drove by.

 

Maybe they can give the residents period costumes, a little stipend and a 2nd class cabin to live in and they can do the same living replica thing they do at Colonial Williamsburg.  At least they'd have a place to sleep.

Millions of Chinese will pay 100 RMB to have a picture taken of them standing at the bow with their arms out.

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Many said they’d never heard of the doomed ocean liner before developers chose the site. Their worries centre around fears they will be forced out of their homes.

 

However, Seven Star Energy Investment Group, the company behind the project, insists it is something China “needs”.

Rationalization ceases and stupidity sets in towards the end of a financial cycle. Tall buildings reach to the sky and then rationalization returns with a thud.

" while remaining respectful of the fact that some 1,500 people died when the ship struck an iceberg and sank in 1912. "

 

Maybe they should practise first with several Philippines passenger ferries in the "South China" Sea. MV Dona Paz comes to mind....

Edited December 1, 20169 yr by bangon04