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Life-Size Replica of the Titanic in China Consumed Millions and More Than 10 Years of Work, but Remains Unfinished, Rusty, and Surrounded by Criticism.
When Chinese tycoon Su Shaojun announced in 2012 that he would build a life-size replica of the Titanic, the promise seemed grand and cinematic. The project would be part of a theme park in the interior of Sichuan province and had all the potential to attract tourists from around the world. The replica would be constructed with the same dimensions as the original ship: 269 meters long, 28 meters wide, and 46 thousand tons. The idea was for visitors to stay aboard, dine in luxurious salons, walk the decks, and relive the experience of 1912, but safely, as the ship would be anchored on solid ground.
But what started as a bold vision is now remembered as one of the most controversial and problematic projects ever initiated in China. Meet the Romandisea Titanic!
Millions Spent and a Decade of Delays
The announced investment was around US$ 155 million. Engineers and construction companies mobilized teams to erect the hull and install equipment that would faithfully recreate the environments of the Titanic.
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However, the construction faced constant delays, schedule changes, and funding issues. The initial deadline, which anticipated inauguration in 2016, kept being pushed back.
By 2023, more than 10 years after the start, the replica was still not completed. Recent photographs show the rusted hull and unfinished structures, resembling more of an abandoned ship than the promised tourist attraction.
The Criticism and Controversy of the Romandisea Titanic
The project has always been surrounded by controversy. Critics argue that turning a historical tragedy into a tourist attraction would be a way to trivialize the memory of the more than 1,500 dead in the 1912 shipwreck.
Others highlight the paradox: the Titanic was a symbol of modernity and luxury in the early 20th century, but the Chinese replica ended up becoming an example of delay, waste, and degradation.
Additionally, tourism experts question whether the attraction would have commercial viability. Located in a remote area, without a coastline and without tourism tradition, the park would struggle to attract enough foreign visitors to justify the investments.
Titanic on Solid Ground: A Curious Concept
Unlike Titanic II — a project for a fully navigable ship announced by Australian billionaire Clive Palmer, but also rife with delays — the Chinese replica would be fixed on land, along the banks of the Qijiang River, in the city of Suining.
The goal was to create a luxury hotel and theme park experience, capable of hosting up to 2,400 visitors at a time, in addition to restaurants, museums, and even simulations of the night of the sinking.
However, the promises remained on paper. What is seen today is an immense rusted metal hull, surrounded by idle cranes and abandoned construction.
International Repercussions
The international press reported the project’s failure as another example of Chinese megainvestments that do not deliver on their promises. British and American newspapers ridiculed the fate of the replica, calling it the “Titanic of Failure”.
For many, the story serves as a metaphor: while the original Titanic sank on its maiden voyage, the Chinese replica never left the construction dock and already seems doomed to rust.
The Uncertain Future of the Replica
Officially, the investors still claim they intend to complete the construction and open the doors to the public at some point. But experts doubt it. The cost of restoration after so many years of neglect may exceed the initial investment.
Additionally, the Covid-19 pandemic affected international tourism and drained resources from various sectors, making the project even more economically unviable.
Today, the Titanic replica in Sichuan is closer to becoming a monument to wasted resources than to becoming the dreamed luxury theme park.
A Titanic That Never Set Sail
The saga of the Chinese Titanic replica boils down to impressive numbers: more than a decade of construction, millions of dollars invested, deadlines exceeded, and no inauguration.
What was meant to be an epic tourist attraction has turned into a symbol of unfulfilled promise. Just like the original Titanic, which sank after being deemed “unsinkable,” the Chinese replica sank even before it set sail.
Sao os amigos do Lula **** , mostrando como destruir o dinheiro preferencialmente do povo em obras imbecis e inuteis. No brasil ,eles roubam o quanto podem do povo e jogam a culpa na SUPOSTA TRAMA **** DE BOLSONARO
Vc é **** ou doente?