Is this for real?

[Tulio]

Could be an amusement park, but somehow I doubt it:

31º 06'12.71" N
121º00'37.87" E


Saludos,

Tulio

[Mark_Pilkington]

Tulio,

Here is a Defence "Analysis" of the PRC plans for Aircraft Carrier Development and China's acquisition of Western and Russian Aircraft Carrier Technology.

I had been interested in the is article due to the fact that Australia's last carrier, HMAS Melbourne had been diverted ffrom scrapping and used ongoing for flight deck training, although I dont think it still survives.

Obviously your google earth co-ords show one of the former Russian Carriers in its "retirement" most likely the Minsk - at Minsk World!

regards

Mark Pilkington

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0JIW/is_1_57/ai_113755343/pg_1

As mentioned earlier, during the early 1990s China repeatedly sought to buy aircraft carriers from the former Soviet Union. By 2000 it had managed to acquire three: Minsk, Kiev, and Varyag. How these vessels were acquired and the purposes to which they have been put make interesting reading.

In 1995 the Minsk and Novorossiysk were sold to South Korea for scrapping. However, in June 1998 the Minsk was purchased for five million dollars by a Chinese firm, the Minsk Aircraft Carrier Industry Company. (15) Before the sale went through, however, the South Korean firm stripped the warship of its armaments, engines, and communication systems and exacted a guarantee that the new vessel would not be used for military purposes. (16) The Minsk was towed to Guangdong Province, where a four-million-dollar conversion transformed the carrier into a floating museum. The vessel was moved to Shenzhen in September 2000 to form the centerpiece of the "Minsk World" theme park. For an entrance fee of eight dollars, visitors can now board the former flagship of the Soviet Pacific Fleet and see MiG fighters on the flight deck, models of antiship missiles and other weapons systems, and exhibitions on the history of the Russian navy and the Soviet space program. Visitors can also watch displays of Russian dancing in the hangar, eat at a Russian-themed restaurant, and ride on a tank on parkland in front of the vessel. According to the pro-Beijing Hong Kong newspaper Wen Wei Po, Minsk World is aimed at "popularising science as well as national defense education." (17) Minsk World has proved a hit with both locals and tourists alike.
In May 2000 the Kiev was purchased by the Tianma Shipbreaking Company in Tianjin for $8.4 million. (18) The contract with the Russian Defense Ministry stipulated that the vessel had to be scrapped. However, local authorities in Tianjin had other ideas for the Kiev. In July 2000 the Tianjin Municipal Standing Committee established a project investment corporation with the aim of turning the aircraft carrier into a tourist attraction. In November 2000 the original contract with Moscow was renegotiated to allow the Kiev to be used for tourism purposes. According to the developer, the Kiev will form part of the Beiyang Recreation Harbor project, which will include "military recreation activities, museums, exhibitions, fun parks, recreational grounds, [and] education sites." (19) Planned amenities on the Kiev include a conference center, TV studio, nightclubs, restaurants, and swimming pool.

The most intriguing purchase to date has been that of the Varyag. The second of the 67,500-ton Kuznetsov class, the Varyag was laid down in 1985 at the Nikolayev shipyards in the Ukraine, then part of the USSR. Kuznetsov-class carriers are conventionally powered but unlike the Kiev class are capable of accommodating fixed-wing aircraft, such as Su-27Ks and MiG29Ks. This class of carrier does not utilize a steam catapult for launching fighters but is equipped instead with a ski jump at the bow to allow short takeoffs. Work on the Varyag was abandoned at the beginning of 1992 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. The USSR's successor state, Russia, could not afford to pay Ukraine to complete construction. The vessel was 70 percent complete but was without engines, rudders, or armament. As mentioned earlier, the Chinese government expressed an interest in buying the Varyag in 1992, but the sale did not go through at that time.

In March 1998 the Varyag was bought by the Chong Lot Tourist and Amusement Agency for twenty million dollars. (20) Chong Lot was based in the then Portuguese colony of Macau, although the company had no offices there; (21) Chong Lot was in fact a subsidiary of a Hong Kong company, Chin Luck Holdings. In November 1998 Chong Lot unveiled plans to turn the Varyag into a floating casino and entertainment complex anchored in Macau harbor. (22) Two aspects of this plan were unusual. First, the Macanese authorities did not (and have yet to) receive an application to operate a casino on an aircraft carrier in the enclave. Second, the waters around Macau are too shallow to accommodate such a large vessel. (23)

When news of the sale was announced, the Russian media claimed that Chong Lot and Chin Luck were acting on behalf of the Chinese government. The Chinese embassy in Moscow was quick to dismiss these reports. (24) However, investigations by the Hong Kong media revealed that the two companies involved in the purchase of the Varyag had close connections with the PRC. Two of Chong Lot's directors were former PLAN officers. (25) In August 1999, Hong Kong-based Goldspot Investments became a majority shareholder in Chong Lot. One of the directors of Goldspot has an address inside a military compound in Beijing. The majority shareholder of Goldspot is China Securities International Ltd., which in turn is a subsidiary of China Securities, a large, state-owned brokerage house. (26) The plan to tow the Varyag to Macau was held up for fifteen months because the Turkish authorities refused to allow the vessel to pass through the Bosporus Strait, alleging a danger to shipping. (27) In September 2001 Turkey finally gave permission for the passage. After an eventful journey through the Mediterranean and around the Cape of Good Hope, the Varyag arrived in March 2002 at the northeastern Chinese port of Dalian. (28) The owners continue to assert that the vessel will be turned into a casino

The purchase of these carriers raises two important questions. First, is it mere coincidence that three of the former Soviet navy's aircraft carriers have ended up in the PRC? Second, if it is not coincidence, how valuable are these vessels to China's research and development program?

It stretches belief that the acquisition of three ex-Soviet carriers by Chinese companies is mere happenstance. Chinese authorities actively tried to purchase directly one or more Kiev-class carriers and the Varyag in 1992-93 but failed. Beijing has now been able to accomplish this goal through China-based companies. In the case of the Varyag, as noted, the companies involved had links to the central authorities and the Chinese military. For some reason Beijing was particularly keen to acquire the Varyag. Its price, twenty million dollars, was about three times its scrap value. Moreover, it was the direct intervention of Chinese deputy foreign minister, Yang Wenchang, who visited Ankara in September 2001, that finally won clearance to tow the ship through the Bosporus. Yang reportedly offered a $360 million economic aid and tourism package to induce the Turkish government to let the Varyag go. (29)

If the Chinese government was behind the purchases, to what purpose could it put these vessels? Many analysts have contended that Chinese naval architects and engineers could learn a great deal about the design and construction of aircraft carriers by inspecting the vessels. Presumably PLAN experts have already inspected the three carriers. In May 2002 the Hong Kong media reported that security around the Kiev in Tianjin was very tight, leading to speculation that naval architects and engineers were examining the vessel. (30) However, the value of these inspections has probably been overstated. The technology employed was a generation behind that of Western navies; China would simply be learning obsolete technology. Should the Chinese employ this technology in an indigenous carrier, it would be obsolete when begun, let alone after the time it would take to construct and commission it.

[Tulio]

Mark,

The carrier is mis-identified as a "Nimitz-class" carrier, in the place holder on google earth. Changing the angle of the view, you can discern the "ski-jump" that the Minsk had.

What baffled me was, if this is a real aircraft carrier, how did they move it so far inland? I don't see any canal wide enough to support a vessel of this size, nor a river for the same purpose.

Interesting image nonetheless.

Saludos,

Tulio

[Steve Nelson]

I can't figure out how to get the coordinates to work in Google, but there was a discussion about a land-locked carrier in China on one of the modeling forums awhile back. Apparently, it's a full-scale mockup built as some sort of "summer camp" for kids.

SN


From globalsecurity.org:




Nimitz Replica - Orient Green Boat Theme Park

Qingpu District, halfway between Hongqiao in Shanghai and Suzhou, is located west of metropolitan Shanghai and close to Zhejiang and Jiangsu, Qingpu. With its prime location and the highway to Suzhou and Hangzhou passing through, Qingpu is once again staking its claim to fame. The original port of Shanghai -- Qinglong Harbor -- started in Qingpu some 1,000 years ago during the Song Dynasty.

A quarter of the district is a body of water and in comparison, Qingpu’s Dianshan Lake is 10 times the size of Westlake in Hanzhou. Dianshan Lake, the source of Shanghai's mother river - the Huangpu River. Around the lake are a number of tourist scenic areas, all complete in tourist facilities. Among the tourist areas is the famous waterside town Zhujiajiao.

The Orient Green Boat after-school camp for youngsters, by Dianshan Lake, occupies an area of 380 hectares (including water surface). The camp consists of 8 major areas, namely, the areas of Knowledge Boulevard, Bravery and Wisdom, Education on National Defense, Challenge to Survival, Scientific Exploration, Water Sports, Sports Training and Practice in Living. The "military education center" within the park features a large live-size model of an aircraft carrier. [Source] The 5,000-hectare campsite offers the Global Village, accommodation for up to 4,000 students, where the hostels built reflect the architecture and culture of 36 countries. Sports facilities, a boulevard of 160 statues of world-famous personalities can also be found there. It is, at present, the largest sculpture park in the world.

About one hour west of Shanghai, the "Paris of the Orient," lies Zhouzhuang, the "Venice of the Orient." Zhouzhuang is one of the most famous water townships in China. Zhouzhuang is surrounded by rivers as Nanbeichi, Houxiang, Youcheyang and Zhongshi. It is situated in Kunshan City, about 30 kilometers (18 miles) southeast of Suzhou in the south of Jiangsu Province, in the middle of the Yangtze Delta bordering on Shanghai in the east. Zhouzhuang is noted for profound cultural background, well preserved ancient residential houses, the elegant watery views and the strong local colored traditions and customs, Zhouzhuang is severely touristy. It is one of the country's best-preserved ancient waterway towns, now a sort of Disneyland for Chinese tourists. In the Spring and Autumn Period (770 - 476 BC), Zhouzhuang was a part of the fief Yaocheng and called Zhenfengli. The majority of structures hail from the Yuan, Qing and Ming dynasties. Zhouzhuang / Tong Li is a day trip from Shanghai out to a traditional Chinese style small canal town. Tong Li is 20 minutes away. Zhouzhuang a little more touristy than Tong Li.

[Tulio]

Thank you for the photo!

It is evident from the angle, that there is no ski-jump, contrary to what I had previously mentioned.

Interesting nonetheless.

Saludos,


Tulio

[sabredriver]

i understand its just a big toy aka mockup made for tourists

it looks more like the ex aussie carrier hams melbourne that was sent to china as scrap metal in design style eg majestic class carrier from ww2.

neverless good idea for a tourism idea

[sabredriver]

i understand its just a big toy aka mockup made for tourists

it looks more like the ex aussie carrier hams melbourne that was sent to china as scrap metal in design style eg majestic class carrier from ww2.

neverless good idea for a tourism idea

[sabredriver]

http://www.warbirdz.net/phpBB2/viewtopi ... 2&start=15

was a small open day for HARS.com.au

I didnt take many good digital photos but seems some other people did..and have posted them. I could post mine if i can try to on here.

[Mark_Pilkington]

Steve,

thanks for the headsup on the replica Nimitz? still an impressive "structure" to walk up and find in the middle of a duck pond!!



so that still leaves Tulio and the rest of us with a Google Earth challenge to find Minsk World and the other two former Russian Carriers, or perhaps even HMAS Melbourne still afloat somewhere?

regards

Mark Pilkington.

[BLR]

Is this the Minsk?

Brian...