 The main entrance to Minsk World | |
| Location | Shenzhen, Guangdong, China |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 22°33′14″N114°14′13″E / 22.553772°N 114.237009°E /22.553772; 114.237009 |
| Status | Defunct |
| Opened | 10 May 2000; 24 years ago (2000-05-10) |
| Closed | 14 February 2016; 9 years ago (2016-02-14) |
| Theme | Military theme naval theme |
| Attendance | 5 million |
Minsk World (Chinese:明思克航母世界;pinyin:Míngsīkè Hángmǔ Shìjiè) was a militarytheme park located inDapeng Bay,Shatoujiao,Shenzhen,Guangdong,China. It included the formerSoviet (laterRussian)aircraft carrierMinsk, redesigned as a tourist attraction. The theme park opened on 10 May 2000. As of 2005, it had attracted more than five million visitors and generated 450 million yuan in revenue.[1] The park closed in February 2016 and the aircraft carrier was moved toZhoushan for repairs, after which it would be moved to another theme park inNantong,Jiangsu.[2]
The aircraft carrierMinsk was part of the SovietPacific Fleet. It had to be retired as a result of a major accident which could only be repaired atChernomorski's facility, located in the newly independentUkraine. In 1995, it was sold to aSouth Korean businessman, and later resold to Shenzhen Minsk Aircraft Carrier Industry Co. Ltd., aChinese company. Until 2006, when the company went bankrupt,Minsk was the centrepiece of a militarytheme park inShatoujiao (沙头角) district,Shenzhen, called Minsk World. The aircraft carrier was put up for auction on 22 March 2006. No bids at the starting price of 128 millionRMB were received, so the carrier was withdrawn from sale.
On 31 May 2006, the ship was auctioned off in Shenzhen for 128 million RMB toCITIC Shenzhen,[citation needed] which operated the carrier as the CITIC Minsk World military theme park. The ship was painted with the hull number 015, matching the Chinese Navy's first aircraft carrierLiaoning (16).[3]
After a decline in visitor numbers, the park closed in 2016 when the local government decided toreclaim land in the area. The aircraft carrier was moved toZhoushan for repairs, after which it will be moved to another theme park inNantong,Jiangsu.[2]
On 16 August 2024, the ship caught fire during further refit work in Nantong. Although the fire could be extinguished, the future of the ship as a centerpiece of another theme park became uncertain.[4][5][6]
In addition to the island, four of the carrier's decks, including theflight deck andhangar deck, were open to visitors. Various aspects of theMinsk, such as its living quarters and armament, were set up as exhibits. The staff were dressed in mock military uniforms, while regular choreographed musical performances were held on the flight and hangar decks.[7] It was also possible to take a quick ride around the starboard side of theMinsk viamotorboat.
In 2006, Chinese filmmakerCheng Xiaoxing made a documentary about "Minsk World", broadcast onArte TV.
There were a number of military aircraft and armaments on display on the deck and on the mainland area:
