A company in north China's port city of Tianjin plans to build a military theme park with a retired Kiev aircraft carrier as its big draw card.

A spokesman for the Tianjin Beiyang Maritime Pleasure Ground Co. said the park, which is believed to be the world's biggest of its kind, will cost 5 billion yuan.

With an area of 7 square km, including 3.3 square km of waters, the park will have a range of weapons on display, said the spokesman.

The company is in the process of applying for the land-use right for the planned park.

The retired aircraft carrier, which is 274 meters long, 52 meters wide and weighs 24,000 tons, is being refitted at the nearby Shanhaiguan Dockyard.

The carrier was purchased by a shipbroker in Tianjing for 70 million yuan.

(Xinhua News Agency June 5, 2002)