The Oriana luxury liner theme park is to open to the public in Dalian, a port city in northeast China's Liaoning Province, on July 18.

The Oriana, more than 260 meters long, was built by a British shipyard in 1957.

One of the four most famous liners in the world and nicknamed the "White Princess," the Oriana has sailed 6.5 million sea miles since 1960, carrying some 400,000 guests all over the world and visiting 108 ports.

The Hangzhou Songcheng Group, a company in east China's Zhejiang Province invested nearly 300 million yuan (375,000 US dollars) to purchase the boat in 2001 and refit it.

The refurbished ship is expected to be berthed permanently at Xinghai Bay in Dalian. Visitors will be able to see the ship's original bridge, VIP hall, post office, hospital and museums and enjoy films and artistic performances there.

( People's Daily July 17, 2002)