Hoping for better resolution, but so is the Minsk ...

Deemed too costly to maintain, the aircraft carrier Minsk, once a mighty chunk of the Soviet navy, was made a gift to China and in 1998 ended up, rather pathetically, as the focal point of a hodge-podge of a theme park called Minsk World, in eastern Shenzhen province, just across the "border" from Hong Kong.

Visitors -- 10,000 in one day is the record -- can explore the passageways leading through the former living quarters and working spaces and watch a film about the history of aircraft carriers and the Minsk in a large cinema. Nearby are five real and artificial torpedoes and a stage on which a Russian folk dance group performs, and an exhibition on Russian achievements in space that focuses on Yuri Gagarin. Down in the ship's bowels is a rather amusing space-flight simulator that uses hydraulics to bounce its passengers around.

The top deck is as large as three football fields and has two "armed" helicopters, a MiG-23 fighter jet and more. The area surrounding the carrier has been developed to include shopping and eating facilities, but there are also artillery and tanks onshore.

Last I heard, the theme park was failing and the Minsk was up for sale.

Quote:

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Chinese developers Citic Shenzhen have bought the ship as well as the surrounding theme park at auction for a reported 128 million Yuan (9 million Pounds). The carrier's future had been thrown into doubt last year when the park's previous owners went into liquidation. Citic say that facilities will now be improved and developed to restore Minsk World as a landmark for the City of Shenzhen

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From: " Ships Monthly ", March 2007

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..and More!

There are six (!) delightful 360 photos at the Minsk, now. Well worth checking out. The ones on the deck show the poor shape this ship is in. Here is a screen shot from an interior 360.