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.