By the end of 2003, Shenzhen will have three giant luxury liners that together will accommodate some 2,000 tourists in their enjoyment of sailing the sea, according to sources from the city’s tourism administration.
Shenzhen launched the Vacation -- China’s first luxury liner with a tonnage of 7,717 and capacity to accommodate 400 people -- on January 9, and this liner to date has received more than 10,000 tourists.
To join the Vacation, Shenzhen is having another luxury liner built in Germany with a total tonnage of 25,000 that will accommodate some 1,000 people, and the city will lease a 15,000-ton passenger ship. Ratified by the Municipal People’s Congress of Shenzhen and listed as one of the city’s major construction projects in 2002, the three luxury liners will cost 1.5 billion yuan (about US$18.18 million).
The 25,000-ton luxury liner is scheduled to be finished in two years. According to sources, the department concerned with the leasing of the 15,000-ton passenger ship has been in active contact with Russia, Norway, and France, and the ship is expected to arrive in Shenzhen by the end of this year.
(from 北京娱乐信报 [Beijing Entertainment Newspaper] and translated by Zhang Tingting for china.org.cn April 20, 2002)
