Military theme park a big bang for fans

Want to fly a fighter jet? How about plumb the depths in a submarine? Or perhaps you'd like to run about in full army fatigues, shooting at your pals?

Well, you'll soon be able to, at Beijing's newest attraction: Iron Heroes Military Theme Park.

Covering about 20,000 square meters in Olympic Forest Park, the park has military exhibitions, re-created battle zones, high-tech simulators and mock war games.

"Visitors can experience a ride in a J-20 stealth jet, or the navy's proposed 095 nuclear-powered submarine," said Zheng Changjiang, director of Yueshikong, which has set up the park in cooperation with the China Association for Culture-Promoting Industry and the Chinese Academy of Sciences' science communication research center.

"By recreating battle scenes, military buffs and other visitors will be thrilled by the hyper-reality experience," Zheng said. "In addition, the explanation and interpretation by military experts at the park will add to visitors' knowledge."

Ma Chenxue, a bank clerk in Tianjin, has been a military enthusiast since boyhood. He said he has been looking forward to such a park for too long.

"There are several military parks in China, but they are either museums with square-toed military history or amusement arcades for kids," he said. "This is a pioneering work in that the theme park combines knowledge and fun."

As well as being able to take part in interactive games, visitors can also learn through the trip.

The Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution has provided about 100 models of the most advanced weapons and military equipment, including an Apache helicopter, a Humvee and a Type 99 tank.

Wang Guoji, deputy director of the China Association for the Culture-Promoting Industry, said the park will help popularize the science and consciousness of national defense.

"Besides providing firsthand experience for military enthusiasts, the military theme park will get more of the public interested in the field," said Wang.

With an investment of about 20 million yuan ($3.14 million), Zheng, whose father is a soldier and has been interested in war movies since childhood, said the park is also a fulfillment of his own dream.

"I had always longed to be a member of the air force and being in the park makes the dream come true, for a while at least," he said. "Hopefully all the other military fans can feel their dreams come true."

zhengxin@chinadaily.com.cm