Noah's Ark is the newest attraction located on Ma Wan Island in Hong Kong.[1][2] Operated by Christian organisations based in Hong Kong,[3] it is an evangelical Christian theme park centred, according to its own materials, around the themes of nature, art, education and love. The overarching theme of the park is Christian creationism.[4]
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The Noah’s Ark, opened to the public in May 2009.[5]
The parks centrepiece is the world's only full size replica of Noah's Ark located on the Ma Wan waterfront and under the Tsing Ma Bridge it offers spectacular views of the bridge and locale. Alighting from the ark are a series of life sized 67 pairs of sculptures of exotic animals, birds and creatures. The ark is in fact a multi-storey building and visitors may book to stay in either a hotel or a youth hostel located on the top floor.
Within the park is a nature garden alongside the existing natural landscape, existing native trees have been preserved along the terraced paths. The park features amusements suitable for young children together with a menagerie of small animals (mostly reptiles) in small display cages. There is also an obstacle course, climbing and outward bound type courses but visitors would need to pre-book such activities before their visit.
Inside Noah's Ark the main attraction is multimedia experience with state-of-the-art facilities, a 180-degree wide-screen theatre. Currently the multimedia experience begins with an introduction to Judeo-Christian teaching from the time of Moses and features a life sized reconstruction of the Holy of Holies complete with the Ark of the Covenant. Guides playing amongst others Eve, Moses and Cixi guide the audience through a series of theatres and galleries that presumes to inform visitors of the challenges that the Earth and humanity is facing today.[6]
The suggested solution to said problems is an acceptance of the Christian God and Biblical teaching. The multimedia experience concludes with a history of the Bible with emphasis on the dissemination of the Bible in China. Elsewhere within the park visitors are likely to come across staff playing the role of the Holy Family being pursued by others dressed as Roman legionaries.