China Transforms Aircraft Carrier into Luxury Hotel

Kiev Presidential Suite

Economic Times: China has transformed a former Soviet heavy aircraft-carrying warship, Kiev, into its first aircraft carrier luxury hotel.

According to the South China Morning Post, the retired warship was sold to a Chinese company in 1996, and has been part of a military theme park in China's Tianjin municipality since 2004.

It has now undergone a 9.6 million pound refit, and its owners believe that China's burgeoning naval power will drum up customer interest and appeal to curious visitors.

"Previously, China didn't have aircraft carriers. People find them mysterious and are curious about them," Binhai Aircraft Park marketing manager Liu Chang said.

"Even though China's first aircraft carrier has now gone on sea trials, it will be quite hard for the public to ever visit it. I guess people can come here to fulfill their curiosity," he added.

There are five lavish presidential suites in Kiev, but prices to stay in the converted aircraft carrier are yet to be set.

However, the lavish interior suggests that the hotel will appeal to the more well-off clientele.