China Science and Technology Museum (CSTM) laid the foundation stone for its new project at a ceremony on May 9 in the National Olympic Park. The venture will result in the world's largest Dome and IMAX movie theaters being constructed.

 

As one of the additional facilities for the 2008 Olympic Games and with an investment of 1.13 billion yuan (US$141 million), the new building will be completed before the Games and open in September 2009. Besides its educational uses, it'll also be a location for leisure, entertainment and tourism.

 

The exterior of the new building will be simple and finished with white corrugated metal plates, green reflectorized glass and stainless steel. When complete the structure will present a dynamic vision of light and shade as the seasons and light in each new day changes.

 

Wang Yusheng, chief of the CSTM, said the content of the new building would present the basic principles and applications of science and display a range of technological achievements. A special team of experts has been gathered to advise on construction and content. It's anticipated that plans will be completed before the end of the year.

 

Wang said when construction is complete the CSTM will have the largest Dome movie theatre in the world and can also be used to demonstrate phenomena in the skies.

 

In addition to the Dome theatre, the IMAX cinema will also hold a record as the world's largest cinema of this type. Wang said the IMAX movie was not unlike an ordinary screen but on a much larger scale.

 

The IMAX movie theatre is ideal for screening scientific and industrial type films. Wang said the new facilities would be properly marketed. The present facility is only open to audiences in the daytime while the new venture would be open during the day and at night.

 

Wang said in the past the CSTM didn't combine leisure, entertainment and tourism but focused on its educational function. However, more and more out of town tourists were coming to the museum and it required being innovative.

 

Shenzhou VI Re-entry Capsule, now displayed in the museum, would be moved to the new building, Wang said. The Shenzhou Space Hall in the new building would display the great achievements made by China in aerospace.

 

Other areas of interest will also be covered such as matters related to new and high technology, information systems, biology, energy, nanometer technology and many others. The museum will also have interactive items on display in a newly designed Child Science Park.

 

When the new building opens to the public in 2009 the present facilities will be given to Beijing Municipality for public welfare use.

 

(China.org.cn by Zhou Jing, May 15, 2006)