China is building a science theme park in the middle of its newest spaceport to promote space science among the country's younger generation.

The theme park, covering an area of 1,800 mu (120 hectares) in Wenchang City, southern Hainan Province, is located at the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center. The project is estimated to cost 3 billion yuan (US$455 million) and is expected to be finished in 2013, the theme park's designers said.

Wenchang Satellite Launch Center, whose construction began in 2007, is planned as the launch pad for China's lunar probe rocket in 2013.

At the same time, the theme park will have four exhibition sections, featuring the earth, moon, Mars and the sun. Visitors can even enter parts of the launch station and watch the actual rocket launch, theme park construction officials said.

The theme park is being built by China Aerospace International Holdings Limited, a Hong Kong listed arm of the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

There are currently three space launch sites in China, the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center and the Xichang Satellite Launch Center.

(Xinhua News Agency December 6, 2010)