Historic icon, 14th Century Chinese Junk Ship goes interactive

Additionally, MTE Studio's storytelling tours will include a stop at the exhibit to describe the adventures that Ibn Battuta had near China to enhance the edutainment experience.

According to Ludo Verheyen, Director, MTE Studios, "We are delighted to introduce the icon to visitors through interactive features and storytelling tours that are already popular among visitors to Ibn Battuta Mall. We can assure visitors that they will be impressed with the opportunity to experience such an incredible masterpiece and enjoy the 3-D aquarium that will definitely leave a true to life impression on them."

The Junk is life sized and has a significant presence in China Court at the mall. In fact it is also a perfect backdrop for mall exhibitions and promotions.

As an added attraction, state-of-the-art technology has been used to create a virtual aquarium by which one can observe marine life ranging from different schools of fish to Great White sharks.

The Junk is partially placed in water, propped against jagged rocks to capture the feel and scene where Ibn Battuta actually struck land. According to history, the boat Ibn Battuta was travelling upon was destroyed during a storm, and though most of the crew and other travellers managed to escape, there was no room left on the makeshift raft for Ibn Battuta.

Ibn Battuta spent a terrifying night on the slowly sinking ship before he was greeted by a rescue boat sent by his travelling partners the next morning. Smaller Sampans (a wide, flat-bottomed skiff, often having a mat-covered cabin with living quarters) surround the junk to complete the scene.