Construction has begun on the world's first full-size replica of the Titanic in China, a country that fell in love with the 1997 blockbuster movie about the doomed ocean liner.

Future visitors to the city of Daying in south-west China will be able to climb aboard the 145-million-dollar, 300-metre luxury cruise ship in a reservoir on the Qijiang River and experience a simulated collision with an iceberg and subsequent sinking, the official China Daily reported.

Other attractions under construction include a dining hall, theatre, first-class cabins, economy cabins and swimming pool, according to Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Company executives speaking with the Chengdu-based West China City Daily.

It is not known when the new ship will open, but tickets for a one-night, economy-class berth start at about 435 dollars, China Daily said.

One of the first foreign blockbusters with state-of-the-art special effects to enter China, the James Cameron ouevre swept the nation in 1997. Then-president Jiang Zemin reportedly told politbureau members to go see it.

James Cameron's blockbuster 3-D re-release of the film reportedly grossed a record-breaking 67 million dollars in six days in China.