£140m futuristic floating 'giant pearl' hotel to open in Australia

A renowned Chinese architect is set to build a floating hotel shaped like a giant pearl on the Gold Coast in Australia.

The Sea Pearl Hotel has been designed by Professor Jianping Zheng, who is famous for his cutting edge creations in China.

He has built more than 200 theme park and tourism projects in his native country, including the famous Sheraton Moon Hotel.

He now wants to build his first project outside of China on the Gold Coast.

According to news.com.au, the floating Sea Pearl Hotel would have 300 rooms, shopping malls, a casino, a swimming pool, a sightseeing deck, presidential suites in smaller pods alongside the main hotel, and an underwater tunnel.

The professor believes the southern side of the proposed new ASF cruise ship terminal in Broadwater would be the perfect site for the hotel. However, many people are opposed to the construction of the new cruise ship terminal.

Head of the organisation Save Our Spit, Steve Gration, said the proposed site for the hotel is a roost for migratory birds, and that its coloured beam night lights could affect marine life.

He added: "The ASF project has opened for the flood gates for the area. Because due process was not followed by the State Government for this project, overseas investors have got the message that the city is easy prey."

But, according to the Daily Mail, Professor Zheng hopes the new hotel will become a landmark for the area, and "make as big a statement for the Gold Coast as the Opera House did for Sydney".

However the mayor of Gold Coast Council, Tom Tate, told Daily Mail Australia that no formal proposal has yet been put forward to the council.

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