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Citing Mayan Doomsday Fears, Chinese Man Spends Life Savings to Build 80-Ton ‘Apocalypse-Proof Noah’s Ark’

Nov. 29, 2012 10:45am Billy Hallowell

Rash decisions motivated by intense fears over apocalyptic predictions are nothing new. In 2011, Christian broadcaster Harold Camping promised that the world would come to an end. Embracing his claims, some of his followers sold all of their belongings in anticipation, only to find themselves disappointed and broke. Another doomsday prediction — the dreaded Mayan apocalypse — is slated for Dec. 21. And one Chinese man, Lu Zhenghai, is building a massive ship to ensure that he and his family are protected.

Chinese Man Lu Zhenghai Builds Moder Day Noahs Ark | Mayan Doomsday

This photo taken on November 24, 2012 shows the unfinished boat built by Lu Zhenhai, a man from Urumqi, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, afraid that his home would be submerged in a doomsday flood in 2012. Lu said he was worried that the apocalypse would happen in 2012, so he decided to invest all his money, about 160,500 USD into building what he hopes will be his own indestructible ark. Credit: AFP/Getty Images

China News Service (CNS) reports that the man, who resides in the northwest region of the country, has poured his life savings into building the boat. So far, Zhenghai has spent $160,000 on the vessel, which already measures 65 feet and will inevitably weigh 80 tons (it was apparently built with 10 tons of timber and an additional 60 tons of steel).

In an interview with CNS, Zhenghai explained his reasoning for creating the ship, which he commenced in 2010 when his fears over a monumental flood apparently took form. The Daily Mail dubs the boat the man’s very own “apocalypse-proof ‘Noah’s Ark.’”

Credit: AFP/Getty Images

“I’m afraid that when the end of the world comes in 2012, flood waters will destroy my house,” he said, according to a translation by The Huffington Post. ”So I took all my savings and invested in the construction of this boat. When the time comes, everyone can take refuge in it.”

With the alleged Mayan destruction just one month away, the ship is reportedly incomplete due to lack of funds. While there is more work to do, Zhenghai claims he won’t be distraught if a flood doesn’t arrive in the coming weeks. After all, the vessel can be used as a ferry and he hopes, at the least, that it will be revered as a tourist attraction worth seeing.

Credit: AFP/Getty Images

The creation of the modern-day ark comes as scientists attempt to debunk the notion that the Mayans were predicting the end of the world. The Houston Museum of Science, among other institutions, has taken explicit aim at these doomsday theories.

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Comments (83)

coyote1hell
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 1:37pm
If this guy lived in America, he would be a Democrat…they believe anything…fools….

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- oldhorses
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 6:10pm
  LOL the way you probably really believed Romney was leading in the polls and was going to win? hahahahahahahahhahahahahahaha and you have the nerve to say someone else will believe anything? Thanks for the laugh buddy, i really needed it today. Haahahahahahahahha
  
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- jaylew
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 8:45pm
  I saw one of those same exact things down in West Virginia last weekend….and you had to be 21 to get in.
  
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- Jetstream001
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 11:04pm
  If he would have read the Bible he would have seen it was a total waste of money.
  
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- b3b57af55c7a898bcfff2732ae06660e
  Posted on December 9, 2012 at 7:18pm
  ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲idiot▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
  
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FlagWavingPatriot
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 1:25pm
I hope it’s fireproof. The flood already happened.

Fail.

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thegreatcarnac
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 1:08pm
“LOU…….(giggle)….LOU ZENGHAI……(snicker)….(giggle…sh…shhhh)…”
” Who is dat?”
“I want you….(snort…giggle)….to build an ark”.
“Isdat you…God?”
“Build it out of (snicker) wood and steel”
“OK”

God has a sense of humor….he knows this commie never read the Bible and this has already been done.

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- 1TrueOne55
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 2:17pm
  And if you read that same section of the Bible you will know that Noah was derided by those around him and where did they end up when it was D-Day and the earth opened up and spilled all its water on the surface.
  
  And this may not be related to the Mayan Calendar since there is also a Chinese prediction in i-Ching that talks about the same date, not everything in this world revolves around our understanding of the Universe or religion etc….
  
  Report this comment
- oldhorses
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 6:13pm
  You know, jesus doesn’t punish people who have never read the bible. He would be a complete and TOTAL ******* if he did don’t you think? Imagine a little boy in africa, never heard of jesus, is killed by militant group for refusing to be a child soldier. Straight to hell for him right? Lol.
  
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- Jetstream001
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 11:06pm
  Sorry oldhorses – but before you go off defending what Jesus would or would not do, you should try reading the Bible first.
  
  Everyone deserves God’s punishment because we have all broken His law. Only those who accept God’s terms get heaven – and those terms are repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ (the Jesus of the Bible, not the Jesus of your imagination).
  
  Report this comment
- AbrahamsSheepdog
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 10:43am
  Go jetstream. I think they like lies instead. Its the weaker way to live. No rules. No hope.
  
  Report this comment
- oldhorses
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 5:04pm
  Haha okay whatever you say guys. I’m sure you have interpreted the Original bible so you know EXACTLY what Jesus thinks or wants us to believe. It’s not like the bible has been interpreted a billion times to the tune of whatever the hell the person interpreting wants to think. You’re a damned fool to believe in a text like that. I’m not godless and without rules, I’m a good person and I don’t think Jesus would damn someone who had never heard of him or read “his” words.
  
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listeninginVT
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 12:45pm
Ok. So the Creator of the Universe, won’t be able to trash a metal boat?
Also, in every intervention God has made with man. It has been told ahead of time and why, God’s people, the ones who listened and obeyed, were protected by him, and the ones he judged, well, they died, without exception. You can’t overcome God’s power or plans.
And just to drive home the point, In those judgements, God took control, so no man could claim they caused this or saved that, look at the Israelites, back to the red sea, egyptians ready to attack because the israelites were ‘defenseless’, How did that turn out for the Egyptians? Well, the israelites walked through the dry riverbed of the red sea, and after they left the water, with the Egyptians following, the water crashed back down and destroyed them. What was the point? “So they all would know my name, Jehovah”, And not one on of God’s people were harmed.
Get to know who God Really is and Why things are the way they are, study his word. You will be amazed.

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LakeHartwellSailor
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 12:33pm
Doomsday already came & went. It was November 6, 2012.

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- fergiedurgish
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 12:58pm
  My sentiments exactly . . .
  
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- Lara
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 1:48pm
  Your totally right Lake Hartwell Sailor.. By the way, I have fished on that lake many times! SC is the best state to live in!
  
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SquidVetOhio
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 12:07pm
That’s great but, what of the zombies?

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- Armyof One
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 2:14pm
  “Zombie don’t surf…”
  
  :D
  
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girlnurse
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 12:05pm
Unfortunatey nobody will escape death or Oblammas taxes..

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COFemale
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 11:48am
I guess he has not read the Bible where God said he would not destroy again with a flood. Well if worse comes to worse he has a new home should his current one get destroyed by fire.

Would you really want to survive a “doomsday” event? Doomsday usually means no means of food, water, etc. I am sorry, people can’t realize that the Mayan calendar just stopped because they ran out of room?

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- Southerner01
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 12:01pm
  If he is basing his decision to build his boat on the Mayan calendar, I am pretty sure the Bible didn’t factor into his thinking.
  
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- Jenny Lind
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 1:27pm
  You are correct, that He will not flood again, but I recall somewhere where the earth itself will rebel against iniquity and we will have serious natural disasters, don’t know if they will be all at once or over a time period. It’s supposed to be ugly.
  
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Ironeagle
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 11:46am
Noah’s ark worked the first time but not the next…next time the earth will be made over in fire, not water. 2 Pe 3:5-7

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- GhostOfJefferson
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 11:48am
  Looks like I need to make me an asbestos armored fortress then!
  
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GhostOfJefferson
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 11:25am
“the dreaded Mayan apocalypse”

What dreaded Mayan apocalypse? They did not predict an apocalypse, their calendar is cyclical with long and short cycles. 12/12/2012 is the end of a cycle, much as December 31st is the end of a cycle (year) on our calendar. Their calendar extends out another 40,000 years (I believe, or maybe it’s 4,000, can’t recall if the extra zero is warranted or not). Do we get the vapors every December 31st thinking the world will end and calling the arrival of a new year “a prediction of apocalypse!”? No. No we don’t.

I suspect this man is simply building what will become a really cool pad to attract chicks. :)

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- Southerner01
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 12:02pm
  We did in 1999. Ahhhh…Y2K…panic panic panic…nothing happens…
  
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- forthepeople
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 12:43pm
  SOUTHERNER01 ‘ Y2K ‘ came to mind also for me !
  That said these rare huge solar flares, all the turmoil , war , unrest something big is going to happen ,were due. The exact date is unknown ,but its getting closer, to many respected proven real prophets , clairvoyants all talk about this time we are in ………and if we have learned one thing in Life ,it will happen when we least expected it ?
  
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AmericaMustBeFree
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 11:17am
Maybe ge should fireproof it?? Last I heard the earth will be burnt to a stubble along with the wicked!

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SquidVetOhio
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 11:17am
Methinks that will capsize at the first decent wave. But hey, I’m and ex-sailor. What do I know?

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- GhostOfJefferson
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 11:40am
  Look, he said apocalypse proof, not wave proof. Presumably there will be no waves during the apocalypse. The Mayans never predicted waves. Duh, get with the program Squid. :)
  
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- SquidVetOhio
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 12:00pm
  LOL…. touche’
  
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- Southerner01
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 12:03pm
  He still has time to add pontoons.
  
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- Wolfgang the Gray
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 10:28pm
  Didn’t know there were preppers in China. Lots of people preparing for events they think will happen to varying degrees of risk. I think the worst about this guy is that he took all his money to do this. He should have finished the hull & tested it in water before he slapped on that 2nd story. I agree with Squid, I think this thing will capsize as the hull looks way too shallow. Judging from the weight of it, I wonder if he calculate correctly to get enough boyancy. This think might hit the water and go straight down. Kerrrr-thunk!
  
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SquidVetOhio
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 11:16am
Silly Chi-Com. The next time God destroys the world, it will be by fire. Not a flood. Must not have read II Peter or Revelation.

As long as I get to see The Hobbit before it all ends…….

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- antitheism
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 11:31am
  Silly squid believing in fairy tales, everyone knows the world will be flooded by red sauce through His Holy Noodliness. You are no better than those duped by Camping.
  
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- athiest-infedel
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 2:17pm
  His noodleness will flood the world in his rightous red sauce and will smash the world with his meatballs.
  
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- SquidVetOhio
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 3:48pm
  Begone infidels! Don’t you have a nativity scene you should protesting against or something?
  
  Tis the season to spread your misery.
  
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Locked
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 11:12am
Doomsday prophecies and the reactions people have to them always interest me. They’re nothing new, and they seem to be pretty omnipresent across most cultures and areas. Yet none of them have come true… at least not in the past few thousand years. And so I always find it funny when people look at the Harold Campings of the world and roll their eyes, but if you ask them “Do you think God will bring about the end of the world in your life time?” so many of them don’t even hesitate to say yes.

Seems like a case of “everyone else is crazy except me!” It’s a pretty harmless view overall… unless you’re someone like this poor guy who has thrown away everything he owns on this lunacy.

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- AmericanStrega
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 11:21am
  It may be crazy to think the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it will happen soon, but I’m prepared as much as I can be (just in case). See ya in the funny papers!
  
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- SixX
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 11:29am
  Well said Locked. Granted, weather related events, or solar flares knocking out power, etc. are quite probable….these supernatural ‘rapture’ and ‘christ’ claims are, and have always been, just sheer speculation without a shred of evidence.
  
  Either way, the man has a great tourist attraction in which he can make big money if the creeks don’t rise. He might not be so crazy after all. Hype that sh*# dude.
  
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- GhostOfJefferson
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 11:47am
  Oh, I’m certain the world will end. There will be a great stampede of bikini clad college cheerleader women who will overtake the face of the earth, bringing all life as we know it to an end. I highly look forward to it!
  
  Don’t mock, that prediction is as absolutely based on fact as any other.
  
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gzorpe
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 11:11am
Where are the lifeboats?

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- GhostOfJefferson
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 11:49am
  Zing!
  
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Thundermeister
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 11:07am
And I’m supposed to believe that a people who couldn’t even grasp the concept of the wheel could predict the end of the world? Riiiight.

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- GhostOfJefferson
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 11:50am
  Their civilization rivaled Rome in sophistication, technology and complexity (and brutality).
  
  Not saying that makes them right, but I don’t grasp the root of your comment.
  
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ArmedAndReallyPissed
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 11:04am
The friends of the CLOTUS , the MoBroHo, will probably unleash Civilization Jihad on Dec.21st. in America. What better time to strike total fear and panic on those who already believe the world will end then. Lock n load.

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- truthnstuff
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 12:24pm
  I think you are probably closet to the truth.
  
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SBR308
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 11:04am
Wouldn’t it have been cheaper to just buy a boat?

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- kickagrandma
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 11:19am
  LoL!!!
  
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athiest-infedel
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 11:02am
The myans didn’t see the spanish inquisition coming, nobody see’s the spanish inquisition coming….

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- AmericanStrega
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 11:18am
  Baa, ha, haaaa!
  
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MrEDS
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 11:02am
Where does the line form?

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MrEDS
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 10:58am
Chinese prepper. Wecome aboard.

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DougHuffman
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 10:56am
Maybe the Mayan’s A-Pac-A-Lips moving isn’t just right. Maybe Heinlein wasn’t right on in Year of the Jackpot. Lots of Shiite is coming together just about now. Clash of Civilizations and the Making of World Order by Samuel P. Huntington.

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Gonzo
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 10:55am
If God wants to destroy the world by flood (which He doesn’t), Christ is the only safe lifeboat.

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- Locked
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 11:08am
  Well said, Gonzo
  
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- Oldphoto678
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 6:24pm
  Get your slimy hands off my Bulldogs Gonzo.
  
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TheMajority
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 10:53am
I am sure people are doing that all over the world, and in the USA also. Ahhh–the American dream. But I don’t remember “fear” being a part of the American dream.

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- Cavallo
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 10:59am
  It is now.. this is the new Obama America
  
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drphil69
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 10:53am
“When the time comes, everyone can take refuge in it.”

Yeah, only a billion or so people in China…

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- bluegrandma52
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 4:09pm
  Closer to 3.4 billion. Won’t all fit, even if they’re really little. I suppose he’ll have a lottery or something to choose who gets saved and who doesn’t.
  
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