With the coming of December 21, 2012, the so-called doomsday as popularized by the movie 2012, businesses geared toward the end of the world are flourishing in China.

In the 2009 movie, the best chance for survival came with an entry ticket to an ark that was claimed to be able to withstand the apocalypse. Thanks to this plot element, ark tickets are the hottest-selling items among doomsday goods.

Printed on the tickets are the boarding time and location - in Tibet. In the movie, the boarding place for the ark is in Tibet. Roland Emmerich, the director of 2012, said he was moved by Chinese people's courage during the Wenchuan earthquake and wanted China to be featured in the film.

Yang Zongfu, a merchant and inventor from Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, unveiled his own ark to the world earlier this year. Yang's ark can float on water, and is equipped with safety seats, a communication system, and a toilet. There is also a first-aid kit and a year's supply of food inside. Yang has received 21 orders for private arks, ranging in price from 1 million yuan to 5 million yuan ($160,100 to $800,500).

Oriental Outlook