A decommissioned Boeing 737 aircraft has found new life as an airline-themed restaurant in Wuhan, China.

Parked in a German-style pedestrian mall and with a covered boarding ramp accessed by an escalator, the Boeing 737 restaurant has 20 tables, and guests can even try out a flight simulation system in the cabin.

Named Lily Airways, the restaurant is owned by tycoon Li Yang, who says he spent ¥35 million (about US$5.2 million) to relocate and convert the retired plane.

While the wait staff wears flight attendant uniforms, diners need not worry about being served such plane fare as packaged nuts – the international chefs in the on-board kitchen offer Western-style fine dining.

Li Yang says the airliner was bought from the bankrupt Batavia Airways of Indonesia, and took almost four months to transport after being split into several parts.

This story first appeared on our sister site, Inside Retail Asia.