NEW YORK, April 4 — Gulliver's Gate, the world's largest display of miniatures opens to the public in New York City's Times Square on Thursday.

At 49,000 square feet (4,552 square metres), the US$40 million (RM177 million) miniature world spans five continents and showcases replicas of over 300 iconic buildings including Grand Central Terminal, the Eiffel Tower, Saint Basil's Cathedral, and more.

An artist works on a scene at Gulliver's Gate, a miniature world designed in a 49,000-square-foot exhibit space at Times Square, before it opens in New York April 3, 2017. — Reuters pic

"Gulliver's Gate is a interactive miniature world, it's a unique experience unlike any other that really exists anywhere,” said Michael Langer, founder and vice president of development of Gulliver's Gate. "It's the size of a city block. It highlights many of the features from around the world.

"It is the vision of hundreds of artists, over 600 artists, and millions and millions of hours of work and different techniques from around the world to create a truly unique place where you can interact and immerse yourself in a world of miniatures unlike any other that exists.”

Visitors can step into a 3D scanner where they can create a miniaturized figurine of themselves and place their likeness in the world of Gulliver's Gate. — Reuters