A FULL-size replica of the gates to the Forbidden City in Bejing and a nine-story temple housing a giant Buddha - both visible from the F3 - will be landmarks of a half-billion-dollar Chinese theme park north of Sydney.

The plan to turn a 15ha site at Warnervale into an oriental wonderland "more authentic" than Sydney's Chinatown went from pipe dream to reality last night when Wyong Shire Council officially signed an agreement to sell the land to the Australian Chinese Theme Park Pty Ltd (ACTP) for $10 million.

The council originally bought the vacant land in 1977 for $30,000.

Wyong Council has stressed no ratepayers money will be used in the development of the park, with the newly formed ACTP Pty Ltd funding the entire $500 million proposal

"Outside the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, this has the potential to be among the biggest tourist attractions in the state," Wyong mayor Doug Eaton said.

"What this proposal will do is turn the Wyong shire into a tourist mecca and bring millions of dollars worth of tourism into the area, which will have a flow-on effect to the entire region's economy."

Mr Eaton described the project as "undoubtedly one of the most momentous occasions" in council's history.

ACTP, which has committed $500 million to the project, revealed the park would comprise seven uniquely themed sections reflecting different elements of Chinese life and culture.

These will include the Tang and Song Academy featuring a 400-year-old Ming Dynasty museum that will be dismantled in China and rebuilt at Warnervale, and a mini-city of three- to four-storey buildings over an artificial canal to reflect the water towns of south China and showcase the country's eight culinary styles.

Features include:

* China City Gate

Life size replica of the 8m entry to the Beijing Imperial Palace, with a two-story pavilion built on top featuring a tea house and restaurant downstairs and hotel upstairs. Will also house a five story parking lot inside.

* Tang and Song Academy:

Architecture inspired by Tang and Song dynasties to showcase the "Four Treasures'' of study (writing brush, ink stick, ink slab and paper) and Chinese art, antiques, painting and calligraphy. Small sized courtyards will replicate a typical Chinese neighbourhood.

* Water Towns in South China:

Reflecting the Ming and Qing dynasties it will be built over a canal with the first two stories for restaurants and bars with hotels upstairs. It will incorporate eight Chinese cuisine styles and be available for weddings and functions.

* Panda Paradise:

With no actual pandas, this section will be billed as a kid's paradise and include a 4D cinema, waxworks museum and pond similar to domestic theme parks in China.

* Wyong Theatre:

This part of the park will be known as ''the city than never sleeps'' and will feature a 1000-seat theatre and water fountain similar to one on the Yangtze River. With weekly shows featuring Chinese and international acts it aims to rival the Opera House.

* Royal villa:

The best of modern and corporate China it will house the Yiyuan Club and the Royal Villa resort, which will also invite China's provincial and municipal tourism bureaux to be located there along with and other Chinese businesses.

* Thanksgiving Temple:

The first of its kind located outside China, the main pagoda structure will be nine storeys high and built in the tradition of Shanghai's Jing'an Temple housing a giant Buddha statue.

The first stage of construction is expected to start in 2015 and include the replica of the gates to the Forbidden City, which will serve as the park's entry, with the remainder slated for completion by 2020.

The proposal has made national headlines in China and ACTP chairman Bruce Zhong said it had strong state and Shanghai Municipal People's Government support.

"This is just the beginning and we will now work hard to start detailed planning work," Mr Zhong said.

ACTP spokeswoman Amanda Li said the design, layout and features of the park would be "more authentic" than Sydney's Chinatown.

Originally published as Welcome to Wyong, gateway to China