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Paris in....China?
You know, if I were to casually glance at this photo, I'd believe it were actually taken in Paris: The Eiffel Tower....those other buildings. Very Parisian. But look a little closer and you'll realize that it's not actually Paris at all. It's not even Disneyworld. It's China.
Located in the residential area of Tianducheng just outside of Hangzhou in East China's Zhejiang Province lies this modest recreation of the Champ de Mars and Gustave's greatest creation. Just over 2,000 people live here. What's especially weird is that I can't find any more information on this save for the photos. You'd think that a fake Paris sprouting up in China would have received some press somewhere. More pics (from Reuters) after the jump.
Located in the residential area of Tianducheng just outside of Hangzhou in East China's Zhejiang Province lies this modest recreation of the Champ de Mars and Gustave's greatest creation. Just over 2,000 people live here. What's especially weird is that I can't find any more information on this save for the photos. You'd think that a fake Paris sprouting up in China would have received some press somewhere. More pics (from Reuters) after the jump.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mariel Sep 4th 2007 7:59PM
really strange... the only thing i found more about this, is in an article in the french paper "Le Figaro":
http://www.lefigaro.fr/economie/20070823.FIG000000095__hangzhou_les_chinois_batissent_une_replique_de_paris.html
They mention it's about a third of the actual Eiffel tower at 108m. Interestingly enough, this isn't even the only Eiffel replica in China. There's another one in Shenzhen, which stands also about 100m tall:
http://www.mycameraobscura.com/index.php?showimage=619
Jossy Sep 5th 2007 11:27PM
duuh, i wrote and sent a post but it went into outer space...didn't realize my name and email address wasn't on it. here i go again... i said that i wondered if the one in paris isn't just a copy of the ones in china being that china is older than dirt and with the french being such sneaky, devious, and sleazy people, i wouldn't put it past them to do a copy and say it was theirs originally. does anyone know when the chinese ones were built and also if there are others in that vast secret country?
Jossy Sep 5th 2007 11:44PM
they should import some south american hispanic workers to help with the stone walkways,etc. they are real pros at it and do it super fast. none of the buildings, etc. look like they're newly built so it appears that it's taking the chinese eons to do the stone work. so love how one worker is washing his hair on the jobsite....probably no running water at his home. these poor pathetic people in this godawful communist dictator country, such horrid lives they have. be glad you're in america folks, stop your complaints, you have it easy as pie here.
Jossy Sep 5th 2007 11:54PM
one final comment, i'm eating a filet mignon so this is why i'm sporatic here. the article said that about only 2,000 people live there so what's all those large long, tall buildings for? it sure isn't posh housing for the chinese, that's for sure. also, the large concrete circlular thing with the green (grass?) center, what the heck is that? is this where they plan to put a copy of the statue of liberty?
Krystal Sep 9th 2007 6:39PM
Chinese people are cheap too. They would never hire Mexicans to do their work.
Connie Sep 9th 2007 8:36PM
Why would they hire mexicans to work in China?? It's more than likely that the government hired a company to work, nd it'd make soooo much sense for the people in the company to be Chinese.
Ricardo Oct 9th 2007 2:24PM
EUUG !! this sucks! I can't believe they even dare to copy Paris:! Paris is unique! this is just a cheap version! Stupid disrespectful chinese!
sara Oct 16th 2007 10:13AM
I'm neither from Paris or China, but instead of jumping at the chance to call chinese disrespectful and stupid, be flattered. I wouldnt say it was a great idea, its weird. But its cute and amazing in all its weirdness.
po Oct 19th 2007 6:45PM
Why do people like to post stupid racist comments? If you are going to waste your time and space on this board posting something, it should at least be somewhat intelligent.
Calvin P Nov 12th 2007 10:37PM
How about the Eiffel Tower replica in Ohio?
ken Nov 13th 2007 12:04AM
We allso have a 60 foot replica of the Eiffel tower here in Paris TN.Home of the worlds biggest fish fry...
Berdache Nov 13th 2007 1:08AM
I did an aol search for "Tianducheng china eiffel tower" and came up with over 80 sites about the gated residential community with the smaller replica tower
Apple Nov 13th 2007 2:27AM
According to a Reuters story: "Tianducheng's Eiffel Tower is 108 meters (354 feet) high, second only to the 165-metre replica at the Paris Las Vegas hotel in Nevada, and 8 meters higher than the third-largest in China's southern city of Shenzhen."
Apparently there are lots of replicas all around the world. They say "Imitation is the greatest form of flattery" so I suppose Eiffel would have been flattered.
I guess China is telling their people, "If you can't go to Paris...we'll bring Paris to you."
The Reuters story is at: http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUST1558320070911
JJ Nov 13th 2007 2:32AM
Yes, it is weird, but a lot of these comments I'm reading made me wish I was anywhere but in America. It makes me want to puke when I read such pathetic comments.
Fede Le Grande May 5th 2009 9:53AM
JOSSY, shut the fu*k up... I'd bet that you haven't been to paris nor hangzhou. South american workers cost a lot more and are in fact slower than chinese, have you seen the recent developments? They say rome wasn't built in a day but the chinese copy the capital of france in a matter of few months. Compared to urban skyscrapers, this job is easily done with their cheap labour force. Besides, have you heard that workers live where they build? I'm sure those two workers are happier than hearing you arguing about them and their chinese government (note the nationalism in china). You're telling others to stop complain, yet you're arguing about china and its government. I'll tell you this, if you don't like something (esp. politics & china), don't get involved to it. Period. FYI, at the time it was opened there were already 2,000 residents, 100,000 were planned. It's a matter of time until the "paris" fills up. Think twice, please.
Finally, totally agree with JJ.