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Geography & Places
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The Curious Case of Tianducheng: How China's Replica Paris Went From 'Ghost Town' to Bustling Suburb
In China stands a city built to look exactly like Paris. Tianducheng features a 108-meter Eiffel Tower replica, Haussmann-style boulevards, and baroque fountains. Once famously dubbed a 'ghost town,' this Parisian copycat has defied expectations, now a bustling suburb for over 30,000 people.
Imagine strolling down the Champs-Élysées, gazing up at the Eiffel Tower, and admiring the elegant neoclassical facades of Parisian apartments. Now imagine doing all of that just outside of Hangzhou, China. This isn't a film set or a theme park; it's Tianducheng, a fully-functional city built as a near-perfect replica of the French capital.
A Parisian Dream in Zhejiang Province
Construction on Tianducheng began around 2007, a bold project by the real estate developer Zhejiang Guangsha Co. Ltd. The vision was ambitious: to create an upscale, European-style residential community that would appeal to China's burgeoning and affluent middle class, who were fascinated with Western culture. The development spared no detail, meticulously recreating the architectural signatures of Paris. At its heart stands a 108-meter (354-foot) replica of the Eiffel Tower, about one-third the scale of the original. Surrounding it are sprawling apartment blocks designed in the Haussmann style, complete with mansard roofs and wrought-iron balconies. A replica of a fountain from the Luxembourg Gardens sits in a central square, completing the illusion.
From 'Ghost Town' to Thriving Community
For years, Tianducheng was the poster child for China's supposed real estate bubble. Western media famously labeled it a 'ghost town,' publishing eerie photos of the grand, empty boulevards and vacant apartments. In its early years, the population was sparse, struggling to reach 2,000 residents in a development designed for over 10,000. But the story didn't end there. Over the next decade, something shifted. As the nearby metropolis of Hangzhou expanded, Tianducheng's relatively affordable housing and unique environment became more attractive. The city is now connected to Hangzhou's metro system, making it a viable commuter suburb. Today, the population has swelled to over 30,000, and the once-silent streets are filled with the sights and sounds of everyday life.
Living in a Copycat City
Life in Tianducheng is a surreal blend of two cultures. While the architecture is French, the soul of the city is distinctly Chinese. Residents practice tai chi in the manicured Parisian-style gardens, and local Chinese restaurants operate out of Haussmann-style storefronts. The city's most enduring legacy, however, might be its status as a premier destination for wedding photography. Couples from across the region flock to Tianducheng to have their photos taken against its romantic, European backdrop. The replica Eiffel Tower has become an iconic, if not ironic, symbol of love and aspiration. Photographer François Prost, who documented the city in his series 'Paris, China,' described the uncanny experience:
It’s a strange feeling, being in a copy of a city that feels like a movie set, that is real and fake at the same time, and to see Chinese people in this environment. It raises questions about the globalization of culture, the appropriation and the copy, which can become a caricature.
China's 'Duplitecture' Phenomenon
Tianducheng is not an isolated curiosity but part of a wider trend in China often called 'duplitecture'—the construction of replicas of famous Western landmarks and even entire towns. Elsewhere in the country, you can find a copy of the Austrian alpine village of Hallstatt, an English-style 'Thames Town' near Shanghai, and even a miniature Washington D.C. This phenomenon speaks to a complex mix of cultural admiration, status symbolism, and a desire to experience the world without leaving home. These replica cities serve not as tourist traps for foreigners, but as residential and commercial centers for Chinese citizens, creating unique hybrid communities where global aesthetics meet local life.
Tianducheng's journey from an empty oddity to a lively suburb is a fascinating chapter in the story of modern China's rapid urbanization. It stands as a testament to the country's unique approach to development and the surprising ways in which cultures can be borrowed, adapted, and given a completely new life.