Paris, Hangzhou: All the sights of France's capital without the French
Staff Reporter 2013-08-06 16:37
The stunted Eiffel Tower under construction in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. (Photo/CFP)
While the West is busy cloning body parts and replicating beef patties in the lab, China is putting its energy into cloning famous cities around the world, reports our sister newspaper Want Daily.
Hangzhou's "Paris" is one example. The city, having began construction in 2007, is attempting to cram replicas from the French capital into a habitable town in east China's Zhejiang province by 2015. Famous landmarks including the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs-Elysees, and the Champ de Mars are already taking formation. They have even gone so far to dig an artificial lake with the royal Chateau de Chambord surrounded by a replica of the gardens of Versailles.
The cloned Eiffel Tower came out as a runt, less than half the height of the real thing.
The city is built for wealthy individuals who do not want to travel, said the designer of the city project. The property developer of the project said the French elements in the city are its selling point and hope the project can stimulate GDP growth.
There are only 2,000 residents living in the French cultural haven. Some would say it is a prison, having been built for 100,000 people, giving it the feel of one of China's infamous "ghost" cities.
International designers are upset with the clone. A British designer named Zaha Hadid has said she wants to sue the developer.
