In the Chinese city of Hangzhou, there is a 108-m replica of the Eiffel Tower. The structure doesn’t look out of place because of all the Parisian-style buildings that surround it. They’re located in a residential area called Sky City, which was purposely designed to capture the essence of France. Sky City isn’t the only place in China that looks eerily similar to other places from around the world. In fact, there are several knockoff landmarks and “fake” towns in the country. In Shanghai, for instance, Thames Town looks quite similar to London’s boroughs. The town is full of red telephone booths, cathedrals, and cobblestone streets. To top it off, there are even guards dressed in British uniforms.
Anthony MacKay, the architect of Thames Town, called it “comical.” He said, “It’s not how I intended Thames Town to be. It doesn’t look right. I’m angry about it. They came to England, took photographs of lots of buildings, went back, and copied them. It’s like a collection of facades. There’s no depth to the buildings.” For many families in China, however, these replicas provide an affordable way to explore the world. “For many Chinese citizens, a visit to the Paris replica in Hangzhou is the next best thing,” said Bianca Bosker, an American journalist. Even MacKay agreed and said, “If the people are happy to go there and walk around, that’s okay.”
Chris Hong Copy Editor (ttt@timescore.co.kr)
1. Where is the replica of the Eiffel Tower located in China?
2. What kind of uniforms do the guards at Thames Town in Shanghai wear?
3. Why did the the architect of Thames Town call the place "comical"?
1. Do you like traveling? Why or why not?
2. What does travel mean to you?
3. Where do you want to travel to before you die?
In the Chinese city of Hangzhou, there is a 108-m replica of the Eiffel Tower. The structure doesn’t look out of place because of all the Parisian-style buildings that surround it. They’re located in a residential area called Sky City, which was purposely designed to capture the essence of France.
