#duplitecture

[r-u-ins]

Ghost City in Turkey of faux chateaus

[thisiscitylab]

An Eiffel Tower rises above manicured lawns. Classical statues of marbled men look down from their stoops. A carriage stands at attention on a thoroughfare. Viewers of Francois Prost’s new photo series “Paris Syndrome” could be forgiven for mistaking Tianducheng, a city in eastern China, with France’s City of Lights. Tianducheng is an example of “duplitecture,” in which Chinese cities are built to look like the greatest hits of architecture from around the world.

Which One Is Paris?

[Photos: Francois Prost]

[r-u-ins]

Photo by Kai (Kari) Altmann aka Hitashya, taken in Kathmandu, Nepal, 2022

[r-u-ins]

In the Chinese city Suzhou, there are dozens of duplicated bridges, including a clone of London’s famed Tower Bridge, featuring four towers instead of two.

[r-u-ins]

A hybrid building in central China’s Hebei Province combining features of the United States Capitol and China’s Temple of Heaven has been attracting attention on Chinese social media. Constructed on the site of the New Great Wall International Movie Studio in Shijiazhuang, the quirky building is expected to be featured in future films and TV shows...

[krur-singh]

China’s Arc de Triomphe, a Duplitecture. #China #Paris #arcdetriomphe #duplitecture #travelstories #travelgram #travelphotography #travelguide #shenzhen #chinatravel #chinatrip (at Window of the World) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxbkvfpJ4BA/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1uabr4ctfn2sw

[urbangeographies]

DUPLITECTURE:  Which is the original Eiffel Tower in Paris? The other pictured here is in Tianducheng, China -- 6,000 miles away. What are the pros and cons of imitation? According to the National Geographic: 

“Critics call it kitschy, but some Chinese architects believe their ability to replicate some of the world’s greatest marvels around the world is actually a testament to their skill.”

Source:  National Geographic, “Sunday Stills” (15 April 2018)

[lesmachins]

Tianducheng, China