When Chinese Rip Offs Go Too Far: 40 Side-By-Side Pictures Of Paris, And Its Chinese Knockoff Look Awfully Similar
You don't have to travel to France to check out the Eiffel Tower or the Mona Lisa, or the next best thing. China has built a replica of Paris 6,000 miles away from the beautiful city in France. Looking at the photos, an average tourist might find it so similar that it's almost eerie. Recently, French photographer Francois Prost visited the copycat town of Tianducheng and created "Paris Syndrome," a photo series that invites its viewers to compare the two locations.
While researching what it would be like to live in a town based on one of the most iconic cities in the world, Francois came across several places in China that consciously mimic the architecture designs of various European areas. This phenomenon is known as "duplitecture."
Tianducheng is a housing estate in the suburbs of Hangzhou, China. Construction of the town started in 2007 and it was initially developed to accommodate about 10,000 residents. "The monuments look the same, but it’s a totally different context," the Parisian told Wired. "What I like about seeing these side-by-side comparisons is that you're kind of lost. You don’t know which is the original or which is the Chinese knockoff." Scroll down to check out his project and upvote your favorites.
More info: francoisprost.com | Instagram
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Top: China, Bottom: Paris
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
Notice all the brides and grooms in the Chinese picture? :-) Oh, and this Chinese one is, IMO, hideous. Also, to be specific, the bottom one isn't in Paris. It's the Fountain of Apollo in the gardens at Versailles, and it looks awful in this picture because of the weather. It's actually really bright and beautiful.
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
That's spooky. One of my favorite places in Paris. Honestly these guys have done a pretty good job. Well if this keeps the people in the region ... why not. Although I would prefer a more individual, creative and own architecture. But IF you make a copy then make it good. Mission completed.
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
Chinese statue has better abs, but the Parisian one has better calves, lol
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
Originally planned as a city for around 10,000 inhabitants, the current population of Tianducheng is estimated at around 2,000 people, many of whom are working on a nearby French-themed amusement park.
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
Parisians would rather DIE than hang their laundry outside. In fact, I think they can get a fine for doing it.
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
It just sad, that people on the bottom picture, in real Louvre, seems to be more intrested in taking selfies with it, then actually looking at the painting...
You can't really get close enough to see much detail anyway
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It's sad to see on the bottom picture that the visitors are caring not for the picture itself, but for taking a photo of themselves to show off they were there. I hope for the time where we start appreciating art again, and showing off on social media will start being embarrassing, as it should be.
Problem is the lines in the louvre to see it you get a mear second to glance at it and it's easier to take the selfie from as distance than actually queue to see it close. Time better spent exploring the napoleon rooms
Even I own a copy of Mona Lisa, I mean, owning the original is impossible anyway. ( tough mine looks better then the chinese :) )
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
Absolutely. Paris 12 points, China 2 points for trying. In this case nothing compares to the elegant grace of the original
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
Yeah. At least some real life situation .... some garbage and stuff. 10 points for the copy.
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
The Chinese one- I'm a little robot teapot, short and with the feet of a duck...
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
OMG ... the look of the lady in red. Absolutely nailed it. I will print this pic as a poster ... hahaha ... made my day.
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
Top: China, Bottom: Paris
Am I the only one noticing that this is all only within a 1-2 mile area? is this a purposeful theme.. I've never been to China but it seems like this is just a theme for a town and that's it
Truth, as a Chinese I've never heard of a place like this...
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Well nobody will ever mistake any city in China for Paris, but hey...these buildings look nice anyway.
in dutch we say; better stolen well than to come up yourself with something awful
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There's a whole book on this phenomenon http://www.biancabosker.com/original-copies/
China may be copying Paris a lot in these, but as a person who's lived in China a third of my life I honestly feel really uncomfortable with a lot of the comments that were disrespectful to one or both countries. Some of these honestly aren't even China copying Paris, it's literally just common architecture being re-used.
Why are the replica first in every picture? I know the photographer was Chinese, but the most common is to display the original and then the replica. I know it's a small thing, but it kind of bugs me.
replicas are always that, imitations. Nothing can be compared to an original piece, be it a painting, a building, whatever. The original has a "story" of centuries of years...has a kind of soul. Replicas look like plastic and lifeless
It looks like they lumped a lot of it together too: The Chinese version of the Eiffel Tower has the arches (don't know the proper name) right next door.
In China they build in enough parking! The old Parisian locations were built before cars and so they have to park wwwwaaayyyyyyyyy away.
In the next ten years, there will be no parking in Paris at all. Private cars, scooters, and motorcycles will be banned and the only way to enter the city will be by bus, Metro, or taxi. You know what? You can ride a bus and get off at the other end and live to tell the tale. ... In Paris, people walk. Why do you think there aren't many obese people there?
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Well you know China is such a huge country and there can always be some silly business men thinking"hey let's build a small Paris, tourists are gonna like it and we can make money! "...this is definitely too silly though.
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Nothing new. They could have done"Top Greece Bottom Rome", "Top Italian Renaissance acrhitecture Bottom Washington DC"
Could China also perhaps consider replicating human rights and civil liberties. That would be nice, thanks.
Could China replicate human rights and civil liberties? That would be nice, thanks.
A bit ironic, since China is making such an effort now to regain its ancient and indigenous glory. On the other hand, we have Las Vegas....I guess people who stay in glass pyramids shouldn't throw stones.
I like it...Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery...have you guys never been to Vegas?
copying and only copying, I hate unoriginal copied things and people who copy.
From changing the letters of brand names around to imitating buildings.
If you like this, google Thames Town, a 'British' fake town, built just outside of Shanghai...
The Paris versions seem more.....solid? Massive? They also have that patina that comes with age. Which is kinda weird considering how ancient China is. I don't see anything really wrong with it, Vegas has a pyramid.
In case you are planning spring holidays and you do not enjoy pickpockets and rude waiters the Chinese version is called Tianducheng. ;)
Just COPY + PASTE... this is lacking in passion, substance, originality, history. China's modern society just about acquiring materials goods without a love. Just blindly copying. I have worked and visited China/ HK many times in the apparel industry their solution is to COPY. No passion or creativity needed. Just mass produce.
So what they're saying there in China is that they have zero imagination and have to rip others off constantly. classy.
Nope ... to the density of population. In the duplicate you have some 2000 people. In Paris same amount in two queuing for Louvre and Tour Eiffel on one day :-)
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I suggest you open an art history book and go look for the chapters about architecture and statues.
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Am I the only one noticing that this is all only within a 1-2 mile area? is this a purposeful theme.. I've never been to China but it seems like this is just a theme for a town and that's it
Truth, as a Chinese I've never heard of a place like this...
Load More Replies... Well nobody will ever mistake any city in China for Paris, but hey...these buildings look nice anyway.
in dutch we say; better stolen well than to come up yourself with something awful
Load More Replies... There's a whole book on this phenomenon http://www.biancabosker.com/original-copies/
China may be copying Paris a lot in these, but as a person who's lived in China a third of my life I honestly feel really uncomfortable with a lot of the comments that were disrespectful to one or both countries. Some of these honestly aren't even China copying Paris, it's literally just common architecture being re-used.
Why are the replica first in every picture? I know the photographer was Chinese, but the most common is to display the original and then the replica. I know it's a small thing, but it kind of bugs me.
replicas are always that, imitations. Nothing can be compared to an original piece, be it a painting, a building, whatever. The original has a "story" of centuries of years...has a kind of soul. Replicas look like plastic and lifeless
It looks like they lumped a lot of it together too: The Chinese version of the Eiffel Tower has the arches (don't know the proper name) right next door.
In China they build in enough parking! The old Parisian locations were built before cars and so they have to park wwwwaaayyyyyyyyy away.
In the next ten years, there will be no parking in Paris at all. Private cars, scooters, and motorcycles will be banned and the only way to enter the city will be by bus, Metro, or taxi. You know what? You can ride a bus and get off at the other end and live to tell the tale. ... In Paris, people walk. Why do you think there aren't many obese people there?
Load More Replies... Well you know China is such a huge country and there can always be some silly business men thinking"hey let's build a small Paris, tourists are gonna like it and we can make money! "...this is definitely too silly though.
Load More Replies... Nothing new. They could have done"Top Greece Bottom Rome", "Top Italian Renaissance acrhitecture Bottom Washington DC"
Could China also perhaps consider replicating human rights and civil liberties. That would be nice, thanks.
Could China replicate human rights and civil liberties? That would be nice, thanks.
A bit ironic, since China is making such an effort now to regain its ancient and indigenous glory. On the other hand, we have Las Vegas....I guess people who stay in glass pyramids shouldn't throw stones.
I like it...Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery...have you guys never been to Vegas?
copying and only copying, I hate unoriginal copied things and people who copy.
From changing the letters of brand names around to imitating buildings.
If you like this, google Thames Town, a 'British' fake town, built just outside of Shanghai...
The Paris versions seem more.....solid? Massive? They also have that patina that comes with age. Which is kinda weird considering how ancient China is. I don't see anything really wrong with it, Vegas has a pyramid.
In case you are planning spring holidays and you do not enjoy pickpockets and rude waiters the Chinese version is called Tianducheng. ;)
Just COPY + PASTE... this is lacking in passion, substance, originality, history. China's modern society just about acquiring materials goods without a love. Just blindly copying. I have worked and visited China/ HK many times in the apparel industry their solution is to COPY. No passion or creativity needed. Just mass produce.
So what they're saying there in China is that they have zero imagination and have to rip others off constantly. classy.
Nope ... to the density of population. In the duplicate you have some 2000 people. In Paris same amount in two queuing for Louvre and Tour Eiffel on one day :-)
Load More Replies... I suggest you open an art history book and go look for the chapters about architecture and statues.
Load More Replies... 
