Tianducheng (Chinese: 天都城; pinyin: Tiāndūchéng), officially Guangsha Tianducheng (Chinese: 广厦天都城; pinyin: Guǎngshà Tiāndūchéng), is a housing estate in Xingqiao Subdistrict, Linping District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China that is modeled after Paris.[1]
Tianducheng (天都城) | |
|---|---|
| Guangsha Tianducheng (广厦天都城) | |
 Tianducheng | |
| Nicknames: Paris II, Paris of the East | |
  Tianducheng (天都城) Location in Zhejiang | |
| Coordinates: 30°23′23″N 120°14′32″E / 30.38972°N 120.24222°E | |
| Country | People's Republic of China |
| Province | Zhejiang |
| Sub-provincial city | Hangzhou |
| District | Linping |
| Subdistrict | Xingqiao |
| Area | |
• Total | 30 km2 (12 sq mi) |
| • Land | 31 km2 (12 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• Total | ~30,000 |
| Time zone | China standard time |
History
editConstruction at Tianducheng began around 2007. Its central feature is 108-metre-tall (354-foot) replica of the Eiffel Tower and 31 km2 (12 sq mi) of Parisian-style architecture, fountains and landscaping. It opened in 2007, and can accommodate more than 10,000 residents.[2] Initial occupancy was low, with an estimated 2,000 people living in the development by 2013,[3] leading some to label it a ghost town.[4] By 2017, its population had grown to 30,000 and the development was expanded several times.[5] It is mostly populated by middle class residents.[5]
Popularity of the site with tourists has waned since its opening, as more Chinese have been able to visit Paris themselves.[6]
The park under the Eiffel Tower replica is undergoing construction into a commercial area, due to finish in 2027.[6]
In popular culture
editIn 2017, French photographer François Prost visited the neighborhood, finding the buildings and monuments to be "incredibly similar" to their real-life counterparts.[5]
In 2023, Yes Theory visited it and published a Youtube video titled "I Explored China's Failed $1 Billion Copy of Paris (real city)" showing that, while it was less crowded than many other Chinese cities, it certainly wasn't a ghost town.[7]
English musician Jamie xx filmed a music video for his song Gosh in Tianducheng.[8]
Transport
editHuangheshan station on Line 3 of the Hangzhou Metro serving Tianducheng opened on February 22, 2022.[9]
Gallery
edit-
-
"Champs-Élysées". Formally named as Xiangxie Road. -
Road sign of Xiangxie Road. -
Viewed from the north end of Xiangxie Road. -
Tiandu Park.
References
edit
- ^ Miller, Lisa (7 August 2013). "Paris In China: Tianducheng Is An Eerie, Abandoned City Of Lights Clone". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
- ^ [1] Eiffel Tower replica looms over China's Parisian-style ghost town, NBC News
- ^ "广厦天都城十年造城变成鬼城 创始人楼忠福被带走". finance.sina.com.cn. Retrieved 2019-02-07.
- ^ Feinberg, Ashley (7 August 2013). "China's Replica of Paris Is Now an Eerily Depressing Ghost Town". Gizmodo. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
- ^ a b c "How fake Paris in China captured imagination of French photographer". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
- ^ a b "翻红的"杭州小巴黎"，还值得去打卡吗？".
- ^ Youtube video: I Explored China's Failed $1 Billion Copy of Paris (real city), 2023, retrieved 26 February 2024
- ^ "How the pop video got weird again". The Guardian. 2016-07-28. Retrieved 2020-09-02.
- ^ "杭州地铁三条线路今日开通，运营时刻表来了". m.gmw.cn. Retrieved 2022-02-21.