I was scrolling around the internet when I came across this picture below. Hmm. Nice picture of the Eiffel tower, I thought. But something looked… off. This isn’t the Eiffel Tower! This is a copycat!
So I started diving in deeper… not only is the tower a copycat, but there is a town in China that has copied Paris!
Can you spot the difference? The one in China is on the left, the real one is on the right!
Tianducheng, China is a Parisian inspired suburb. It has 12 square miles full of rows of Haussmann-style apartment blocks, neoclassical statues, and a third-scale model of the Eiffel Tower. You can even visit the Arc de Triomphe and the gardens of Versailles!
The pictures are all from photographer Francois Prost – who flew straight to the “other” Paris because he just had to see it for himself! Below the left is in China the right is in Paris.
While it looks similar, it is certainly not the same. The Eiffel Tower sits within the Versailles garden, confusing to those who have visited Paris!
The fountain of Neptune from Versailles. Left – China, right Versailles.
Other status are copied. Left photo is China, right photo is Paris.
Apparently while the city looks similar, it certainly doesn’t feel exactly Paris (how could it?). But, he says, it certainly doesn’t feel like China either. 
Various statues have been replicated. Left photo- China. Right photo- Paris.
The city even tried to copy the street lights! Right is in Paris.
Rows of Hausmann inspired buildings. The left photo is in China.
The famous fountain at Versailles replicated below. The real fountain is on the right.
Below the Versailles Garden. The left photo is in China, the right photo is in Versailles.
China apparently has other cities with “duplitecture” mimicking London, Holland, Germany and others.
How do you feel about duplitecture? I’m not sure I like it. Yes, I love the Hausmann architecture, but copying things straight down to statues and the Eiffel tower? Seems a little eerie to me for some reason!
Information and photos from Wired and Architectural Digest.
Like Paris? Check out my posts about France and Paris here.
