#14: Tianducheng Recreated Paris Around Its Own Eiffel Tower — Hangzhou, China
A photograph of an Eiffel Tower rising behind European-style apartment buildings might appear to have been taken somewhere on the outskirts of Paris, but it could just as easily show Tianducheng in China. Developed beginning in the 2000s near Hangzhou, the community was designed with architecture and landscaping heavily inspired by the French capital. Its centerpiece is an Eiffel Tower replica approximately one-third the height of the original, surrounded by Parisian-style buildings, fountains, avenues, and formal gardens. Some locations have become particularly popular with photographers because they can be framed to resemble scenes from France with remarkable effectiveness. Tianducheng was initially discussed internationally as an unusual example of themed urban development, particularly when early reports described relatively low occupancy. Over time, however, the area developed into a functioning community rather than remaining an empty architectural curiosity.
