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Eiffel Tower replica looms over China's Parisian-style 'ghost town'

A resident stands on the balcony of his apartment at the Tianducheng development in Hangzhou on Aug. 1.
A resident stands on the balcony of his apartment at the Tianducheng development in Hangzhou on Aug. 1.Aly Song / Reuters
By PhotoBlog
A farmer walks through a field near a replica of the Eiffel Tower at the Tianducheng development in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province on Aug. 1.
A farmer walks through a field near a replica of the Eiffel Tower at the Tianducheng development in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province on Aug. 1.Aly Song / Reuters
A resident stands on the balcony of his apartment at the Tianducheng development in Hangzhou on Aug. 1.
A resident stands on the balcony of his apartment at the Tianducheng development in Hangzhou on Aug. 1.Aly Song / Reuters

Tianducheng, a gated community near Hangzhou, the capitol of China’s Zhejiang province, boasts a 354-foot high replica of the Eiffel tower and 12 square miles of Parisian style architecture, fountains and landscaping. It opened in 2007, and can accommodate more than 10,000 residents. However, it still remains sparsely populated, and according to Reuters, local media call it a “ghost town.”

This isn't the only famous Western city faithfully copied in China.Thames Town replicates an English village complete with quaint pubs, red telephone boxes and statues of Harry Potter, and "Hallstatt 2," a recreation of an Austrian scenic jewel resides in the province of Guangdong to name a few.

A view of the Tianducheng development in Hangzhou.
A view of the Tianducheng development in Hangzhou.Aly Song / Reuters
A woman walks past a supermarket at the Tianducheng development.
A woman walks past a supermarket at the Tianducheng development.Aly Song / Reuters
A man rides his motorcycle past a replica of the Eiffel Tower at the Tianducheng development in Hangzhou.
A man rides his motorcycle past a replica of the Eiffel Tower at the Tianducheng development in Hangzhou.Aly Song / Reuters
People walk past a fountain at the Tianducheng development in Hangzhou Aug. 1.
People walk past a fountain at the Tianducheng development in Hangzhou Aug. 1.Aly Song / Reuters
A lightning bolt streaks across the sky above a replica of the Eiffel Tower at the Tianducheng development in Hangzhou.
A lightning bolt streaks across the sky above a replica of the Eiffel Tower at the Tianducheng development in Hangzhou.Aly Song / Reuters
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