Perhaps,given how much pollution there is in the pictures some brave Chinese architect will made a working model of the Port of Los Angeles.
1
I am all in for traditional/modern Chinese architecture in America, even clothing. However, Americans are conscious of China’s failings as a modern state, so they would avoid items that are obviously Chinese. This does not include Chinese restaurants, which are fabulous.
A proud people like the Chinese don't need a Paris in China! They have beautiful architecture of their own. I guess this is what they mean by Noveau Rich, put the gold-plated bathroom bowl in the middle of the living room! Personally I would suggest snow globes. Easier to play with and far more amusing.
Now what they need to do is build a copy of the Metropolitan Museum - with a replica of the Astor Court's copy of the Suzhou Garden inside.
And so the fish come home to nets.
And so the fish come home to nets.
1
What a waste of nation's resource which can be deployed to clean up smog infested toxic air in this grotesque picture of Suzhou cluttered with the monotonous, repetitive and uninteresting buildings. Suzhou with many rustic gardens was one of most beautiful city in China and her picturesque scenes have been depicted in poems throughout the Chinese history. It is a shame to see how ugly she has become during the past 30+ years under the name of progress. For the Chinese, there is much to be learned from Japan- a country with a similar culture, population density, and architecture has been able to accommodate her modern living space requirement without defacing her culture and past.
1
The ancient Suzhou, loved by all, is still there.
What the picture shows is the result of recent policy to lift a problem for those cities e.g. nearby Shanghai that were over burdened by influx of immigrants overcoming existing infrastructure. Housing and related services were jacked up in smaller cities and it was hoped needed employment to balance the economy better. This development a bit touristy for another developing industry. China is always in process, hard to take sometimes.
What the picture shows is the result of recent policy to lift a problem for those cities e.g. nearby Shanghai that were over burdened by influx of immigrants overcoming existing infrastructure. Housing and related services were jacked up in smaller cities and it was hoped needed employment to balance the economy better. This development a bit touristy for another developing industry. China is always in process, hard to take sometimes.
1
There is a deep sadness and irony in seeing this historical replica amidst a sea of cloned apartment complexes.
This effort to add character or gravitas to an area bereft of these things only worsens the problem.
This effort to add character or gravitas to an area bereft of these things only worsens the problem.
Nashville is very proud of its fake Parthenon. It's a bit racist to criticize the Chinese for a lack of taste and good sense, there's plenty of that in America too.
5
May I assume you admire the Grand Ole New Parthenon and the Suzhou London Tower Bridge equally? You're gonna love the Taj they're building in Wuxi. Animatronic elephants and tortoises. So cool.
2
Melbourne in the 1970's was desperate to erect a landmark over its Flinders Street Rail Yards and so launched an expensive international competition for ideas.
Barry Humphries wanted a large tower with a revolving restaurant in its basement.
My friend Peter Campbell suggested a scale model of Sydney.
To this day the rail yards remain naked to the sky.
I need to correct the assertion in this article that a Chinese town copied the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The Sydney bridge is a large replica of NYC's Hell Gate Bridge so the Chinese just copied our copy.
Barry Humphries wanted a large tower with a revolving restaurant in its basement.
My friend Peter Campbell suggested a scale model of Sydney.
To this day the rail yards remain naked to the sky.
I need to correct the assertion in this article that a Chinese town copied the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The Sydney bridge is a large replica of NYC's Hell Gate Bridge so the Chinese just copied our copy.
2
Good call.
Wait till they try to copy Las Vegas. Tourists will think someone put baijiu in their jiaozi.
Wait till they try to copy Las Vegas. Tourists will think someone put baijiu in their jiaozi.
I'm from Shanghai originally (not far from Suzhou) and this is pretty embarrassing and sad for me. Suzhou used to be nicknamed "land of fish and rice." It was a pastoral place with rivers, gardens, narrow alleys and old historical homes. Suzhou used to epitomize East Asia: rice, tea, Asian gardens originated from this region. Entire cities in Japan and Korea modeled after Suzhou. Now it's like any mainland Chinese city full of monotonous concrete high-rises with big boulevards, smog and endless traffic. The China I left may have developed greatly economically, but it's also lost its ancient soul.
2
What in the world is the man in the second image doing? He is two inches above the ground as the shadow indicates but the rest of his body does not suggest he is jumping. Perhaps tap dancing?
He just finished throwing the brides' val, to give it that wind blown look. She looks great!
Wierd and sad at the same time, but to compare these reproductions to Las Vegas is ridiculous. Las Vegas, Disneyland etc., are theme parks designed for entertainment, certainly not to be taken seriously as architecture or culture.
5
Sheesh, Tower Bridge replica in China, just really really tacky.
But such Vegas knock off is exactly the sort of facade of the society of modern China. All for show, little substance.
But such Vegas knock off is exactly the sort of facade of the society of modern China. All for show, little substance.
3
Perhaps Donald is retaliating with his "great great wall" along the Mexican border.
2
A China-Basing Title for this one, can the Times do better?
Read any Architectural Journal and you will find discontent with some form of style including the towering glass and steel of modern cities. If you remember Jacques Tati’s Playtime where Hulot and a group of American tourists lose themselves in the futuristic glass and steel of commercially globalized modern Parisian suburbs, where only human nature and a few reflective views of the old city of Paris in the opening of a large glass door project warmth you have the world most of the readers of the Times occupy.
The Chinese are having fun and it’s all an upgrade on the ‘Soviet Era’ buildings coming down. But I do feel I’m visiting the Old World when I return to the States and the NYC subway and surroundings.
Read any Architectural Journal and you will find discontent with some form of style including the towering glass and steel of modern cities. If you remember Jacques Tati’s Playtime where Hulot and a group of American tourists lose themselves in the futuristic glass and steel of commercially globalized modern Parisian suburbs, where only human nature and a few reflective views of the old city of Paris in the opening of a large glass door project warmth you have the world most of the readers of the Times occupy.
The Chinese are having fun and it’s all an upgrade on the ‘Soviet Era’ buildings coming down. But I do feel I’m visiting the Old World when I return to the States and the NYC subway and surroundings.
2
I was surprised while wandering through a park in Chongqing to come across a replica of Mount Rushmore!
1
I'm not dismissing Chinese architecture. The Olympics in Beijing featured some spectacular building designs, but this article doesn't surprise me in the least. The Chinese with their "tiger moms" are great at studying for exams and memorizing. But for all their prowess in test scores they don't seem to do nearly as well in coming up with new things themselves. That's why so many of their efforts are directed towards corporate espionage in a manner not reciprocated by the USA or any other country. Why come up with stuff on your own when you can just steal pre-existing templates?
4 towers instead of 2 merely enhances the point. How creative and clever, said nobody ever.
4 towers instead of 2 merely enhances the point. How creative and clever, said nobody ever.
22
While Chinese artists tend to place a bit more emphasis on imitating earlier masters, there's no shortage of creativity. This includes some zany modern stuff, but for a real treat walk about 100 yards in an historic Beijing alley. The mixture of spit and wit is exhilarating. There's a good picture to snap every few paces. Meanwhile Chinese modern art is more interesting than Western modern art because Chinese artists seem to have missed the memo that less effort is more creative, and that "intentional randomness" (whatever that is) somehow equals genius. "London Bridge Seen Double the Morning After" is a commercial hangover, but I'd love to see what a real Chinese architect would do in a sincere effort to reinterpret it. China's is a deeply civilian and material culture where many people behave modestly and express themselves through the laborious creation of refined and beautiful things.
Pretty soon there are no more Chinese tourists visit Europe, America and other foreign countries. They could stay home and enjoy the beautiful sights and historical feelings of the whole world. What a beautiful China! Mr. I.M. Pei, Xi Jinping needs your advice and help. Xi wants to preserve China's traditional culture and value. I hope China will build another great wall and may help President Trump to build his great wall in the US. Trump could get a better and cheaper deal.
3
Oh, please. How cute, how fancy, how .... flat out stupid AND ugly. What really seals the deal, Architecturally, are all of the many (many!!) identical high-rises, fading into the smog filled horizon. I can't wait to cross THAT bridge when you come to it.
Ditto with the "Eiffel Tower" neighborhood. LOVE the smog and ugly, identical dorm-high rises 4 blocks down. Even the Great Sphinx seems to be looking skyward, asking for a gas mask.
For the Chinese Communist Party to deny their own citizens freedom of the Press, freedom of Religion, freedom of Speech, freedom of Assembly - and then dangle these little trinkets in front of them - is pathetic. It is a sad testament to the Chinese Public that they have allowed these basic Rights to be denied to them for so long. But then, tell it to Tiannamen Square. Tell it to Hong Kong. Tell it to Tibet.
China's smile is false, and their fist is iron-clad heavy.
Ditto with the "Eiffel Tower" neighborhood. LOVE the smog and ugly, identical dorm-high rises 4 blocks down. Even the Great Sphinx seems to be looking skyward, asking for a gas mask.
For the Chinese Communist Party to deny their own citizens freedom of the Press, freedom of Religion, freedom of Speech, freedom of Assembly - and then dangle these little trinkets in front of them - is pathetic. It is a sad testament to the Chinese Public that they have allowed these basic Rights to be denied to them for so long. But then, tell it to Tiannamen Square. Tell it to Hong Kong. Tell it to Tibet.
China's smile is false, and their fist is iron-clad heavy.
13
Kind of like Los Vegas with Chinese characteristics.
5
China is probably at the development stage. They have enormous Beijing Airport and high speed rails. Some years later, they will likely be imitated by others...
6
The mother of all copycats is Las Vegas, with replicas of Paris, Venice, Egypt, New York etc. all in one place. Worst of all, they misplace the pyramid and the Sphinx in Luxor, whereas the real things are in Giza.
12
Las Vegas isn't any different!
4
It is like Las Vegas....but everywhere.
1
You Americans have the Eiffel Tower in Vegas, as well as the horrible copycat of Venice there, instead of ridiculing China you should self deprecate. The journalist should have mentioned this.
21
Nonsense.
Las Vegas copies have been built by PRIVATE investors. This article speaks about GOVERNMENT (sponsored) buildings.
I think any American would 'blow a gasket', were one even remotely to suggest to copy - let's say the Kremlin, to house a government building...
Las Vegas copies have been built by PRIVATE investors. This article speaks about GOVERNMENT (sponsored) buildings.
I think any American would 'blow a gasket', were one even remotely to suggest to copy - let's say the Kremlin, to house a government building...
6
I agree with the statement that "architecture is essentially about culture", but how do you explain a place like Las Vegas with its own Eiffel Tower, Venice canals, Roman Palaces, etc.
2
Culture + Las Vegas = oxymoron. Las Vegas is a neon fleecing, and their 'replicas' aren't even to scale. Just reel them in to take the $.
The Chinese did a good job on the Eiffel Tower and surrounding area from photo shown though. Sphinx too. These seem more like tributes to architecture and history, which is great. The London Bridge's extra towers are a bit funny though when the orig bridge is meh.
I love Asian architecture and design because it's not what I see every day. A little variety expands the mind, some are bound to go too far but it's progress. And if Xi wants to stop the McMansions ("weird") good for him. Gads we're a judgmental, supercilious bunch--like all our architecture is fit for the Digest.
The Chinese did a good job on the Eiffel Tower and surrounding area from photo shown though. Sphinx too. These seem more like tributes to architecture and history, which is great. The London Bridge's extra towers are a bit funny though when the orig bridge is meh.
I love Asian architecture and design because it's not what I see every day. A little variety expands the mind, some are bound to go too far but it's progress. And if Xi wants to stop the McMansions ("weird") good for him. Gads we're a judgmental, supercilious bunch--like all our architecture is fit for the Digest.
6
Perhaps having their own versions will spare us the hoards of the Chinese nouveau riche trampling and spitting all over our own.
6
@Chris
The Chinese do spit when needed the barbarians carry a rag and put it back in their pocket and curiously enough wear their street shoe in their houses. How strange!
The Chinese do spit when needed the barbarians carry a rag and put it back in their pocket and curiously enough wear their street shoe in their houses. How strange!
I'm not bothered by replication. I don't consider it plagiarism. I do consider copies to be educational and interesting. I mean, everyone knows the original Sphinx is not located in China. But, someone needs to explain to me why the Chinese replication of the Sphinx also replicates the missing nose.
3
We (the USA especially) have been producing horrid "rip-off" cartoons of other cultures structures for a long time...
3
Cloning other country's architectures will be added into long volumes of Chinese history. One generation was in poverty; the second generation are in cloning business; the third generation will be in a business of criticizing what their parents did. Be it.
1
The best way to "own" the world, replicating them in your own backyard, no hassle with foreign governments' meddling and regulations, never mind that they might not even want to sell it to you, even if the Chinese are willing to part with the $3T+ billions of currency reserve.
That goes to show how easily the Chinese can get satisfied. Afterall, they generally just go to those countries, snap a I've-been-here picture, then go shopping in generic malls which they can do it easily within their own borders these days.
That goes to show how easily the Chinese can get satisfied. Afterall, they generally just go to those countries, snap a I've-been-here picture, then go shopping in generic malls which they can do it easily within their own borders these days.
4
Forget that tacky looking bridge; that's a hideous skyline. Cookie-cutter apartment blocks and a an ugly, smoked choked-grey sky. China has adopted all of the worst aspects of capitalism in the name of economic growth. A shame.
11
“I was really surprised that it got built in Suzhou, because it has preserved its culture really well,” Mr. Li said in an interview. “It shows that local officials lack confidence in their own culture. They don’t understand that architecture essentially is about culture. It’s not merely an object.”
Judging from the photo of cookie-cutter buildings at the top of this story, if "architecture is essentially about culture", then Suzhou's culture is both very boring and very, very repetitive.
Judging from the photo of cookie-cutter buildings at the top of this story, if "architecture is essentially about culture", then Suzhou's culture is both very boring and very, very repetitive.
1
@mpound
Very wrong Suzhou is truly classic beauty and worth a trip if near Shanghai; the photographed section is likely a tourist attraction aimed at native trade to draw Curious Chinese visitors who know the other Suzhou and have no reason to aim that way otherwise. Local tourism is a massive industry in China where a growing sector of the 1.37 billion are hitting the road.
Very wrong Suzhou is truly classic beauty and worth a trip if near Shanghai; the photographed section is likely a tourist attraction aimed at native trade to draw Curious Chinese visitors who know the other Suzhou and have no reason to aim that way otherwise. Local tourism is a massive industry in China where a growing sector of the 1.37 billion are hitting the road.
1
Embarrassing indeed...
2
Here is the Chinese response: "oh yeah, why don't you come over here and make me stop!"
As for the Brits, send back the Crown Jewels to India, and rehabilitate the millions of Chinese you addicted to opium, and maybe your sins will be forgiven.
As for the Brits, send back the Crown Jewels to India, and rehabilitate the millions of Chinese you addicted to opium, and maybe your sins will be forgiven.
2
I've often been guilty of labeling the Chinese as lacking in creativity, but here's some proof. On the other hand their "Bird's Nest" is probably the most striking structure I've ever seen.
3
@gaah
Lacking Creativity is one of things 'in the air' for those needing to say-something, but if you are old enough you will remember when made in Japan was another term for Junk. China is replacing foreign brands with their own at an increasing rate and they are not copies. The Bird Nest is joint Jacques Herzog and Ai Weiwei product and Ai Weiwei has his name on other but also on the dissident list and enjoys it.
Lacking Creativity is one of things 'in the air' for those needing to say-something, but if you are old enough you will remember when made in Japan was another term for Junk. China is replacing foreign brands with their own at an increasing rate and they are not copies. The Bird Nest is joint Jacques Herzog and Ai Weiwei product and Ai Weiwei has his name on other but also on the dissident list and enjoys it.
3
It appears to become/be a Chinese tradition to not only copy Western buildings, but also (mainly) Western intellectual property, trademarks, designs, patents etc.
Not really such a big surprise given the suppression of personal creativity, individuality, and freedom of expression under the current totalitarian communist regime in China...
Just further proof, that a focus on greed and power deminishes a country into an absurd shadow of its own capabilities.
Take note @realDonaldTrump...
Not really such a big surprise given the suppression of personal creativity, individuality, and freedom of expression under the current totalitarian communist regime in China...
Just further proof, that a focus on greed and power deminishes a country into an absurd shadow of its own capabilities.
Take note @realDonaldTrump...
10
These buildings reveal that the Chinese people are hungry for Western culture. They convey ideas of democracy and free speech, without running afoul of internet censors. The Chinese Communist Party depends upon national isolation for its survival.
1
I was once told that copying from one source is plagiarism and copying from many sources and combine and digest them together is invention. Maybe Chinese architects will finally come out something new: a 4-pillar tower bridge vs a 2-pillar tower bridge. If not at least try, how does one make improvement in the future?
2
Lest any Americans start criticizing, this love for mindlessly and garishly aping the architecture of established and former global military and economic powers to confer prestige and status is not unique to the Chinese.
America did the same thing up until the 1920s--slavish and garish imitations (for the time) of French chateaux and British manor houses dotted the U.S. East Coast. Biltmore Estate, the largest private residence ever built in the U.S., was explicitly a blind mish-mash of the great French renaissance palaces. San Simeon is a garish mish-mash of Spanish and Italian palaces. Plenty of "little Versailles" and "little Hampton Courts" dot the coast at Newport, Palm Beach and Long Island's North Shore. Even Washington, D.C.'s layout, as confusing as it is, is a slavish imitation of the way Paris was laid out in the late 1790s.
European wags of the day, just like American wags today, were scathing--calling Americans uncouth country bumpkins unlearned in the ways of the true cultural elites, primitively imitating them like toddlers do with adults.
But once Americans found their economic and military power, their architecture and art made total breaks from the established powers. That started in the 1920s with skyscrapers and continued into abstract expressionism in the 1950s.
China's architects will do the same as America in the 1920s--innovate and pioneer new modes of structures with confidence and gusto. It's just a matter of time.
America did the same thing up until the 1920s--slavish and garish imitations (for the time) of French chateaux and British manor houses dotted the U.S. East Coast. Biltmore Estate, the largest private residence ever built in the U.S., was explicitly a blind mish-mash of the great French renaissance palaces. San Simeon is a garish mish-mash of Spanish and Italian palaces. Plenty of "little Versailles" and "little Hampton Courts" dot the coast at Newport, Palm Beach and Long Island's North Shore. Even Washington, D.C.'s layout, as confusing as it is, is a slavish imitation of the way Paris was laid out in the late 1790s.
European wags of the day, just like American wags today, were scathing--calling Americans uncouth country bumpkins unlearned in the ways of the true cultural elites, primitively imitating them like toddlers do with adults.
But once Americans found their economic and military power, their architecture and art made total breaks from the established powers. That started in the 1920s with skyscrapers and continued into abstract expressionism in the 1950s.
China's architects will do the same as America in the 1920s--innovate and pioneer new modes of structures with confidence and gusto. It's just a matter of time.
22
Appreciate your historical perspective and civil tone. These comments seem to fall under 'chinese bashing' and I think we have enough bashing these days..
2
@Luboman411
Well said as an Economic Historian I can say it goes even further back to postcolonial time when the US copied all it could of English design and product, got English investors to finance canals road and later railroads and the avoided repayment. Copying seems to be in human nature well bedded. But the building are done for fun if you need a reason.
Well said as an Economic Historian I can say it goes even further back to postcolonial time when the US copied all it could of English design and product, got English investors to finance canals road and later railroads and the avoided repayment. Copying seems to be in human nature well bedded. But the building are done for fun if you need a reason.
2
To the commenters who say the US has Biltmore and other European replicas/knockoffs in Vegas or as private homes, that's a false equivalency; private business is not the same as municipal/civic architecture. Putting a double Tower of London or copy of the Eiffel Tower in a historic Chinese city is indeed garish, poor form.
Comments Deriding Chinese for copyright infringement- and perpetuating a narrative of China as uncreative also aren't helpful. But (again) yes, it is odd (to my western sense of individuality) that someone in the east would spend millions on a copy of a goode olde thing from the west, instead of making something new and original; and yes, still kind of lame.
Comments Deriding Chinese for copyright infringement- and perpetuating a narrative of China as uncreative also aren't helpful. But (again) yes, it is odd (to my western sense of individuality) that someone in the east would spend millions on a copy of a goode olde thing from the west, instead of making something new and original; and yes, still kind of lame.
I know looks are deceiving, but China sure looks like a prosperous, modern country. In many respects, China looks way more prosperous and modern than the U.S.
6
Seems like we also have replicates of, hmm, foreign inspired stuff is in Las Vegas?
2
Nothing tops the minority village in Beijing. It's houses a replica of the Potala Palace and pretend Tibetan monks.
The Chinese have to build replicas of foreign historic landmarks because they've bulldozed all of their own. Is that another Chinese ghost town in that top photo? I can see about a hundred high rise residential towers but only two cars on the road, no bikes, and no pedestrians? Where are all the people?
3
@Steve Acho
The influx of migrant workers to the cities has been concentrated and as a result, urban infrastructure and urban public services were increasingly stretched to their limits. In 2014 the central government passed a national plan to expand small and medium-sized cities and these concentration of tall housing have spread since earning title ‘goats cities.’ The numbers are enormous with 250 million people shifting rural to urban as an estimate. Building will fill but retail speculation has had an impact as well. It’s China, 1.37 billion to draw on not see people tells you NEW.
The influx of migrant workers to the cities has been concentrated and as a result, urban infrastructure and urban public services were increasingly stretched to their limits. In 2014 the central government passed a national plan to expand small and medium-sized cities and these concentration of tall housing have spread since earning title ‘goats cities.’ The numbers are enormous with 250 million people shifting rural to urban as an estimate. Building will fill but retail speculation has had an impact as well. It’s China, 1.37 billion to draw on not see people tells you NEW.
2
The ever backward Chinese; instead of getting out of their caves and traveling, they build hideous replicas. hahahahaha.
Money DOES NOT buy you class
Money DOES NOT buy you class
1
"Money DOES NOT buy you class"
OMG, Maurelius, really?
You write this from Westport?
On the other hand, it is a very powerful demonstration of the very concept you are attempting to communicate. So, well done, you classless American, you.
By the by, your first comment also offers a prototypical example of American class relative to other nations, generally. Thank you for thatt, too.
At least now we can move on from Freedom Fries and the classic "America has nothing to learn from other countries" statements that have defined our Republican congress for too long.
OMG, Maurelius, really?
You write this from Westport?
On the other hand, it is a very powerful demonstration of the very concept you are attempting to communicate. So, well done, you classless American, you.
By the by, your first comment also offers a prototypical example of American class relative to other nations, generally. Thank you for thatt, too.
At least now we can move on from Freedom Fries and the classic "America has nothing to learn from other countries" statements that have defined our Republican congress for too long.
2
@Maurelius
Please google the number of Chinese tourists in the world before you make comments. There are 130 million people traveled out of mainland in year 2016 alone, yet, US has 33 million people travel outbound.
I wish that every country and every culture can adapt other's into their own, then the world might be a more friendly place to live. If North Korea starts to build Statue of Liberty in their land , they probably would not build nuclear missile aiming at US continent
Please google the number of Chinese tourists in the world before you make comments. There are 130 million people traveled out of mainland in year 2016 alone, yet, US has 33 million people travel outbound.
I wish that every country and every culture can adapt other's into their own, then the world might be a more friendly place to live. If North Korea starts to build Statue of Liberty in their land , they probably would not build nuclear missile aiming at US continent
2
Whatever one thinks of this phenomenon, hommage or Poconos-kitsch, the views shown here provide a neat contrast with the almost absolute retreat of American cities from visual excitement, artistic expression, and quality architecture.
Under a Republican funding regime maybe be best described as Eastern-European-Late-Communist in its disdain for anything but the greyest of functionality, our cities have moved far toward the anonymous apartment boxes at the top of the accompanying photo, and very far indeed away from the exuberant scarlet serpentine of the riverside bike path.
As for the faux Tower Bridge and the almost-a-Paris-neighborhood, they may be low culture (if one chooses to think so), but they are exciting, inviting, and open to the sky.
Where little creative life exists, any at all, even ersatz, is welcome. Where a people are told, as we are, that our highest purpose is to keep our heads down, increase our productivity, and worship our ever more distant rich, any view of the sun is a blessed relief. Even seen through mouse ears or a fake Eiffel Tower.
Under a Republican funding regime maybe be best described as Eastern-European-Late-Communist in its disdain for anything but the greyest of functionality, our cities have moved far toward the anonymous apartment boxes at the top of the accompanying photo, and very far indeed away from the exuberant scarlet serpentine of the riverside bike path.
As for the faux Tower Bridge and the almost-a-Paris-neighborhood, they may be low culture (if one chooses to think so), but they are exciting, inviting, and open to the sky.
Where little creative life exists, any at all, even ersatz, is welcome. Where a people are told, as we are, that our highest purpose is to keep our heads down, increase our productivity, and worship our ever more distant rich, any view of the sun is a blessed relief. Even seen through mouse ears or a fake Eiffel Tower.
4
Why not, the USA is going to build a great wall isn't it?
2
Look at the picture of the bridge; just past it there is a pedestrian bridge wandering across the river several times in a beautiful meander. Now THAT is cool, available to residents and must have been expensive. China's building is a mixed bag.
5
What China needs are more copies of factories paying good blue collar wages like we use to have in America.
If that happens then we could compete in trying to get these jobs back.
If that happens then we could compete in trying to get these jobs back.
1
China has its own rich and wonderful culture exhibited by its traditional architecture, art, food, medicine. and sports i.e., tai chi and kung fu. Maybe this aping of Western icons is the long reach of the Cultural Revolution.
1
Let's hope they decide to replicate Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort that way he can spend weekends over there...far, far away from us.
9
The phenomenon is pervasive in every Chinese city. Even small (1 million or less) cities have mega-developments mimicking European architecture. French Country seems to be ascendant now, with ridiculous numbers of buildings showing mansard rooflines. Most atrocious are the millions of "farmer houses" one sees everywhere that are essentially concrete boxes faced in ceramic tiles, and barren any other apparent design element, are over-adorned with dozens of turned spindles and colonnades. The flip side is there are those that understand and appreciate traditional Chinese forms, and the historic preservation of several ancient villages is done at a reasonably high level of accuracy and workmanship. It's a very mixed bag over here.
2
@Kurt
'Farmer Houses' build with funds sent home by migrants, replacing old poorer structures are a matter of pride in the villages and need not look like a replica of anything you might prefer. The workmen know how and do it again and again as the standard of living rises.
'Farmer Houses' build with funds sent home by migrants, replacing old poorer structures are a matter of pride in the villages and need not look like a replica of anything you might prefer. The workmen know how and do it again and again as the standard of living rises.
2
What's all the fuss? Disney and Las Vegas do it all the time.
2
I wish we did that here. I'd rather see a knockoff of Paris built than yet another suburban stretch of big box stores and strip malls.
3
Too bad the Chinese leadership can't copy democracy.
@Paul
The roots of Democracy historically are in a rising middle class and discontent with existing system. China has part of that with middle class now approaching 25% of population. There is a critical public emerging in Chinese urban society that is not constrained by state media or government attempts to manipulate opinion, and China has 700 million on the internet, so the CCP knows it needs to perform, but the middle class is well integrated with the existing rulers in social and dependent relationships. You just will have to wait but don’t hold your breath.
The roots of Democracy historically are in a rising middle class and discontent with existing system. China has part of that with middle class now approaching 25% of population. There is a critical public emerging in Chinese urban society that is not constrained by state media or government attempts to manipulate opinion, and China has 700 million on the internet, so the CCP knows it needs to perform, but the middle class is well integrated with the existing rulers in social and dependent relationships. You just will have to wait but don’t hold your breath.
What seems to be lost in this cloning process is that these buildings in their original locations do not exist in a vacuum. They are part of a fabric. Without that fabric the clones are just a meaningless thread.
It's sad that the Chinese do not invest in a new and unique vision of their own.
Then again, we have Vegas where we replicate things from elsewhere and do it poorly. At least the Chinese seem to do it pretty well, so what do we know?
It's sad that the Chinese do not invest in a new and unique vision of their own.
Then again, we have Vegas where we replicate things from elsewhere and do it poorly. At least the Chinese seem to do it pretty well, so what do we know?
1
Meanwhile "American" buildings, bridges, fashion and foods are copies, if not direct imports, of European and Asian designs. "American" architecture is especially an eclectic mix of styles of European origin, "the art of covering one thing to with another thing to imitate a third thing which, if genuine, would not be desirable."
St. Bartholomew's
Washington Square Arch
Rotunda Library
Thomas Jefferson Monticello
Marshall Field Store
Merchandise Mart
Auditorium Building
And on and on and on
St. Bartholomew's
Washington Square Arch
Rotunda Library
Thomas Jefferson Monticello
Marshall Field Store
Merchandise Mart
Auditorium Building
And on and on and on
3
There's also the Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas, done to the exact specs of the Parisian Eiffel Tower, but three-quarters the size. Should the Vegas one be known as the Eiff Towe, then?
2
As anyone who has visited Epcot can tell you, it cuts both ways.
1
How thoroughly American! Except they forgot to drill a cup for the golf ball to drop in.
We can hardly be critical when Americans often do the same, i.e. New York New York and Paris hotels in Las Vegas, and Disney Resorts worldwide. Then there is London Bridge - bought and imported to Lake Havasu City, AZ; the city thought they were purchasing the Tower Bridge, rather than the more modest London Bridge span.
5
China has an extraordinary culture that can be an inspiration to a creative architecture that does not need to copy foreign or local models.
1
Imitation is the highest form of flattery. How charming that the Chinese are every bit as tasteless in their egregious cloning of British landmarks, most of which are breathtakingly ugly when seen in person...
13
The British landmarks are ugly, or the cloning is ugly?
It's not readily apparent to me why you felt the need to denigrate Britain here, unless it's a personal animosity. I seem to remember that at least some Americans took a liking to a different London Bridge some time ago, enough that they shipped it over stone by stone and re-built it. Perhaps they just like looking at ugly things.
It has far less to do with imitation than you think, and more to do with how the subconscious of the national psyche. Don't believe me? Just look at how many imitation structures like this in Japan. Afterall, Japan had risen to be the No.2 in world economy at one point.
1