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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2014/jun/03/from-tower-bridge-to-sydney-harbour-welcome-to-chinas-city-of-clones
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| From Tower Bridge to Sydney Harbour, welcome to China’s city of clones | From Tower Bridge to Sydney Harbour, welcome to China’s city of clones |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Suzhou | Suzhou |
| is like many Chinese cities. It has a historic core, including | is like many Chinese cities. It has a historic core, including |
| nine Unesco world heritage sites, as well as many beautiful | nine Unesco world heritage sites, as well as many beautiful |
| gardens, waterways and temples. And it is experiencing extraordinary | gardens, waterways and temples. And it is experiencing extraordinary |
| rates of urban growth: the Suzhou Industrial Park is a | rates of urban growth: the Suzhou Industrial Park is a |
| cathedral to consumerism, while the lights at Harmony Times Square illuminate a surrounding urban sprawl littered with construction | cathedral to consumerism, while the lights at Harmony Times Square illuminate a surrounding urban sprawl littered with construction |
| projects. | projects. |
| But Suzhou has also embarked on another fascinating project: urban | But Suzhou has also embarked on another fascinating project: urban |
| mimicry. From Venetian-style “water town” districts to Dutch-style suburban living, Suzhou hosts what journalist Bianca Bosker calls “original copies”: simulations of western landmarks. The | mimicry. From Venetian-style “water town” districts to Dutch-style suburban living, Suzhou hosts what journalist Bianca Bosker calls “original copies”: simulations of western landmarks. The |
| city is fast becoming China’s city | city is fast becoming China’s city |
| of clones. | of clones. |
| Most amazing of all, perhaps, are the replica bridges. This particular phenomenon is centred in Xiangcheng district, a newly developing area in the city's north-east which is earmarked as a commercial and financial “trade city”. | Most amazing of all, perhaps, are the replica bridges. This particular phenomenon is centred in Xiangcheng district, a newly developing area in the city's north-east which is earmarked as a commercial and financial “trade city”. |
| With 35% of the district covered in water, planners set out to connect its urban archipelago – but rather than use traditional architectural styles (as a water town, Suzhou had already earned the nickname Venice of the East), it was felt that replication would earn more exposure. The result is a sort of museum of world bridges: 56 famous replicas, including spectacular simulations of London's Tower Bridge, Sydney Harbour Bridge and Alexandre Pont III bridge in Paris. | With 35% of the district covered in water, planners set out to connect its urban archipelago – but rather than use traditional architectural styles (as a water town, Suzhou had already earned the nickname Venice of the East), it was felt that replication would earn more exposure. The result is a sort of museum of world bridges: 56 famous replicas, including spectacular simulations of London's Tower Bridge, Sydney Harbour Bridge and Alexandre Pont III bridge in Paris. |
| Built by the Suzhou | Built by the Suzhou |
| Municipal Engineering Design Institute, rather than foreign | Municipal Engineering Design Institute, rather than foreign |
| designers or consultants, the bridges have been modified from their | designers or consultants, the bridges have been modified from their |
| originals to fit the urban landscape. Tower Bridge boasts four towers | originals to fit the urban landscape. Tower Bridge boasts four towers |
| rather than two, offers glazed vertical floating walkways to maximise | rather than two, offers glazed vertical floating walkways to maximise |
| the scenic view, and houses two coffee shops. | the scenic view, and houses two coffee shops. |
| The Sydney Harbour | The Sydney Harbour |
| Bridge copy is smaller than the original, made from granite (thereby | Bridge copy is smaller than the original, made from granite (thereby |
| significantly cheaper and quicker to construct than the eight years | significantly cheaper and quicker to construct than the eight years |
| it took 1,400 Sydney labourers in the 1920s and 30s), and has been | it took 1,400 Sydney labourers in the 1920s and 30s), and has been |
| designed as a "rainbow across the river bend", with a 100m | designed as a "rainbow across the river bend", with a 100m |
| replica steel truss arch and 327m in length (the original is 1,149m long). | replica steel truss arch and 327m in length (the original is 1,149m long). |
| The Alexandre Pont III bridge, unlike its Parisian | The Alexandre Pont III bridge, unlike its Parisian |
| counterpart, is constructed from concrete. With little regard for | counterpart, is constructed from concrete. With little regard for |
| context, as depthless, superficial, pseudo-authentic | context, as depthless, superficial, pseudo-authentic |
| simulations, these new-old recreations have been parachuted in, as | simulations, these new-old recreations have been parachuted in, as |
| George Ritzer would argue, to “re-enchant” space and encourage | George Ritzer would argue, to “re-enchant” space and encourage |
| commerce and consumption. | commerce and consumption. |
| Suzhou is not the first | Suzhou is not the first |
| Chinese city to embark upon urban mimicry. A simulation of Dorchester | Chinese city to embark upon urban mimicry. A simulation of Dorchester |
| (Dorset, UK) houses 200,000 citizens in Chengdu; there is also Thames | (Dorset, UK) houses 200,000 citizens in Chengdu; there is also Thames |
| Town in Shanghai, a replica of Austria’s Hallstat resort in Huizhou | Town in Shanghai, a replica of Austria’s Hallstat resort in Huizhou |
| and the replica of the Eiffel Tower and the Champs Elysee square in | and the replica of the Eiffel Tower and the Champs Elysee square in |
| Hangzhou. Part accelerated urban development, part race for global | Hangzhou. Part accelerated urban development, part race for global |
| recognition, these mimicries capitalise on the symbolic successes of | recognition, these mimicries capitalise on the symbolic successes of |
| their originals, in an attempt to signal China's self-assured | their originals, in an attempt to signal China's self-assured |
| sovereignty and urban speculation. | sovereignty and urban speculation. |
| It is also a result of | It is also a result of |
| housing becoming a free-market commodity. After Mao's death, the | housing becoming a free-market commodity. After Mao's death, the |
| introduction of a new economic policy, starting in 1979, opened the | introduction of a new economic policy, starting in 1979, opened the |
| nation to foreign investment and restored private control over land | nation to foreign investment and restored private control over land |
| use. Real estate investors supported by Hong Kong, Taiwanese and | use. Real estate investors supported by Hong Kong, Taiwanese and |
| overseas Chinese financiers were quick to exploit the new | overseas Chinese financiers were quick to exploit the new |
| opportunities in the booming housing market. With a rapid increase in | opportunities in the booming housing market. With a rapid increase in |
| the number of cities, a growing middle class and a desire to invest | the number of cities, a growing middle class and a desire to invest |
| capital in property, there has been a boom in residential | capital in property, there has been a boom in residential |
| construction, investment and sales, coupled with a desire to | construction, investment and sales, coupled with a desire to |
| demonstrate personal prestige. | demonstrate personal prestige. |
| The | The |
| trend of urban mimicry, or what Bosker calls “duplitecture”, | trend of urban mimicry, or what Bosker calls “duplitecture”, |
| emerged in the early 1990s, and has seen a vast number of replicated | emerged in the early 1990s, and has seen a vast number of replicated |
| residential buildings and landmarks in cities across China. The | residential buildings and landmarks in cities across China. The |
| opportunity to live in housing that represents the historic grandeur | opportunity to live in housing that represents the historic grandeur |
| of the west is an appealing prospect to those Chinese citizens who | of the west is an appealing prospect to those Chinese citizens who |
| can afford to become part of an urban elite. These buildings offer | can afford to become part of an urban elite. These buildings offer |
| luxury and exclusivity, the chance to posture and parade among | luxury and exclusivity, the chance to posture and parade among |
| plastic facsimiles of “progress” – displays of conspicuous | plastic facsimiles of “progress” – displays of conspicuous |
| consumption that are enactments of status among China’s emergent | consumption that are enactments of status among China’s emergent |
| nouveau riche (sometimes | nouveau riche (sometimes |
| known by the somewhat derogatory term tuhao). | known by the somewhat derogatory term tuhao). |
| Reaction among Suzhou | Reaction among Suzhou |
| residents is mixed, with some expressing concern that the | residents is mixed, with some expressing concern that the |
| developments are not moored within the culture and history of Suzhou. | developments are not moored within the culture and history of Suzhou. |
| “All the bridges in Suzhou have their history and cultural | “All the bridges in Suzhou have their history and cultural |
| background, there is a reason for their existence,” said one | background, there is a reason for their existence,” said one |
| resident. “However, these new bridges are purely copies. There’s | resident. “However, these new bridges are purely copies. There’s |
| no history linked to Suzhou and they are not meaningful towards the | no history linked to Suzhou and they are not meaningful towards the |
| city.” | city.” |
| Others question whether the mimicries promote Suzhou or | Others question whether the mimicries promote Suzhou or |
| western countries. Younger people seem more appreciative, marvelling | western countries. Younger people seem more appreciative, marvelling |
| in the “experience” and “convenience of seeing foreign | in the “experience” and “convenience of seeing foreign |
| landmarks without needing to travel overseas”, suggesting that the | landmarks without needing to travel overseas”, suggesting that the |
| mimicries were markers of a hybrid eastern/western progress, | mimicries were markers of a hybrid eastern/western progress, |
| “suitable for a modern Suzhou that always wants to do something | “suitable for a modern Suzhou that always wants to do something |
| new". | new". |
| The scrubbed, sanitised | The scrubbed, sanitised |
| and sparkling sidewalks of these new temples to speculation are, at | and sparkling sidewalks of these new temples to speculation are, at |
| present, spookily silent: the only sounds come from the migrant | present, spookily silent: the only sounds come from the migrant |
| labourers putting their finishing touches to the buildings and the | labourers putting their finishing touches to the buildings and the |
| frenzied clicks of the wedding paparazzi, part of Suzhou’s famed | frenzied clicks of the wedding paparazzi, part of Suzhou’s famed |
| bridal industry. The brides, wearing western white as opposed to the | bridal industry. The brides, wearing western white as opposed to the |
| traditional Chinese red, pose in front of China’s new temples like | traditional Chinese red, pose in front of China’s new temples like |
| manicured effigies to neoliberalism. These married couples are | manicured effigies to neoliberalism. These married couples are |
| clamouring for positive proof of their success and the emulation of a | clamouring for positive proof of their success and the emulation of a |
| middle-class consumption ethic, as well as, perhaps | middle-class consumption ethic, as well as, perhaps |
| contradictorially, celebrating local boosterism, growth and | contradictorially, celebrating local boosterism, growth and |
| achievement. | achievement. |
| The | The |
| cloned buildings hint at another dark side to capital development in | cloned buildings hint at another dark side to capital development in |
| China. These mimicked monuments are constructed and maintained by a | China. These mimicked monuments are constructed and maintained by a |
| migrant labour force, one that is simultaneously indispensible and | migrant labour force, one that is simultaneously indispensible and |
| disposable. Suzhou boasts it is the most “popular” city for | disposable. Suzhou boasts it is the most “popular” city for |
| migrant workers in China. Housed in temporary dormitories, they live | migrant workers in China. Housed in temporary dormitories, they live |
| in the shadows of this duplitecture, a haunting reminder that the | in the shadows of this duplitecture, a haunting reminder that the |
| historic structure and temples Suzhou is actively preserving were | historic structure and temples Suzhou is actively preserving were |
| often built using enslaved labour: after the completion of the iconic | often built using enslaved labour: after the completion of the iconic |
| Tiger Hill pagoda during the Northern Song Dynasty (959-961AD), its | Tiger Hill pagoda during the Northern Song Dynasty (959-961AD), its |
| 1,000 workers were put to death. | 1,000 workers were put to death. |
| Suzhou's development lies is in the | Suzhou's development lies is in the |
| hands of urban planners who are attempting to reconcile contradictory | hands of urban planners who are attempting to reconcile contradictory |
| impulses: the active preservation and exploitation of monuments to | impulses: the active preservation and exploitation of monuments to |
| the past; an intensified race to enter global circuits of capital; | the past; an intensified race to enter global circuits of capital; |
| and spectacular projects of urban speculation and duplication. But | and spectacular projects of urban speculation and duplication. But |
| the fascination with simulation could have stark consequences. “So | the fascination with simulation could have stark consequences. “So |
| far,” said one resident, “other than providing the younger | far,” said one resident, “other than providing the younger |
| generation with somewhere to take their wedding photos, it is hard | generation with somewhere to take their wedding photos, it is hard |
| for citizens to see any contribution towards promoting the city | for citizens to see any contribution towards promoting the city |
| itself in relation to tourism, culture and its traditional | itself in relation to tourism, culture and its traditional |
| appearance.” | appearance.” |
| The risk of duplication is that it may result in | The risk of duplication is that it may result in |
| standardisation – and ultimately harm the distinctiveness and urban | standardisation – and ultimately harm the distinctiveness and urban |
| differentiation of not just Suzhou but indeed Chinese cities as a | differentiation of not just Suzhou but indeed Chinese cities as a |
| whole. | whole. |
| Michael Silk is head of the physical cultural studies research group at the University of Bath | Michael Silk is head of the physical cultural studies research group at the University of Bath |
| • City replicas around the world – in pictures |