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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 |
(2 days 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 Pont Alexandre 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 Pont Alexandre 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 and Andrew Manley work in the physical cultural studies research group at the University of Bath | Michael Silk and Andrew Manley work in the physical cultural studies research group at the University of Bath |
• City replicas around the world – in pictures | • City replicas around the world – in pictures |