Why China Loves to Build Copycat Towns

Theme parks referencing other lands and time periods can inspire dreams of travel or satisfy the wanderlust in others who can’t afford to make the voyages. As countries develop and the middle class expands, tourism promoters strive to provide an array of destinations close to home. The United States in the 20th century gave visitors a taste of history with theme parks like Epcot in Florida or the now-abandoned Holy Land in Connecticut. China is developing theme villages on a grand scale, copying world icons like the Eiffel Tower or the White House. Ruth Morris, writing for The World and BBC News, calls it a “copycat culture.” Some critics connect the copying to widespread pirating of DVDs and other consumer products. Morris interviews Bianca Bosker, author of “Original Copies: Architectural Mimicry in Contemporary China,” who points out that copying in Chinese culture signifies respect and admiration. Artists experiment with styles; for example, the influence of Japanese design is inescapable in the work of US architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The same process is underway in China. – YaleGlobal