The Chinese have completed a controversial $940 million clone of Hallstatt, one of Austria’s most picturesque villages. The cloned village is located in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong and has now opened its doors to visitors.
The project is the brainchild of a Chinese mining tycoon, who sparked mixed reactions amongst the people of Hallstatt. Some were outraged by the knockoff, while others considered it flattery. The village includes an exact replication of Hallstatt’s church clock tower and European style wooden houses.
One Hallstatt resident told Reuters “First we were a bit insecure. Why did it come to replicate Hallstatt, and then we became lucky and proud”, while another said “I don’t think that it is a good idea. Hallstatt is just unique with its culture and traditions. You cannot copy that. I saw a report and the photos, and the copy seems different. In my opinion it is unacceptable”. Via Inhabitat, Reuters
