Inside China's failed £1bn perfect copy of Paris which even has its own Eiffel Tower

In the outskirts of Hangzhou, China, lies a peculiar city that attempted to recreate the allure of Paris, France, on the other side of the globe.

Tianducheng, often referred to as the "Paris of the East", is a £1billion project that aimed to replicate the architecture and ambiance of the iconic European city.

However, as time has passed, it has become clear that this ambitious endeavour has fallen far short of its grand aspirations.

One of the most striking features of Tianducheng is its replica of the Eiffel Tower, standing at 108 metres tall, approximately one-third of the height of the original in Paris. While the intention was to provide Chinese residents with a taste of French culture and architecture, the reality is that Tianducheng has struggled to attract the expected influx of tourists and residents.

The city was designed to accommodate tens of thousands of residents and visitors, complete with Haussmannian boulevards, classical French gardens, and ornate buildings reminiscent of Parisian landmarks such as the Louvre and the Champs-Elysees.

Unfortunately, these grand ambitions have largely gone unrealised, as Tianducheng remains largely underpopulated and lacking the vibrant atmosphere it aimed to recreate.

One of the main challenges Tianducheng faces is its remote location, situated some 8,800 miles away from the original city it sought to emulate.

While Chinese developers envisioned the project as a tourist hotspot and a desirable place to live, the distance from major population centres and the absence of authentic French culture have hindered its success.

The initial hype surrounding Tianducheng has waned, and many of its buildings stand empty, overshadowed by the eerily quiet streets.

The promise of a perfect copy of Paris has proven elusive, as the lack of a genuine cultural commotion and the challenges of transplanting an entire city's essence have become evident.

Local residents and experts alike have voiced their scepticism about the viability of such ambitious projects.

Speaking to National Geographic, Bianca Bosker, author of Original Copies: Architectural Mimicry in Contemporary China said: "Entire townships and villages appear to have been airlifted from their historical and geographical foundations in England, France, Greece, the United States, and Canada and spot-welded to the margins of Chinese cities.

"While it once considered itself to be the centre of the world, now China is making itself into the center that actually contains the world."

Some argue that attempting to recreate the magic of a city in an entirely different cultural context is a futile plan.

Tianducheng serves as a cautionary tale for developers and urban planners considering similar ventures, highlighting the importance of understanding the unique factors that contribute to the identity and charm of a city.