

In case you were unaware, Suzhou has an exact copy of London’s Tower Bridge — only better.



While the original Tower Bridge built across the Thames in 1894 has just two towers, this one has four. The four towers are all 40 meters tall and are connected by a pair of skywalks. They also come equipped with elevators and coffee shops.





The Suzhou Tower Bridge was built back in 2012 in Suzhou’s Xiangcheng District, which has tried to make a name for itself as an international center of trade by copying famous structures from around the world.

Along with the Tower Bridge, replicas of the Sydney Harbor Bridge and Paris’ Pont Alexandre III Bridge span the district’s canals. Off in the distance, you can make out the district’s own Dutch village complete with a windmill. Look closer and you’ll see piles and piles of rubbish.







According to recent reports, the bridge has become a popular tourist attraction, mostly with those looking to shoot some “European-style” wedding photos for cheap. But after images of the bridge were published online over the weekend, it quickly became the target of mockery and derision by ashamed Chinese netizens.

“Suzhou has its own celebrated history and architecture that goes back centuries, why do you have to steal someone else’s?” asked one web user.

“Shanzhai architecture has become China’s characteristic architecture,” another sighed.

“Have you asked the UK’s permission to build this?” wondered one netizen.







It’s not clear how popular the bridge is with authorities in London. Last year, a sundial built along with the Huangpu River in Shanghai was unceremoniously torn down when it was found to bear a more than striking resemblance to another London landmark along the Thames.

[Images via NetEase]

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