Florentia China Knockoff Village

2013-03-05T03:44:26.467Z

China has built copycat versions of everything from world landmarks to Apple stores, but one of its more ambitious knockoffs has to be Florentia Village, a replica Italian town replete with canals, mosaics, and ornate fountains.

The village, which sprang up near the port city of Tianjin in 2011, is actually an outlet mall with more than 200 shops. And while classic Italian brands like Fendi, Gucci, and Prada are represented, there are also British, US, and China-based retailers in the mix.

But people don't just come to Florentia Village for designer goods.

"It's better than the Italian Embassy building in Beijing," one visitor told The Telegraph. "The architecture here is truly splendid, so I came to enjoy the aspect of the place and take pictures. I'll try to sell them to the tourism websites."

And unlike a knockoff version of an Austrian village that had residents of the original town in an uproar last year, Florencia Village has a stamp of approval — it was built by an Italian developer.

Welcome to Florentia Village, on the outskirts of Tianjin in northern China.

Accessible from Tianjin and Beijing by high speed rail, it gets between 10,000 and 25,000 visitors a day.

The Telegraph

The shopping center, which covers around 50 acres, was constructed in a former cornfield and opened in June 2011.

Built by an Italian engineering firm, it cost around $220 million to construct.

There are around 200 outlet stores in the complex, including Italian brands like Gucci, Fendi, and Prada.

They line the canals, making for a scenic shopping experience.

There's even an Italian restaurant called Bella Vita, managed by a man from Verona, Italy, according to The Telegraph.

The Telegraph

But the real draw is the architecture. There are canals, colonnades, and bridges.

There's even a building that resembles the Coliseum in Rome, complete with the city's official emblem.

The Spanish Steps are also represented in Florentia Village.

As is Venice's famous Rialto Bridge.

There are perfectly manicured gardens, a nod to Villa Borghese?

And religious iconography — this is a painting of the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus.

It's not all Italian, however. A Chinese flag hangs from a Florentian-style townhouse.

Security guards patrol the outside of the outlet mall in small vehicles.

Here's a knockoff village that got people steamed.

China Has Built A Miniature Version Of Italy

Welcome to Florentia Village, on the outskirts of Tianjin in northern China.

Accessible from Tianjin and Beijing by high speed rail, it gets between 10,000 and 25,000 visitors a day.

The shopping center, which covers around 50 acres, was constructed in a former cornfield and opened in June 2011.

Built by an Italian engineering firm, it cost around $220 million to construct.

There are around 200 outlet stores in the complex, including Italian brands like Gucci, Fendi, and Prada.

They line the canals, making for a scenic shopping experience.

There's even an Italian restaurant called Bella Vita, managed by a man from Verona, Italy, according to The Telegraph.

But the real draw is the architecture. There are canals, colonnades, and bridges.

There's even a building that resembles the Coliseum in Rome, complete with the city's official emblem.

The Spanish Steps are also represented in Florentia Village.

As is Venice's famous Rialto Bridge.

There are perfectly manicured gardens, a nod to Villa Borghese?

And religious iconography — this is a painting of the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus.

It's not all Italian, however. A Chinese flag hangs from a Florentian-style townhouse.

Security guards patrol the outside of the outlet mall in small vehicles.

Here's a knockoff village that got people steamed.

China Unveils A Knockoff Version Of An Entire Austrian Village >

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