{"id":1826,"date":"2011-10-07T16:41:40","date_gmt":"2011-10-07T08:41:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mdnphoto.com\/blog\/?p=1826"},"modified":"2011-10-07T16:41:40","modified_gmt":"2011-10-07T08:41:40","slug":"thames-town-a-quaint-corner-of-shanghai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/2011\/10\/07\/thames-town-a-quaint-corner-of-shanghai\/","title":{"rendered":"Thames Town: A Quaint Corner of Shanghai"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development001.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development001.jpg\" alt=\"The skyline of Thames Town includes a replica of the Saint Mary Redcliffe Church in Bristol and the Millenium Bridge in Norwich.\" title=\"The skyline of Thames Town includes a replica of the Saint Mary Redcliffe Church in Bristol and the Millenium Bridge in Norwich.\" width=\"950\" height=\"633\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1827\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"paragraph\">\n<p>This place is well documented, but fits into my Counterfeit Paradises series as Shanghai remains one of the fastest growing cities on the planet. In order to keep up with demand, the municipal government must supply housing for up to 400,000 new residents every year. In an effort to provide a bit of flash and diversity to the monotony of Chinese urban sprawl, developers broke ground on Songjiang New City which included nine satellite villages utilizing design elements from various European countries. Thames Town, modeled after quaint English hamlets, was the centerpiece and eventually the largest debacle after failing to attract permanent residents. The English-themed restaurants and stores remain shuttered while the streets only see the passing of young couples posing for wedding photographs. Far from the hustle and bustle of downtown Shanghai, the Thames Town Church seems poised to continue without a congregation for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development002.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development002.jpg\" alt=\"Bronzes of famous English figures dot Thames Town, incuding a pouty Winston Churchill.\" title=\"Bronzes of famous English figures dot Thames Town, incuding a pouty Winston Churchill.\" width=\"950\" height=\"633\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1828\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development003.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development003.jpg\" alt=\"Bronzes of famous English figures dot Thames Town, incuding a demure Princess Diana.\" title=\"Bronzes of famous English figures dot Thames Town, incuding a demure Princess Diana.\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"aligntriplel size-full wp-image-1829\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development004.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development004.jpg\" alt=\"An old man fishes on the artificial lake near the Thames Town yacht club.\" title=\"An old man fishes on the artificial lake near the Thames Town yacht club.\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"aligntriplec size-full wp-image-1830\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development005.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development005.jpg\" alt=\"The most common sight on the streets of Thames Town are couples using the faux English environment for wedding photography.\" title=\"The most common sight on the streets of Thames Town are couples using the faux English environment for wedding photography.\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"aligntripler size-full wp-image-1831\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development006.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development006.jpg\" alt=\"The most common sight on the streets of Thames Town are couples using the faux English environment for wedding photography.\" title=\"The most common sight on the streets of Thames Town are couples using the faux English environment for wedding photography.\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"aligntriplel size-full wp-image-1832\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development007.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development007.jpg\" alt=\"Bronzes of famous English figures dot Thames Town, incuding the ever-popular Harry Potter.\" title=\"Bronzes of famous English figures dot Thames Town, incuding the ever-popular Harry Potter.\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"aligntriplec size-full wp-image-1833\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development008.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development008.jpg\" alt=\"The most common sight on the streets of Thames Town are couples using the faux English environment for wedding photography.\" title=\"The most common sight on the streets of Thames Town are couples using the faux English environment for wedding photography.\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"aligntripler size-full wp-image-1834\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development009.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development009.jpg\" alt=\"The most common sight on the streets of Thames Town are couples using the faux English environment for wedding photography.\" title=\"The most common sight on the streets of Thames Town are couples using the faux English environment for wedding photography.\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"aligntriplel size-full wp-image-1835\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development010.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development010.jpg\" alt=\"Thames Town comes complete with identical English telephone boxes.\" title=\"Thames Town comes complete with identical English telephone boxes.\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"aligntriplec size-full wp-image-1836\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development011.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development011.jpg\" alt=\"Gated communities with expensive villas line the empty Thames Town business district.\" title=\"Gated communities with expensive villas line the empty Thames Town business district.\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"aligntripler size-full wp-image-1837\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development012.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development012.jpg\" alt=\"A resident takes her dog for a walk in one of the gated developments that surround Thames Town.\" title=\"A resident takes her dog for a walk in one of the gated developments that surround Thames Town.\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"aligntriplel size-full wp-image-1838\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development013.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development013.jpg\" alt=\"The most common sight on the streets of Thames Town are couples using the faux English environment for wedding photography.\" title=\"The most common sight on the streets of Thames Town are couples using the faux English environment for wedding photography.\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"aligntriplec size-full wp-image-1839\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development014.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development014.jpg\" alt=\"The suburban English villas sometimes incorporate Chinese elements such as this large stone marker for the house number.\" title=\"The suburban English villas sometimes incorporate Chinese elements such as this large stone marker for the house number.\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"aligntripler size-full wp-image-1840\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development015.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development015.jpg\" alt=\"The Thames Times offices never opened in the first place.\" title=\"The Thames Times offices never opened in the first place.\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"aligntriplel size-full wp-image-1841\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development016.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development016.jpg\" alt=\"Thames Town security all sport the same red outfits, but rarely find themselves busy.\" title=\"Thames Town security all sport the same red outfits, but rarely find themselves busy.\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"aligntriplec size-full wp-image-1842\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development017.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20110607_thames_town_songjiang_china_england_replica_development017.jpg\" alt=\"The chip shop in Thames Town was copied from a building in Dorset but closed down long ago.\" title=\"The chip shop in Thames Town was copied from a building in Dorset but closed down long ago.\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"aligntripler size-full wp-image-1843\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This place is well documented, but fits into my Counterfeit Paradises series as Shanghai remains one of the fastest growing cities on the planet. In order to keep up with demand, the municipal government must supply housing for up to 400,000 new residents every year. In an effort to provide a bit of flash and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,7,12],"tags":[79,107,124,145,236,391,411],"class_list":["post-1826","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-counterfeit_paradises_category","category-development_category","category-society_category","tag-china","tag-counterfeit-paradises","tag-development","tag-england","tag-leisure","tag-thames-town","tag-urban"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1826","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1826"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1826\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1826"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1826"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/matthewniederhauser.com\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1826"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}