Window of the World

Window of the World is Shenzhen's most visited attraction and one of the most gloriously kitsch places in all of China — a theme park in Nanshan District that contains 130 scaled-down replicas of the world's most famous landmarks, crammed into 48 hectares.

The Eiffel Tower dominates the entrance. Walk further and you pass the Pyramids of Giza, Angkor Wat, the Acropolis, the Statue of Liberty, Tower Bridge, and dozens more. Some reproductions are surprisingly detailed; others are clearly optimistic. The park also features live performances — a daily parade of international "cultural shows" staged by performers in national dress.

The experience is either wonderful or deeply strange depending on your tolerance for kitsch. Most visitors end up enjoying it more than they expected. It is best on weekdays when the crowds thin out. The park is directly accessible from Window of the World metro station on Lines 1 and 6.

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Window of the World was built in 1994 when international travel was still difficult for most Chinese citizens. The logic was explicit: if the people cannot easily visit the world, bring the world to the people. The Eiffel Tower replica is one-third actual size — still 108 metres tall — and the Sydney Opera House, Angkor Wat, the Pyramids, and the Taj Mahal all share the same 48 hectares of theme park.