Beijing's Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal and other fake wonders turn 25

Go around the world in 80 minutes on one of Beijing's more obscure days out

Despite the dramatic growth in international tourism out of China, the little theme park that could, Beijing World Park, still stands to this day, celebrating its twenty-fifth birthday today, October 25.

In case you somehow haven't made it there yet, World Park is the delightful home to a bucket-list-busting 109 of the world's wonders and most famous landmarks, all scaled down in both size and splendour for would-be globetrotters.

The 'White' House. Image: Techyan via Wikimedia Commons

For a quarter of a century, the park has allowed millions of visitors each year to cross the Golden Gate Bridge in a matter of seconds, marvel at the not-so-Great Pyramid of Giza before crossing Tower Bridge to Manhattan island, and enjoy the unprecedented opportunity to take in the Colosseum and the Eiffel Tower in one panoramic pivot.

It's definitely a little worse for wear after all that time – some replicas were never even that good in the first place – but we're not gonna miss this opportunity to celebrate one of our favourite offbeat days out in the city. Here's to the next 25.

Vienna's St Stephen's Cathedral

The colour of the tiles don't match the actual colours exactly, but apart from that, the detailed copy is quite remarkable. 

Germany's Neuschwanstein Castle

Hopefully the Bavarian beers don't come in miniature either.

Paris' Eiffel Tower

C'est trop petite! The Eiffel Tower has shrunk!

Paris' Arc de Triomphe

There's a lot less traffic here than around the one in Paris. But then again, you can't climb this one. You could pretend you were finishing your own final stage of the Tour de France though. 

London's Tower Bridge

We guess the red tiles were on sale. This version with red roofs looks a lot brighter (and more Lego-like) than the grey roofs in London.

Egypt's Abu Simbel Temples

The real temples are over 3,000 years old. Only 2,975 more to go for these replicas then.

Egypt's Pyramids of Giza

Still no word on whether these ones were also built by architecturally sublime aliens.

Sydney Opera House

Complete with the Harbour Bridge in the background, the Sydney Opera House represents Australia at the park.

Shwedagon Pagoda

Just imagine you're looking at the real pagoda in Yangon, which stands 325 feet tall, is entirely covered in gold and decorated with thousands of diamonds and rubies.

Taj Mahal

Although a tiny bit smaller than India's original, this Taj Mahal is still rather pretty.

'Grand Canyon' waterfall

It's not only buildings and statues. The park also covers natural sights and gardening styles, including this ambiguous amalgamation of US rocky wonders. It's like the Grand Canyon – but with added waterfall!

New York's Statue of Liberty

Now you're in New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of.

 Beijing World Park 158 Huaxiang Fengbao Lu, Fengtai district. Open daily 8am-4.30pm. 100RMB; 60RMB (students); free for kids under 1.2m.

For more great places to see in Beijing, hit 'Read more'.

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