A TIKTOKER has revealed how she visited the most iconic Greek island 4,400 miles away in China.
Yasmin von Roon, 27, was stunned when she discovered Dali’s Ideal State resort, an exact replica of Instagram favorite Santorini.
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Spread over 3,700 acres on the slopes of the Cangshan mountain range, this popular resort overlooks Lake Erhai, almost like picturesque Oia.
The resort, nicknamed “fake Santorini”, has copied the island’s iconic whitewashed cobblestone streets and blue windows.
The Dali boasts clear skies and a relaxed atmosphere, while visitors can enjoy an ice-cold frappe in the sun, just like in Greece.
It may be missing the Aegean, the volcano, and the world-famous Santorini sunset, but otherwise the Chinese version looks very similar to the original.
The sunny Greek island is a particularly popular wedding destination for Chinese couples, which could explain why almost £1bn was spent recreating its copy in Yunnan province.
Italian-German content creator Yasmin von Roon, 27, stumbled upon this unique place while traveling alone.
The content creator told The Sun that she first saw photos of the area circulating on Chinese social media.
She said: “Being close to the beautiful Dali Old Town, I couldn’t resist seeing it with my own eyes!”
Dali has become a popular tourist center, especially for those who cannot afford to buy something authentic and expensive, and has several hotels, shops and restaurants that resemble Greek ones.
The TikToker who studies International Affairs and Global Governance at Zhejiang University in China believes that while the replica is quite convincing, nothing can compare to the original.
He added: “Having visited Greece several times, including Santorini, I can appreciate the charm of the Chinese replica.
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“It is situated in one of the most picturesque locations in China, and the atmosphere, along with the sips of frappes, exudes a relaxed atmosphere reminiscent of Greece.
“There were couples taking wedding photos there, like in the real Santorini.
“While the surroundings are impressive, the essence of Greece is irreplaceable.
“While the replica shows the visual aspects well, such as the architecture and coastal setting, the cultural and historical depth of the original is unmatched.”
He said he sees Dalí as a “gesture of admiration and an opportunity for those who cannot travel abroad to experience a taste of Greece.”
Chinese media described Dali as a “tourist city featuring beautiful scenery and Santorini-style buildings, attracting many couples to take wedding photographs.”
Chinese copies of Western cities
THE pretty Greek island is not China’s only copy of a western location.
- Sky City or Tianducheng has been designed to look like Paris and comes complete with its own Eifel Tower.
- Overseas Chinese Town East (OCT) is built near an artificial lake and is modeled after Interlaken in Switzerland.
- Chinese Florence is called Tianjin and has fountains, canals and mosaics, just like the Italian original.
- A perfect copy of London’s iconic Tower Bridge exists in Suzhou, China
- Guangdong features European-style wooden houses and is inspired by Hallstatt, Austria
- A Chinese version of Manhattan, Tianjin has its own Rockefeller Center and Twin Towers
- Thames Town is designed based on the area around the Thames and has Victorian terraces and red telephone boxes.
- Pudong ghost town modeled after Amsterdam
- The port city of Dalian is a perfect replica of Venice, and even has ororos dressed in Venetian costumes.
- Luodian’s leafy new town is inspired by Sweden’s Lake Mälaren
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