10 famous cities that China ripped off from the rest of the world — and what they look like in real life

Venice is known for scenic gondola rides on the Grand Canal.

It's one of the most romantic canals in the world.

Florentia Village, near China's port city of Tianjin, also has a canal.

The replica town is a shopping center that spans 50 acres.

Venetian Gothic architecture dates back to the 12th century.

According to touring company Walks of Italy, Venetian architecture is different than that of Rome and Florence because of its Byzantine and Moorish influences.

Florentia Village was built by an Italian developer in 2011.

The outlet mall contains more than 200 shops.

Hallstatt, a historic Alpine village in Austria, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Hallstatt is an ancient salt mine village.

China's copy of Hallstatt cost $940 million to build.

The replica caused controversy because natives of the original Hallstatt didn't know that their historic buildings and streets were being ripped off.

The Eiffel Tower is an emblem of Paris, and recognizable around the world.

Click here for 19 things you never knew about the Eiffel Tower.

Tianducheng's version of the tower in China's Zhejiang province is 354 feet tall.

These days, Tianducheng is a ghost town.

Interlaken is a charming resort town nestled in the Swiss Alps.

It's home to one of the world's oldest hotels, and the perfect small town to visit if you're an adrenaline junkie.

The scenery in "Overseas Chinese Town East (OCT)" across the river from Hong Kong is missing the mountain views.

The lake is completely artifical.

There's no mistaking New York City's iconic skyline.

It's one of the most stunning views in America.

Construction has stopped on what was supposed to be a mini-Manhattan in China's Tianjin Binhai New Area.

It's one of many ghost cities in China.

Quintessential English towns feature brick houses, cobblestone streets, and flowerbeds.

Thames Town in the Songjiang District near Shanghai looks a bit sparse in comparison.

It's also a ghost town.

Berlin's modern architecture, like the Marie-Elisabeth-Lüders House, drew more than 5 million tourists in 2017.

That's a 2.7% visitor increase from last year, according to Visit Berlin.

Anting German Town outside of Shanghai is mostly empty.

Reports say that only one in five apartments are occupied.

Windmills are an iconic part of the Dutch landscape.

All Dutch trains now run on 100% wind power.

Shanghai's Holland Town, also known as "Pudong's Nederland," has windmills of its own.

The town features copies of buildings like the Netherlands Maritime Museum and the Bijenkorf department store in Amsterdam.

The town of Sigtuna in Sweden was founded in the late 10th century.

Sigtuna is Sweden's first town, according to Visit Stockholm. It was founded in AD 970.

China's version outside of Shanghai includes a replica of Sweden's Lake Malaren and Iceland's House of Parliament.

It's a ghost town, too.

Italy's cafes are legendary for their cuisine and ambiance.

Eateries in Breeza Citta di Pujiang outside of Shanghai are modeled after those in Italy, but they're not quite as glamorous the real thing.

Wade Shepard of Vagabond Journey traveled there in 2013 and found it mostly abandoned.

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