Shanghai - Thames Town

Thames Town

The One City, Nine Towns project was started by Shanghai in 2001; it was the construction of European style towns in a suburb of Shanghai.

The One City is Songjiang.

The Nine Towns are Britain (Songjiang), German (Anting), Holland (Gaoqiao), Italy (Pujiang), Sweden (Luodian), Canada (Fengjing), Spain (Fengcheng), Zhujiajiao (traditional Chinese water town) and Mixed Western (Zhoupu). Apparently, Zhoupu was cancelled. 

Thames Town is a replica of British town located in Songjiang district, a suburb of Shanghai. We travelled by metro from Pudong to Songjiang. The ride took us 1.5 hours. 

I read about these 'ghost towns' in Google; surprisingly, shockingly.... Thames Town is NOT a ghost town at all. I so wanted to see for myself how well this British town was replicated and was not expecting many people at all. The minute the cab dropped us off by Oxford Street, I was flabbergasted. There were people everywhere. Most excitingly, I had never seen so many couples taking pre-wedding photographs in the same place!

Thames Town was beautifully replicated except for Chinese characters on all signboards and road signs. So, it felt kinda weird. Restaurants and cafes were all over the place. No worries if you got hungry. Yupp, you could even get a platter of London's Fish & Chips here! We had a bite at Granger & Co., a hit in London. Food was excellent. In addition, there were statues around the town but no description on them :(

An exciting town indeed!

Chinese security guards who looked like British guards, minus the bearskins and horses!!!

Prince Street

Couples taking their pre-wedding photo shoots

More couples

It was a cold 9 degrees Celsius, mind you!

This is a replica of the Christ Church in Bristol, United Kingdom

Shops opposite the church

Bond

Shakespeare?

Granger & Co. We had lattes and a pizza. Pizza was yummy!

Darwin?

Princess Diana

Florence Nightingale

Hostel

Luxurious villas across Thames Town

Loved this...groom carried bride's heels!

More couples

Apartments

Oxford Street

A florist

Wedding shop

Tea house

Another couple

Winston Churchill with Starbucks!!!

I loved observing this couple; bride's dress was uniquely pretty!

Cheongsam shop

Jewellery shop with a cute puppy boss!

Another couple in traditional Chinese wedding attire

We had a grand time exploring Thames Town. I was reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaally glad and thankful that it is not a ghost town. I am happy that people kept it alive and hope it will continue to be a busy tourist place.

Nevertheless, I was upset there's no Marks & Spencer! No Harrods! No Paddington bear!

The grand metro station at Songjiang!