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Yes Theory travels to Tianducheng, a city designed to resemble Paris, after online information leads them to expect an abandoned place. The team, including returning original member Derin, finds occupied apartments and shops, meets local friend Yan and speaks with residents and real-estate agents. They walk along Champs-Élysées, explore replicas of Parisian landmarks and artwork, and learn that the town is an active community. An elderly basketball player and a shared meal lead to personal connections, while the evening brings dancing in the town square. Their visit challenges what they had read online and shows daily life in a place with Paris-inspired buildings.
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An unexpected visit to Tianducheng
Yes Theory travel to Tianducheng, a Chinese city built to resemble Paris. The team, including returning original member Derin, expects an abandoned place based on information they found online. The journey also gives them a sense of the scale of China's infrastructure projects, including cities comparable in size to Paris that may be unfamiliar to viewers outside the country.
On arrival, they notice how different the city looks from other parts of their trip. Parisian landmarks and artwork have been recreated, and they walk along a street named Champs-Élysées. The daytime street is quiet, but the hotel is open and well maintained. Their room costs around $35 per person. Near the Eiffel Tower replica, they explore an abandoned construction site and find a large bird's nest.
Residents and evening life
Their friend Yan helps them meet residents and explore the area. The team discovers occupied apartments and shops, challenging their assumption that the city is empty. They speak with real-estate agents and residents, meet an elderly basketball player and share a meal with local people. The conversations shift their attention from the Paris-inspired buildings to the people who live there.
In the evening, residents gather to dance in the town square. The scene contrasts with the quiet daytime street and the empty-city impression the team brought with them. Their visit follows a change in perspective: Tianducheng has replicas of Parisian landmarks, but it is also a place with homes, shops and an active community. The team leaves having spent time with residents and learned about daily life in the town. The team also examines an abandoned construction site near the Eiffel Tower replica, where they find a large bird's nest. Their room costs about $35 per person, adding a practical detail to the visit. The city is not simply an architectural set: its streets, apartments and shops support daily routines, while the town square becomes a gathering place after dark. The conversations with residents and real-estate agents help the visitors understand how the place is used and how it differs from the image they formed online.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: Is Tianducheng really abandoned?
- A: The team arrives expecting an abandoned city based on online information, but finds occupied apartments and shops. They meet residents and see people dancing in the town square at night.
- Q: What features of Paris are recreated in Tianducheng?
- A: The city has replicas of Parisian landmarks and artwork, including an Eiffel Tower replica and a street named Champs-Élysées. The team walks through these Paris-inspired areas.
- Q: Who helps Yes Theory meet people in Tianducheng?
- A: Their friend Yan helps the team explore and meet residents. They speak with local people and real-estate agents, meet an elderly basketball player and share a meal.
