thames Town: China’s Quiet English Village
A unique architectural experiment just outside Shanghai, China, has resulted in a strikingly realistic, yet sparsely populated, English village. Thames Town, located in the Songjiang District, approximately 30 kilometers from central Shanghai, was designed to mimic a conventional english market town, complete with cobbled streets, Tudor-style buildings, and iconic red telephone boxes.
Despite its picturesque appearance and popularity as a wedding photography location, Thames Town is often described as a “ghost town.” The progress aimed to house thousands of residents, but this target population was never reached, raising questions about the viability of themed city concepts in modern urban planning.
The area stands as a notable example of China’s architectural ambitions, offering a European aesthetic in contrast to the country’s rapidly developing urban landscape. A photograph of Thames Town, originally published by the BBC, illustrates the striking resemblance to a traditional English setting.