Whitewashed houses with blue domes, narrow and winding streets, beautiful beaches – the island of Santorini in Greece is a unique holiday paradise. Or at least unique until recently: the popular holiday home was recreated down to the last detail in southwest China.
It is a well-known fact that many counterfeit products that appear deceptively genuine come from China. Now an entire holiday paradise has been copied in Yunnan province. The ‘Santorini Dali Resort’ is very close to the original – but instead of being on the sea, the ‘made in China’ replica is located on a lake.
Blogger enthusiastic about ‘convincing replica’
More than a billion euros have been invested in the project in recent months – and it is far from finished. So far, Santorini’s typical whitewashed houses with cozy terraces and lake views have been recreated on 3,700 hectares. “It’s a convincing replica,” an Italian travel blogger told The Sun.
“I have been to Greece several times, including Santorini, and I can understand the fascination of the Chinese replica,” says Yasmin von Roon. However, the essence of Greece is “irreplaceable,” the blogger judged. Some followers have a different opinion: “It looks better than the real Santorini,” says one user. Another is less impressed by the copy: ‘Santorini from Temu’, is his harsh assessment, referring to the controversial Chinese low-cost platform.
Appropriately enough, the Chinese resort boasts Greek-themed restaurants, small shops and, of course, plenty of accommodation options. It is already very popular as a wedding location among young Chinese couples.
However, a holiday in Santorini “made in China” is not exactly cheap – a night at the resort costs in between230 and 260 euros. Unlike a holiday in distant Europe, a trip to ‘fake Greece’ is probably more affordable for Chinese people than a long-distance trip to the real Greece.
Source: Krone
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