Faking it: replica architecture sweeps China – in pictures

Three pebble shapes make up the design for Zaha Hadid's Wangjing Soho building – still under construction – in Beijing Photograph: Courtesy Zaha Hadid architects

The Meiquan 22nd Century building in Chongqing, south-west China, which is being erected so fast it may be completed before Zaha Hadid's design Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

And here's the beautiful town of Hallstatt in Austria, all alpine chalets, striking spires and lakeside views Photograph: WestEnd61/Rex Features

And here is another view of Hallstatt. Except this is a Chinese replica of the entire town in Huizhou City, Guangdong. It even has the same name (and spire and pastel chalets and angel statues) Photograph: Alex Hofford/Sinopix/Rex Features

The Manhattan skyline in New York Photograph: Rudi Von Briel/Getty Images

And here's China's version of Manhattan in Tianjin – complete with knock-off Rockefeller and Lincoln centres and its own Hudson River Photograph: Imaginechina/Corbis

Over to France, where Le Corbusier's Ronchamp chapel melds Christian worship with modern art Photograph: Alamy

And back to China – Zhengzhou in particular – where a copycat Ronchamp chapel was partly demolished after an intervention by the Fondation Le Corbusier. A barbeque restaurant now operates out of its ruins Photograph: CAIP/Blogspot