(Agency). If some of the towns features dont look authentic or fit with the reality of the original landmark, Belfast-born Rice shared the following explanation: English designers were bound to the whims of the Chinese developers. Western opinion has been critical, but ironically one of the biggest critics is the towns architect, Tony Mackay. However it seems disingenuous to point to architecture as the reason for town vacancy; if the working-class cant afford to buy the homes, does it matter what the houses look like? written by a team of long-term, opinionated and knowledgeable writers and editors. Puxi. Weddings are big business in China and finding the right venue is crucial. But the elegant quarters distinguish Shanghai from other Chinese cities, and municipal officials decided to turn to the beautiful relics of the imperialist era for inspiration - this time on their terms. Industry would be supported by proposed high-tech factories. We call the knock-off Thames Town bizarre and kitschy, but we forget it wasnt built for us. In the case of Thames Town, WS Atkins won the bid for design while Shanghai Songjiang New City Construction was enlisted for the build. Property description: The Property is several office units located on the 10th floor of China Merchants Tower, which is a 39-level office building completed in 1995 situated at (French Concession) 65-sqm 1-br lane house on Middle Fuxin Road for Rmb9200 We currently have a 65-sqm lane house for rent, which is with one bedroom, one living room, one Save this search in order to receive a daily email with the best luxury properties available on the market, 2023 LuxuryEstate by Luxury Media Ltd. All rights reserved. Dream of Britain. Red phone booths and actual British post boxes are scattered about town; the lamp posts were even imported from England. Thames Town is a new town in Songjiang District, about 30 kilometres from central Shanghai. Sign Up. Our annual reports and investor updates can be found online. Top ways to experience Thames Town and nearby attractions Private Transfer between Shanghai Thames Town and City Hotels from $40.00 per adult (price varies by group size) Private Day Trip to Zhujiajiao Water Town w/Flexible Shanghai Highlights 31 Recommended Bus Tours from $169.00 per adult (price varies by group size) If you look past the red post-boxes and telephone kiosks you'll see this is Thames Town, a British-themed development in Songjiang City, just 20 miles from the throbbing centre of China's biggest city, Shanghai. Songjiang was soon as English as double-decker buses and warm beer. There's almost no repetition in the design," said Rice, who has been working on Thames Town for over three years. Find and compare apartments for rent in Shanghai. There is also an exceptionally efficient public transport system throughout the city and the superfast maglev trains which connect Shanghai to the charming nearby towns of Zhouzhuang and Wuzhen at a speed of 431km per hour. Search by Area. Our integrity, honesty and professionalism is what gives our clients, colleagues, investors and business partners the confidence to work with us. Thames Town is located in the new town of Songjiang, about an hour from downtown. Houses sold quickly in Thames Town, but the middle class didn't come as planned. Paul Rice, principal architect on the WS Atkins contract, admitted we are aware of the Disneyland implications. This could become a joke if built in the wrong way. Shanghais home cost-to-income ratio is five times higher than the most expensive U.S. metropolitan areas, yet in 2013 Chinas GDP-per-capita was five times lower than that of the United States. Nordic Town represents Scandinavian living, while in Barcelona Town you can do your shopping down a Chinese Ramblas. "We began the sales in 2004 and have been selling our houses step by step. Songjiang will be home to seven universities, the biggest shopping mall in the world, and a range of high-tech firms that reads like a directory of Fortune 500 companies. Our experience and expertise spans the globe, with over 700 offices across the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. CENTURY 21. Enjoy your life and holiday. In the hopes of luring half a million people off the crowded streets of the world's largest city and gentrifying its unfashionable outskirts, nine new suburban communities were planned. 2023 Cond Nast. Live in Thames Town.. Contact Agent. http://shanghaiproperties.tumblr.com/ This is intended as a real town. 2023 LuxuryEstate by Luxury Media Ltd. All rights reserved. The replica town was completed in 2006 but has remained desolate and deserted . A release from the SPC seemed oblivious to the quirks: Visitors will soon be unable to tell where Europe ends and China begins.. Founded in the UK in 1855, Savills is one of the world's leading property agents. Please use and/or share my information with a C21 Agent to contact me about my real estate needs. A train line is under construction to cut the journey from the city to 15 minutes. In China a copy can be a sign of respect and the process is seen as an art. By subscribing to our newsletter(s) you agree to our User Agreement and Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement. Compared to some other Chinese towns, it will be a pleasant place to live.. The design of Thames Town has remained largely faithful to English influence even if theres randomness to the application. Visit the website or call (86) 021 5102 8671! wouldnt also share with our own friends and family. Top 10 real estate sustainability trends to look out for in 2023. Examples of this include: setting your privacy preferences, logging in to your Savills account, or filling in forms. These cookies are used to enhance the performance of the Savills website, as without them certain functions of the website may not be available. There are steps you can take to make navigating this difficult time a little easier. But Thames Town is not completely empty; the classic English cues have proved a popular backdrop for newlyweds, where English-themed weddings are in vogue. Portfolio by Savills seamlessly blends the latest trends, inspirational lifestyle content, and the worlds finest properties with the expert insight and analysis you would expect from Savills. Foreigners who are looking to rent or buy a luxury home in Shanghai need not worry about the language barrier as English is widely spoken. It's certainly true that Thames Town is more imaginatively constructed than the usual Chinese new town. 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We're here to provide you with more information, answer any questions you may have, or connect you with the right people to help with your needs. [1][2] High house prices led to few permanent residents moving to the . Shanghai Real Estate & Homes For Sale in Shanghai, China | CENTURY 21 Global Properties Agents Offices Location Shanghai, China Save Search Sort by Price high-to-low Homes For Sale: China Shanghai (1) 1,700,000 CNY $ 246,583 USD , , Shanghai, China 854 sq. Savills is committed to eliminating discrimination and encouraging diversity amongst our workforce. Update it for a better experience. Strolling beneath the dreaming spire of the town's sandstone church, along leafy avenues of red-bricked homes or enjoying the comforting lawn of the village green, the solid rock of Georgian townhouses, you start checking the road signs to see which part of England you are in. Otherwise, the homes stray minimally from the British prescription and the experience can still be surprisingly authentic. ft. - 79.33 m 2 2 bedrooms - 1 bath 1 (1 Result) Shanghai The beautiful houses, the greens, and more and more people have their own vehicles so they would like to live in. We never give an opinion or recommendation that we "The town is a good place to live. The attraction is seeing 8/10th-scale half-timbered homes, forever-empty pubs, and red British phone boxes in China. The version of your browser is no longer supported. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Nearby Holly Health neighborhood looks right out of the oak suburbs of Surrey. Now a member of the state council, Ju planned for nine locations each featuring a different international theme: [ France Tianducheng | Germany An Ting | Spain Feng Cheng | Scandanavia Luo Dian | Italy Pu Jiang | Canada Feng Jing | Netherlands Gao Giao | England Song Jiang | China Zhu Jia Jiao ]. The commission believed that to a non-connoisseur of Anglo architecture, the buildings looked British enough. According to Lu, Ninety-nine of 100 Chinese will tell you they dont know Italian from Spanish from French. That means the cheapest villa, at 307 square metres,. The borough known as Thames Town was part of a 2001 initiative to move millions from Shanghais city center into nine international suburbs. From Shanghai, a trip down the Metro Line 8 to Songjiang Xincheng, then a short taxi ride to Thames Town. SmartShanghai.com is an independent media publication dedicated to honesty and editorial transparency. In China, a copy does not share the negative connotation of its western counterpart as there are distinct differences between Chinese and Western attitudes toward facsimiles. See below for further information about the categories of cookies used on our site and your current preference settings. It's not just British houses. Property description: The Property is several office units located on the 10th floor of China Merchants Tower, which is a 39-level office building completed in 1995 situated at. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a full-service spa. The church has re-opened with a priest and even a Christian-themed gift shop. * Some listings may not be available in map view. NO AGENT FEE WILL BE CHARGED! The initiative was established by the Shanghai Planning Commission in 2001 as part of a policy to decentralize and shift populations away from the congested city center. The majority of the stores are still empty, there are no amusement rides, and the town doesnt have official hours of being open or closed. Two billion yuan (about $330 million) was spent over three years to create Merrie Olde England from scratch out of the rice paddies. , . We also have other lane houses, apartments, old houses and villas in the former French Concession. Planner Tony Mackay acknowledged the limitations of recreating a different culture in a foreign land, but admits it has this almost dreamlike quality of something European.. 3 weeks ago by ZHRE (Agency) Xuhui District - Old Xuhui. Thames Town, a representation of British architectural civilisation, has integrated itself into Songjiang, rejuvenating this ancient land with its modernity and vitality," is how the developers, Shanghai Henghe Real, trumpet the project on their website. These cookies record your activity on the Savills website and our partners may use that information to show you adverts that they think you will be most interested in when you visit other websites. +91-9879950702 Monday - Friday 10:00 - 7:30 Rakhiyal, Ahmedabad, Gujarat . Thames Town Hotel Deals Grand Mercure Shanghai Hongqiao 369 Xian Xia Road, Shanghai, Shanghai, 200336 $58 per night Jan 20 - Jan 21 Stay at this 4.5-star luxury hotel in Shanghai. Most were empty and waiting for suitors. Please reach out to our sales team through a contact channel below: Our editors and admins will review your message and respond to your inbox, Tell our editors about wrong, outdated or missing information on this page, Tell our tech team about something that isnt working the way it should, Reach out to us with feedback or ideas, or learn how to promote your Business. For Sale: 950000 - Single Family, 5 bed, 4 bath, sqft at 59 THAMES Street in Middlesex Centre. But if we import them to China, people can save money while experiencing foreign culture, photos & story idea courtesy correspondent, a copy of her establishment popped up almost 5,800 miles away in China, five times lower than that of the United States, Forgotten Seattle: Abandoned Streets and Buildings from the Citys Early Years, ADX Florence: The U.S.s Most Secure Prison, Where to Download and Play RetroPie ROMs with Emulators, 5 reasons why a student needs to follow the daily routine, Summer Will Never Be Hot Again with These Home Cooling Tips, Canadas Approach to Online Gambling Over the Years, Employee Motivation: How to Empower Your Team Motivation, Comprehending the Difficulties of Android Device Management. They just know it costs a lot and its different so its good.. To date, 75 per cent of the houses are sold out and most of the customers are local people," says Ni Jungzeng of Shanghai Henghe. Home; Properties. Thames Town is a defiantly low-rise development for a country where urban planners like to build on the grandest scale imaginable, and progress has been marked out in huge skyscrapers and vast open developments which dwarf the individual. He built replicas of palaces from his conquered rivals as trophies from his conquests. There are 822,918 real estate listings found in China. With a garden maze and a mock castle -- the windmill was cancelled -- some critics might compare Thames Town to a theme park, recreating Ye Olde England for homesick expatriates and aspirational, moneyed Chinese, but Rice dismisses comparisons with Disneyland. The version of your browser is no longer supported. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff . 4. "What makes it a success is the fact that it's a pedestrian-centred town, it's a real place. Though these cookies cannot be switched off, you can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but please be aware that this will stop some parts of the Savills website from functioning as intended. Turning any of these cookies off may affect your experience of the site. While Songjiang District is an ancient prefecture which predates by far the establishment of Shanghai, Songjiang New . Developers are targeting British companies such as Tesco and Sainsbury to add to the authentic high-street feel so the town's expected 10,000 residents can shop in true British style. An international design competition was held to win the design contracts. All rights reserved. The client reassured us when people move in and it becomes a shoe shop or it becomes a clothing shop, theyll change the name.. Whether you're planning to sell, rent or are undecided, we have an expert who can help. Rice believes that people will respond better to this more personal style of development. For perspective: New York has a ratio of 7.85. Savills plc, incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Keep yourself informed on the real behind the real estate headlines, our podcast brings you engaging and insightful discussion with experts across our global business on the issues that matter most in property. Insight & Opinion is our hub for residential, commercial and rural articles and research from experts offering industry-leading advice and analysis. Explore the world's oddities every week with Ken Jennings, and check out his book Maphead for more geography trivia. Sales and marketing would be handled by Shanghai Henghe Real Estate. If you want to visit, dont expect much in the way of activities. (No, not that guy. We may also use information recorded by these cookies to see how well these adverts are performing. All content copyright document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); Savills. The real estate company wasted no time effusing praise for the project. Copy Towns in China on January 02, 2008-Newly married chinese couples pose in the streets of Thames town,a british themed town near Shanghai. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. Part of Chinas One City, Nine Towns initiative, it was built from scratch in just over three years at a cost of about 2 billion ($330m/197m/238m). Like its small-town models in Britain, the central focus is a market square, surrounded by medieval buildings, explains Paul Rice, architect with the British consulting engineers and town planners WS Atkins, which is building the project: "The idea is organic growth. Get in touch with a China real estate agent who can help you find the home of your dreams in China. Enjoy sunlight, enjoy nature. But China has a history of perfecting copies, beginning with its first emperor Qin Shi Huang. In this week's Maphead column, we visit Thames Town, a little bit of England 40 minutes from bustling downtown Shanghai. Top ways to experience Thames Town and nearby attractions Private Transfer between Shanghai Thames Town and City Hotels from 3,396.80 per adult (price varies by group size) Hangzhou Private Customized Day Trip from Shanghai by Bullet Train 41 Recommended Bus Tours from 23,353.02 per adult (price varies by group size) References to other failed project cities were predictable and rampant. Ultimately thats what the Shanghai Planning Commission wanted, even if it the result wasnt rooted in authenticity. Commercial occupancy of the city has improved since the city was opened in 2006; a few fashion retailers have appeared, along with some art galleries and corner shops selling various jewelry and trinkets. Its not the theme park feel or the kitschy nature of the town which has rendered it a ghost town. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? It doesnt look quite right, opines Mackay. The distance between Thames Town and Shanghai not to mention the daily rush hour commuters must contend with has seen most owners opt to stay in the city. Shanghai is composed of 17 districts, each with their own identity. The towns main square and classic church offer a picturesque landscape for wedding photographers. His son, who runs an architecture firm in Frankfurt.) A lack of residents has resulted in empty storefronts in Thames Town. (French Concession) 65-sqm 1-br lane house on Middle Fuxin Road for Rmb9200 We currently have a 65-sqm lane house for rent, which is with one bedroom, one living room, one kitchen room, and one washing room in Shanghai's former French Concession. Cookies are a small file saved on your computer that help store preferences and other information thats used on the web pages you visit. You can find us at: Room 3601, 360 Changshou Road, Shanghai, China For more information about how we and our partners use cookies on our site, see our Cookie Policy. Thames Town amazing property sale 3br 123sqm with river view and garden contact (eng and chi) +8613482506069 thames town songjiang shanghai property investment sale river view garden 3 bedroom 123 sqm Thames Town thames town songjiang shanghai property investment All that is missing is the reassuring thwock of a leather cricket ball against willow bat, yellow car licence plates, the scent of Yorkshire pudding and beef and gravy. Approach Home of Shanghai; we are offering houses for sale in Shanghai. I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Retail would be supported by faux-English shops while a push was made to lure grocers such as Tesco and Sainsburys. The town covers a total area of about 1,000,000 square meters (247 acres), with a total construction area of 500,000 square meters (124 acres). As you walk down the cobblestoned streets to the village green, you pass Edwardian town homes surrounded by neat privet hedges, and white stucco Victorian terraces nearer to the high street. Where better to get Four Weddings and a Funeral cachet for your white wedding than in Thames Town's church, which is modelled on one in Clifton in Bristol. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Up to 20% off & extra perks with Booking.com Genius Membership, $6 off a $50+ order with this AliExpress discount code, 10% off selected orders over 100 - eBay voucher code, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK February 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this February, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. There are nine towns in the master plan and their templates are the old European quarters of Shanghai. The proportions are wrong. It was built by the Songjiang New City Construction and Development Company, a semi-private enterprise, linked to the local government. Taste authentic British style small town. There were also discussions regarding construction of a new shopping mall in Songjiang to rival some of the largest in the world. "I think lots of people will want to live there. Despite obvious vacancies around town, real estate firm Shanghai Henghe announced brisk sales. To sweeten the deal of the "One City, Nine Towns" plan, the new 'burbs were each designed to resemble the cities of some Western nation. Thames Town (Chinese: is the English name for a new town in Songjiang District, about 30 kilometres (19 mi) from central Shanghai, China. 2 . Not ready to buy yet? In early 2001, the Shanghai Planning Commission launched a massive experiment. Here's a mock-Tudor pub, there's a fish-and-chip shop. On the opposite bank the new district of Pudong is the symbol of modern opulence and advanced technology. Reported asking prices for three-bedroom villas reached 6 million ($1M/585k/706k), pricing the homes out of the market for the intended professor, student, and factory workers. Whether buying a townhouse or selling a country cottage, leasing corporate office space or renting farmland, our experts make it their business to understand your needs and help you find the right property. Enjoy your life and holiday. Originally intended as a traditional medieval market town, property . Registered number: 2122174. Shanghai Henghes literature boasted: Culture creates value. Get in touch with a Shanghai real estate agent who can help you find the home of your dreams in Shanghai. Savills is at the forefront of exploring and developing new capabilities, bringing together people and technology to push boundaries and take real estate to a new level. The only people you see are the occasional wedding party taking photographs. From integrated sustainability to engagement rather than avoidance. If not for the Chinese characters on the signs, it might be hard to tell where you were in the world. The average home price-to-income ratio, a statistic tracked around the world, sees some of its highest numbers in China. The Tudor, Victorian, and Georgian-style homes still beckon to Chinese Anglophiles, but rapidly escalating prices have kept them out of reach for all but the wealthy. It will be a success for its human, very intimate scale," he says. But this is a working community, not a theme park. Find out more about functional cookies here. The Shanghai property market is under pressure and some analysts wonder if the satellite towns will ever be filled. Yes, I would like more information from C21. Our virtual options are still available if you prefer. By clicking Send, I agree a C21 Agent may contact me by phone or text message including by automated means about real estate services, and that I can access real estate services without providing my phone number. female donkey and male horse; john larroquette height; A sign at the entrance reads: Welcome to Thames Town. Real estate for sale in Shanghai A wide range of offers with photos and prices Help in finding and buying property Free advice. Lu says the exotic is a reflection of wealth in China, so clients buy into a development to differentiate themselves from the commoners. Shanghai-based architect Tong Ming sheds more light on the differing Chinese tastes: The way to live best is to eat Chinese food, drive an American car, and live in a British house.. Some point to the faux appearance or inaccurate scaling of the buildings. Some 400 million people from the countryside are expected to move into urban areas, which means China needs 3,000 new towns or cities by 2020. On second thought, that just might be worth a visit. http://www.facebook.com/frank.li.12935756 Registered office: 33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD. Others cite the cultural considerations, such as the Chinese custom of a tightly-knit village lifestyle conflicting with the progressive urban experiments conducted by the Shanghai Planning Commission. The fish and chips pub was copied from The Cross in Chester, while another reflects building cues from Lyme Regis, Dorset. Find out more about strictly necessary cookies here. "Disneyland is a dangerous term to use. China (Shanghai) - Residential Leasing Team. Located in the Songjiang River, the town of Thames is an English villa area with gothic churches, Victorian terraces, castles, fountains, squares and many coffee shops, galleries and galleries. The replica town was designed and built for Chinese citizens like office administrator Zhang Li, who admitted she couldnt afford to travel to England: Usually if you want to see foreign architecture, you have to go abroad. The iconic red phone boxes of the British Isles stand next to quaint corner shops.