The latest victim of China's shanzhai (knockoff) culture? The Terracotta Warriors.
Photos circulating of sad-looking versions of China's most famous historical statues have gone viral online this week, after a post from a Douban user recounting his trip to Xi'an went viral. Following the post's popularity, images from an undercover CCTV reporter's exposé on fake Terracotta Warriors resurfaced.
Here's what the real ones look like, in case you need a primer:
The colorful and bizarre-looking ripoff warriors can be found at questionable locations along the "East Tourist Route" in Xi'an, including the Qinling Underground Palace (a 200-square foot exhibition) and the World's Eight Wonders Museum.
World's Eight Wonders Museum
World's Eight Wonders Museum
Qinling Underground Palace
The undercover reporter found them after visiting the (legitimate) Huaqing Palace. There, he was met by a driver who offered to take him to see the fake statues.
The reporter also found fake horse statues and other artifacts, including a statue that was claimed to be from Ancient Greece.
Fake "Three Ancient Greek Goddesses" statue
There was even a tour guide!
Another rather embarassing copycat item found at one of the exhibits was a vase adorned with rams on the side. On left: the knockoff vase, on right: the original.
The vase was allegedly dated back to the Shang Dynasty, but a poor translation into English says that it came from "Business":
[Images via Netease, South Money]
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