The Fake-British Ghost Town In China: Thames Town

When Collin sent in this pitch for a guest video, it was so good that I briefly considered turning him down so I could make it myself. Go subscribe to his channel! / collinrocka
Welcome to Thames Town, the fake-British ghost town in China. Why did they build it? Who lives there? And why is it all so quiet? Today, Collin from the Collin Sphere Travel Vlog is guesting on this channel to investigate!
EDM Detection Mode by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommon...)
Source: incompetech.com...
Artist: incompetech.com/

[@Ctab-fp9nt]

“I’m still in the Arctic” perfect way to start a video

[@eastpavilion-er6081]

If anyone watching in 2019: in 2017 and 18, a lot of properties in this town are regulated and resold and finally reopened, and now it is a successful town, with real people and real shops. After a year's redevelopment, it's not a ghost town any more.

[@clockworkkirlia7475]

Woohoo! I'd love to see a weird mini "Anglotown" properly bustling.

[@rubysky5359]

Ooh I'd love to visit it now 👁️👄👁️

[@gpaderx6105]

nice.

[@57thorns]

Nice. It was probably inevitable as so much was unsold the speculators would, eventually, have to bite the bullet and sell with a loss.

[@Liggliluff]

That's great to hear. I felt like this would happen eventually. The town is still mostly in good shape, so still worth moving in. Great that it finally happened.

[@Dunewarrior00]

"... the replica version of London has the exact same property bubble problem as the real version of London." - Wow, they're so good they even copied the problems of London.

[@williambbq]

I like how they captured the vibe of a British high street by having abandoned shops.

[@AutodidacticPhd]

A brand new, purpose built community being rendered useless by real estate speculation before it was even used or tested... quite an interesting living monument to the disconnect between the financial and the material economies in the modern world.

[@CollinAbroadcast]

Such a well spoken comment, cheers!

[@RoskinGreenrake]

Such a cool idea to have in China and looks so well made BUT EVEN THIS is a ghost town ''10 YEARS'' ON??

[@woobilicious.]

It's not destroyed by "speculation", it's the government's absolute control over property and it artificially controlling supply, that drives prices sky high. It's not the disconnect between finance and material world, it's the discount between the governments pet projects, and reality. Obviously if you build tiny little vilas in the most populated city in the world, the only people who could afford it are the rich elite.

[@gamermapper]

If China would ACTUALLY be socialist it wouldn't be a problem

[@AutodidacticPhd]

@@gamermapper Well, I mean, financialism *is* an inherently capitalist problem.

[@CollinAbroadcast]

Pardon the lack of red shirt! I just want to thank you all for watching this and for your feedback, whether positive or constructive and I also want to give a HUGE HUGE thanks to Tom for allowing the 4 of us to create guest videos for his channel! If you enjoyed this video, guess what? You're in luck because there are more ghost towns near-by and they all have different themes. My goal is to do all of them! I will be doing one of these 5 to start... Venice, Holland, Germany, Sweden, Paris. So... I'll let you choose which one is next (comment below) and you can subscribe to my channel if you'd like to experience these future videos (and other travel related videos)! Thanks!

[@KatyLawson]

I feel I now need to visit all these ghost towns around the world. Thank you for your awesome video, Collin, I'll check out more of your channel

[@CollinAbroadcast]

Thank you! It really is an eerie experience!

[@TheTrueRandomness]

I came to the comments to comment on the lack of red shirt and there you are already. I guess we can let it slide this one time ;)

[@CollinAbroadcast]

Thank you! Such an oversight! D'oh

[@smallkid444]

Hi Collin, Found this really interesting! It was a great watch, I might go visit there on my traveling holiday in November. Thank you for the content. :)

[@FindecanorNotGmail]

I think even weirder is Hallstatt, China - a replica of the small town of Hallstatt, Austria. Not just a copy of the same style, but a copy of each and every house.

[@CollinAbroadcast]

Should I do that one next?

[@ashesrockstotaldrama]

+Collin Sphere Travel Vlog yes!!!

[@SallyLePage]

Great job Collin! (And proof that Tom _didn't_ force us to wear red T-shirts!)

[@CollinAbroadcast]

So I diiiid follow directions! Ha! (But really, how did I not wear a red shirt?)

[@slikrx]

Because, given the locale, you were afraid of the Star Trek red-shirt onus?

[@niboe1312]

I was genuinely curious if he had forced you or not. Now I know! :D

[@CollinAbroadcast]

He may or may not still have a knife to my neck

[@H4PPYx337]

+Collin Sphere Travel Vlog next on things you might not know how much blood it takes to dye a shirt red

[@CharlesTheClumsy]

I think you should've used another song. Not because the song is bad but because it didn't quite match to the feeling I got from the rest of the content. Besides that, awesome video and good luck!

[@CollinAbroadcast]

Hey thanks! Unfortunately I was limited to KZbin music. But it's all good. At least you enjoyed it!

[@leea8706]

+Collin Sphere Travel Vlog I liked how the way you moved your body when you spoke matched the music that was playing, it was like you were dancing along. Haha. I genuinely enjoyed this video, I liked how there was tons of information, I didn't feel like I had any unanswered questions.

[@CollinAbroadcast]

Well I like the way you moved your body while commenting, it matched your keystrokes

[@CasperUK31]

Or no music at all which is one of the reasons I like watching Tom Scotts videos. Things like this don't need music.

[@joshuathompson4242]

I disagree

[@VenseyNess]

2 weeks ago: Tom gets a sex change 1 week ago: Tom gets an age change This week: Tom gets his shirt changed

[@CollinAbroadcast]

I seriously "WOOOW'D" out loud on that one. That was hilarious. Cheers Edit: This comment should really be higher up

[@OsthatoAlfakyn]

Clearly this is the most radical departure from the norm

[@tennicktenstyl]

+1 (I'm on mobile)

[@makarabaduk1754]

The shirt change was the most radical of the three surgical procedures...

[@nufailkm1772]

ഏഹ്ഗ്ലീഷ് film

[@fwank49]

I'm Disappointed by the lack of red shirt, but the video itself was great!

[@CollinAbroadcast]

I was worried about the lack of red shirt. Glad you approve!

[@wouterlont7787]

Great video overall. Interesting topic, good footage, but the 'background' "music" was terrible. Would have been way better without it....

[@CollinAbroadcast]

Thanks for the feedback! I'll note that moving forward!

[@TheBluMeeny]

He isn't saying to have no music, just this particular pick, which was a bit obnoxious in my opinion as well.

[@CollinAbroadcast]

Yea, I was limited to only the KZbin library. Not much to work with but I did the best I could. Hopefully it's not too traumatizing!

[@tahaistheboss98]

+Collin Sphere Travel Vlog dude! I thought you had like 100k subs, the quality is superb, although yes? The music should be more unnoticeable, yet still there!

[@CollinAbroadcast]

Yo! Spread the news and maybe I'll get there! But for real though, I really appreciate the feedback on the music, I will be aware of it in the future :D

[@TTMXMP]

3:58 'Euro Fashion' in Comic Sans. Just Chinese things.

[@CollinAbroadcast]

YES! I appreciate everyone that notices that. Reason I included it in the video! I have a grin on my face, lemme tell you that!

[@LouisOnAir]

This is my favourite guest video so far; it's just crazy how such a place can exist as abandoned and yet look like a Harry Potter set and be in China.

[@CollinAbroadcast]

I agree! With both of your comments!

[@MJackonYT]

Reminds me of the London themed area outside of Harry Potter World at Universal Studios

[@Daniii438]

I was there about 3 weeks ago because of this video (I live in shanghai) and it dosnt look like this in actuality, there are a lot of tourists and after 1h of looking for the obandoned shops, i gave up :/ they have a library (which people use) and other nice things there to keep tourists entertained. But sadly the way it was displayed in this video is not reality. I was hoping for a nice town without "working" shops (as displayed in the video) but I couldnt find many.

[@CollinAbroadcast]

Hey there! Did you go into the city center right by the Family Mart? All of those shops right in the square are abandoned as well as many others throughout the town. Of course there are some working shops there as well. I mention in the video that the town has about 1,000 people when it reality it should occupy "10 times of that" as well as saying many times over that it is a place mainly for tourism. I imagine because it is the summer months, more and more people like to come and check it out but it is definitely not a place where people are flocking to. Let me know your thoughts and thanks for watching

[@Daniii438]

Collin Abroadcast I did, then my eye sight has been really bad. That is very true and you make good points, I enjoyed the video, thank you.I´ll check it out during the winter again. Did you check out the library as well? I found the library/café very good looking!

[@hannesH3]

2:06 1984, almost ironic

[@12tone]

I can see why Tom wanted to steal this for himself... Awesome place, and really great video! I'm sure you've gotten enough flack over the non-red shirt already so I won't harp on that too hard...

[@CollinAbroadcast]

Hahahaha, I like you

[@ihateuserids]

Gotta love how the businesses and investors actually destroyed the very thing they were investing in. Otherwise, it would have been a great place to live

[@MerthanE]

I demand Tom to CGI a red shirt on him and reupload it.

[@CollinAbroadcast]

Ask and you shall receive! (Hopefully)

[@SonOfMuta]

I can’t stand Colin saying Shanghai as “Shunghai”

[@MonkeyJedi99]

Meh. ACCent accENT...

[@Bready_Player_Bun]

Idea for the greatest flash mob in history: Get a hundred thousand people from England, get them all into the town at night, then just set up shop and act like they'd always been there. Start making those calls.

[@theoriginaldylangreene]

That is an amazing idea. If someone is paying for the flight I'd be up for it.

[@JackT13]

Great video. Not sure about the cheesy background music though. Its a bit unnecessary

[@justwest]

Totally agree

[@CollinAbroadcast]

Noted! Thanks

[@ReFreshRC]

The music is awful.

[@PxThucydides]

This video provides an answer to a question I've had for some time: what is going to happen to the most desirable parts of all of our English-speaking cities? This is it: turned into empty, commercially extinct ghost towns. I live in Vancouver, and over the past five years, a flood of Chinese money has washed away my neighbors. One by one they've sold, the house gets knocked down, a new one goes up, automatic sprinklers, gardening service, and no one ever lives there. Ever. A third of the houses around me now sit empty. The houses are assets, not living space. Ten years ago there were children here. Not any more. Ten years ago there were dogs. Block parties. A community. Not any more. And our schools are in crisis because enrollments are dropping. Stores are closing. They closed a Starbucks. Not that we're short of those. But they closed one. I've wondered what happens if this goes on. This Thames Town is the answer. It'll all sit empty.

[@tonyzhu403]

Last Time I visited, it was still quite new and popular.

[@BOABModels]

This is exactly the problem with letter wealthy investors buy things they don't need rather than those who genuinely need accommodation.

[@TazzeOptical]

I just find it immensely satisfactory that investors shafted themselves in such a fashion, they have been punished without any legal action

[@palp1880]

this was a really interesting video, but i found it very difficult to follow because of the loud background music, it often overpowered your narration., either lower the music volume or consider dubbing the street taken audio with 'studio/broom cupboard audio.

[@CollinAbroadcast]

Thanks for the feedback, I will note that for future videos!

[@Ampera_]

I found the music fine and had no problem whatsoever following it. The music wasn't Tom's norm, but it wasn't bad nor too disruptive.

[@xdgfx_]

I disagree; I noted it and was glad it was there

[@IWubYooz]

I didn't even notice music was there until I read this comment.

[@bolozbolozboloz]

I understood clearly

[@KingTaltia]

"Something you've seen, and probably didn't want to." Celebrity nudes? Sunlight? TV Spoilers? Cube World Footage? WHAT IS IT MAN!

[@James-uv8hy]

2:56 hahaha you even managed to get the random Optimus Prime that's guarding the pub! When we went there we were amazed at how much like England the town was, but couldn't work out what significance the giant Transformer robot had :D

[@keikuru1]

This seems like it would be such a nice place to live if you were a student, what a shame that corporate greed got in the way of that. I feel bad for the university students. And I live in London.

[@CollinAbroadcast]

That's true. It really felt more like a university town than anything

[@jimkats1]

2:56 Optimus Prime? Is that what a British town would have? I would love to see that :D

[@MINKIN2]

This town does look like they have literally googled images of England and knocked the buildings up with no understanding of how an English town would have evolved through the ages. I think it's the scale of the area that is throwing it off. If you were to visit any "old town" in England, you would find that would evolved in to quite distinct areas such as Higher class Residential, Industrial, Commerce (Shops/Market place/Food etc), Redeveloped areas that would have been Slums, or a mixture of other aspects that historically defined the area. The point is, any one of those areas alone would be more than 1km squared in size themselves and you would not find the Higher class Residential homes so close to the industrial areas.

[@edwarddenholm7518]

no wonder they get so few visitors when the shop signs are written in comic sans 3:58

[@CollinAbroadcast]

Hahahaha

[@edwarddenholm7518]

Great vid btw bro

[@CollinAbroadcast]

Thanks Ed. I was hoping someone would notice the shop sign in Comic Sans. That was the whole reason I put that part in the video! I thought it was hilarious

[@MonkeyJedi99]

I get a great amount of enjoyment when greed (buying up property to drive up prices, for example) is paid dividends of negative cash flow.

[@MoChoudhury91]

I've been there, albeit during the day. It's actually very beautiful and there are some bars and restaurants that are in business. One thing that was surprising was the amount of people using the church as a backdrop for their wedding photographs. I managed to film 7 couples in one single snapchat video!

[@CollinAbroadcast]

Crazy hey?

[@MoChoudhury91]

+Collin Sphere Travel Vlog it is but Shanghai as a whole is truly fascinating. Do more videos related to Shanghai ;)

[@TwoWholeWorms]

An empty town full of houses that no-one can afford served by businesses that have been abandoned? Sounds like Zone 1 London to me. 11/10 for accuracy.

[@OrenUrbach]

What if you just live there, without paying anyone? I mean, it seems like you could and nobody would notice

[@CollinAbroadcast]

That's true. As long as you have a proper visa in China, you could. Or if you were Chinese, you could as well!

[@kagi95]

I think there's a community of people doing that around the world, usually in buildings planned on being demolished. They're called squatters.

[@DarkLink1996.]

@kagi95 Yeah, but there's no plans to demolish these. There's no people to notice or care that you're even in the area. The owners of these buildings have basically left them to whatever may come. Situation seems a bit different than you're average squatter.

[@NoriMori1992]

I honestly was thinking exactly the same thing.

[@Zahrul3]

People live there, but the vacancy rate is like 30% or something, and theyre only there to sleep

[@Tesl8n]

I've been to a couple of ghost towns in my life, one of which was abandoned in the last 20 years after the railroad couldn't support the last few residents. The strangest difference between those ghost towns and this one is how clean this one is. like, there's a couple of places where you see trash around, but most of the shots of the street and even a lot of the buildings are relatively clean, whereas the ghost towns I've visited were just littered with trash and things which looked fairly valuable. There were cars and play sets in one of the towns I saw, the kind of stuff I can't imagine casually leaving behind when you move! The difference between the two is really interesting.

[@gwenynorisu6883]

Curious that it's called Thames Town, when the canalside bit of it looks almost _exactly_ like the renovated canalside parts of central Birmingham. Like, I _live_ here, but if you'd shown me the photo without saying it was in China, I could have been fooled. Though the riverside bit looks one half Black Country, one half Stratford. And may well actually be like some part of the Thames, just not the bit that goes through London proper, therefore...? That tram is 100% out of place, though. I don't think we ever had anything that looked like that. It's got a much more American streetcar feel to it.

[@cuteypetz]

this seems so sad b/c those houses look really nice!

[@Liggliluff]

What I don't get is why someone rich hasn't moved in. You live away from civilisation and have plenty of space to roam. You kind of have your own town, but only own a house. - Then as cities expands, this town will likely be turned into a suburb of a nearby town.

[@NoirpoolSea]

It reminded me of a Second Life environment. Many beautiful places with nary an avatar to be seen. I have known for years about China's empty city problem but this was really over the top. The parallel with Easter Island is profound. At the end, all the villages were competing to build the biggest statues simply for the status as they chopped down the trees which were used to make fire to help split the rocks out of the mountain side and then to transport the finished works to their seaside locations. Madness.

[@whoeveriam0iam14222]

this must have been weird to film for Tom. video after video telling everybody you're not home and then announcing somebody to do the video. who so far have all done a great job

[@CollinAbroadcast]

Do not underestimate 'The Tom'

[@WillHirschUK]

Not so different from things like Citation Needed episodes, which are also filmed one after another on the same day. Weird to do, but at this point Tom must be a seasoned pro.

[@LuckeWent]

When I was there in the end of 2013, we saw the Swedish themed ghost town north of Shanghai called either "Lake Meilan" or "Lake Malaren" after the actual lake Mälaren. This description of these ghost towns appear to match perfectly. Not many people seemed to live there and the main purpose of the place felt like it was for couples to take wedding pictures.

[@thomasb8901]

Yeah, except Thames town is not a ghost town at all, there is a Starbucks, Baskin Robbins, a huge gym, a kindergarten and a few foreign restaurants. The houses there are the most expensive in Songjiang district and most of it is occupied. You only filmed the new mall they are currently building in the middle of the town. My friend has been living there for 8 years and just moved out of the house you see in the back at 1:30 last month. It is a nice retreat from the city but it gets packed on weekends though

[@TheTransforcer]

Crazy! And they were building another one too?! Crazier!

[@anotherwildeboy]

These guest videos are really interesting! You should do them another time

[@CollinAbroadcast]

I agree!

[@anotherwildeboy]

Good

[@gwoopington]

The other guest videos have been wonderful and presented by very coherent and interesting people, but I especially love this video. Details are presented informatively but still as though you're having a conversation with the presenter. It's really nice and the subject matter was definitely of interest to me already, so I'm glad such a captivating speaker presented this information to me.

[@CollinAbroadcast]

WOW! Thank you for such a wonderful comment! This definitely motivates me to keep making more! I will have more of these ghost town videos in the near future!

[@1UpsForLife]

3:57 comic sans x.x

[@CollinAbroadcast]

YES! You found the hidden Easter Egg!

[@ScienceC]

Awesome Job! Since it was so good, Ill cut you some slack for wearing the wrong shirt....

[@CollinAbroadcast]

Why didn't you mail me your shirt? No but for real though, I thought I was good because when I FIRST saw your video at the beginning of August, I remember the Mountain Dew shirt and totally forgot you changed halfway through the video. I thought I was in the clear with you taking the brunt of not wearing a red shirt. Then after seeing your video when it was posted I was like "fuuuuuuuuu!" Looks like @DrawCuriosity is in the clear!

[@ChrisMelville]

Sorry, I had to down-vote this. It would have been interesting, but it was unwatchable due to the f***ing MUSIC playing in the background COMPETING with the narration. I want to listen to what the guy is saying: not have it drowned out with a damn dance track.

[@Destro7000]

There are a lot of homeless people around, in UK, but also even there in Shanghai I'm sure. Seems saddening to have rich people just buy up the whole lot for '2nd homes' or have them sit unused. I feel that about any largely unused building I see in any country. The gap between the rich & poor continues to grow larger.

[@Woodshadow]

I knew Chinese investors were buying property in other countries and making prices skyrocket I didn't realize they did the same in China. We need to have high taxes on homes that are not owner occupied. PERIOD

[@MrMateczkoYT]

I wish Tom had guests on a regular basis. Giving smaller KZbinrs a good attention.

[@CollinAbroadcast]

Agree! :D

[@paulguth12]

Not even close to Britain: there aren't enough potholes and the sidewalks need to be patched several times with this cheap rough tarmac. Parking lots need to be half-flooded half-littered. I didn't notice any dog jobbies either. Every second store needs to be a bookie, chippy or a hairdresser's... Sounds strange, but I still miss it from time to time.

[@dannypeck96]

2:06 a statue of a book, which warns against communism, in a communist country that build a city in a capitalist style.... ok my head hurts

[@kevinm5940]

The book isn't about Communism, and China isn't even Communist as a country.

[@xiaoqi719]

well it's a bit exaggerated. I live at downtown Shanghai and I went to this Thames Town on weekends and holidays, usually with family and kids. I saw lot of tourists just chilled out there. beautiful scene. not as empty as the vid shows.

[@ArenasWorld]

The filter at 2:20 is a nice addition, but could do with much more subtle flickering, not sure whether that'd need a photo-sensitive epilepsy warning either. But overall nice video!

[@CollinAbroadcast]

I was wondering about that! I wanted a flicker but not too much! Thanks for the input

[@Enlightentite]

There is a European style town in Shenzhen as well, but I didn't see anyone living there.

[@8964TS]

I went here last weekend. It does have the feel of a small English town that hasn’t had any investment for ages. The buildings aren’t well maintained and many are empty, though there are two Starbucks, a Baskin Robbins and a Family Mart now, plus some small boutiques and restaurants. Still not quite what the developers had in mind though I’m sure.

[@thesmith2920]

Him explaining why no one lives there has me going, "ah, yes, capitalism"

[@jacobbentley9318]

Obviously didn't get the memo about the t-shirt

[@CollinAbroadcast]

GAHHH!!

[@jacobbentley9318]

+Collin Sphere Travel Vlog only kidding pal, loved the video

[@CollinAbroadcast]

Thanks buddy! Didn't take it seriously BTW!

[@Bleh911]

Let's just stop for a moment to appreciate the amazing painting in 3:46.

[@Brian-tn4cd]

Rewatching, there's an irony to China having a sculpture, as if celebrating, of George Orwell's 1984, i wonder if it was done on purpose

[@YoungWildMe]

Awesome tour! The exhibit looks great, big like from us! 👍👍

[@Jonic_P]

I was about to say how much this reminded me of the issue of property prices in my city, Vancouver, and then Tom brought up the same thing in terms of London... Cool video, kind've depressing...

[@CollinAbroadcast]

I know right?

[@safiyaturner-khan9249]

Kinda makes sense China has a city based on England when we have chinatown;)

[@hiboudeluxe]

ok but that "Euro Fashion" shop used comic sans... comic. sans.

[@TheBushdoctor68]

Great video. I thought it was weird to compare the empty town to The Truman Show though. That town was packed with actors. I thought it resembled being the survivor of an apocalypse. Like for example in [insert any appropriate movie title].

[@johnmccnj]

I liked the "blink and you'll miss it" closeup of 1984. I wonder who decided to include it in the display, and if he's out of prison yet?

[@CollinAbroadcast]

I wonder if they even know what it's about!

[@AngryKittens]

How has no one stolen everything yet?

[@CollinAbroadcast]

Here's your opportunity!

[@Valencetheshireman927]

There are fierce punishments in China against thieves.

[@justaramdomwanderer2490]

I was in university back when this 'town' was built, exaclty in this supposedly 'nearby' Songjiang university city. I haven't had and till this day, still don't have, any idea what the point was with this town. we thought it's a tourist spot, but heard there's nothing in it other than empty houses. and it was still relatively far away so i've never been there.

[@lambdalambdalambda257]

Oh... This is that guy that goes to flea markets in random Asian countries

[@THB192]

That last line from Tom killed me.

[@Ommelanden]

Rich investors and people buying second homes are one of the biggest cancers for cities

[@trefod]

All hail unregulated capitalism.

[@TheBluMeeny]

capitalism? In china? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[@Qman621]

Yes, shanghai is a less regulated economic zone. And serves those greedy bastards right, hope they spent a lot of money on that worthless property.

[@TheBluMeeny]

Quentin Lightner joke----> *your head*

[@Qman621]

I don't think that word means what you think it means

[@trefod]

Yes capitalism in China. We're out of the cold war era and box thinking and have been for decades.

[@jacobhayes9992]

When you you try to make a NPC village in Minecraft.

[@dogchaser520]

Tom should really consider adopting Collin's music.

[@Jeddostotle7]

So, it was gentrified before people even moved in?

[@DrawCuriosity]

Excellent job Collin! :) I love your easy going and happy personality as well as the pace of the video - it is definitely a place I'd be interested in visiting one day! :)

[@CollinAbroadcast]

Awesome and thanks! If you ever come to China, let me know!

[@DrawCuriosity]

I sure will ^_^ It is certainly on my bucket list of places to visit when I finish my PhD - if I can't beforehand.

[@mindmaster_osu]

Why no red shirt! At least people in the video have red shirts.

[@chasegilley1906]

This was very good of Tom to get guest hosts. This was a good video.

[@Kehwanna]

When you're so rich that you decide to build a city just for the hell of it.

[@_Piers_]

The strange thing is that it dosen't look at all British to me, I assume that it does to non-British people. To me it looks like a mishmash for French, German and Dutch...but that's probably because I'm not French, German or Dutch :)

[@RadagonTheRed]

As an English native I will say that it looks superficially convincing, however, when you actually scrutinise it you suddenly realise that it’s just a medium accuracy mock-up. Good effort though!

[@57thorns]

Of course it would fail to meet the price range for students unless someone actively decided to not gain as much money as possible. The new one, if aimed at the super rich from the start, will probably work much better, it will still be a ghost town, probably end up a locked community with secondary overnight houses for the super rich. So it would, in reality, be just as deserted, just that sevices would be more in tune with the actual residence so fewer abandonded shops.

[@Harry-tj6bl]

SHUNGHAI

[@WildtuinMichael]

Nice video, but PLEASE let this be a lesson not to use background music while speaking.

[@5ab14]

I visited this place around 6 or 7 years ago! Really interesting stuff!

[@CollinAbroadcast]

Is it more built up now do you remember? I'm curious

[@Quasihamster]

China: Builds lovingly made replica of an English town. English town: Stays unrealistically empty. 2020: Lemme fix that for ya.

[@CreativeTravelGuide]

Will have to check out Thames town on our visit - the phone box looked awesome but perhaps a little shorter than London!?

[@curtiscarpenter9881]

It should attract UK businesses and business people. Build it and they will come.

[@m4dn3zz]

Well done, Collin, but it feels so wrong to see a Tom Scott video not focused on a red shirt. I know everyone else has commented on this, but it's just...eerie.

[@CollinAbroadcast]

Hahaha, like your use of video commentary. At least the old man in the beginning was ALL RED.. RIght???!!

[@DomenBremecXCVI]

This guy is great, but no one can beat the last one... Tom should save the best for last

[@CollinAbroadcast]

I agree, Chase really did a fantastic job

[@DomenBremecXCVI]

Collin Sphere Travel Vlog You did too and you should be proud, but he kind of ruined it for those that would come behind him... It's like going to Austria (btw, I recomend) and they say: "Here's all the OMG stuff in Viena, now for everything else!"... It's still awesome all over the place, but there is just a slight difference.I hope you understand :)

[@CollinAbroadcast]

Hahaha, Chase has a bright future. Speaking of which, you wanna see an Austria ghost town? I think there's one here!

[@DomenBremecXCVI]

+Collin Sphere Travel Vlog It would be awesome to see every ghost town... You could make a series out of it :)

[@CollinAbroadcast]

That's the plan!

[@mr.tickle1590]

When did you guys make this video? I'm from America. I traveled to China, and went to this Thames Town around July 2016. This is very very nice town w/ British-like Architecture. Maybe you're right about one thing, not a lot of people live there. But not everything copy means Fake, lolz. At least I was happy to visit this town. The place is amazing, very nice for sight seeing. Decent tourists in my opinion, kind of far away from Shanghai. If my friend didn't tell me this place, i wouldn't know it. Good spot for Wedding photo. Some movies were filmed here too. Very clean outside. They have one of the amazing library that i've seen so far also. I would come back here to visit, or recommend friends whoever travel to China to check out this place.

[@SirVoltz]

why wouldnt you live there! it looks so nice

[@lothean2099]

I love it. Greed that killed a town.

[@BloodofBaphomet]

2:39 that bit reminds me of the canals in the city centre of Birmingham

[@2MeterLP]

Death by investor. I have a lot of sympathy for that, the nortern german islands also experience that. Too expensive to live there, so the place slowly dies.

[@xilefx]

this video feels like the dude is explaining this in a club by shouting the story in your ear

[@AliceQuinnRose]

This video seems like it's panicked that people might not watch all of it. So the presenter and music are really really really fast, ignored to keep pop;e engaged. The subject is interesting, the shots, as always are beautiful and the script is definitely food for thought. But the sound mixing and presenting style came off as annoying and self-defeating.

[@hirobeez]

What an amazing negative critique that points out all of the obvious not obvious maybe existing or not subtext.