I Explored China's Failed $1 Billion Copy of Paris (real city)

The video opens with an aerial shot of a circular park with a replica Eiffel Tower at its center, surrounded by buildings and roads. Text appears on screen.

"There are strange places in our world. And today we're investigating one of them."

Setting: Tianducheng, China — bright, natural sunlight

Text: "There are strange places"

A group of people, including the video's hosts, walk through a busy airport terminal. They are wearing backpacks and casual clothing, looking around with curiosity.

"A real city that apparently some people live in, which is also a copy of Paris in China."

Setting: airport terminal — bright overhead lighting

Text: "And today we're investigating", "one of them"

The video quickly cuts between various aerial shots of Tianducheng, showcasing different architectural elements and the overall layout. One shot features a large statue with a globe, another shows a long, symmetrical avenue, and a final shot is an aerial view of the entire city.

Setting: Tianducheng, China — bright, natural sunlight

An aerial shot of Tianducheng, with a replica Eiffel Tower at its center, is shown. The city's layout is symmetrical and features many buildings with European-style architecture. Text appears on screen, highlighting the unique nature of the city.

"Some people live in..."

Setting: Tianducheng, China — bright, natural sunlight

Text: "Some people live in..."

A shot of the replica Eiffel Tower from a low angle, framed by its own metal structure, reveals a street lined with European-style buildings in the background. Cars are visible on the street. Text appears on screen, emphasizing the location.

"Paris...in China."

Setting: Tianducheng, China — bright, natural sunlight

Text: "Paris", "...in China"

A male news anchor, wearing a suit and tie, sits at a desk in a news studio. Behind him are two large screens displaying the 'NIGHTLINE' logo and a blurred cityscape.

"One of the strangest real estate stories you may ever see."

Setting: news studio — bright, directional

Text: "NIGHTLINE"

The video cuts between three different shots: a wide shot of a fountain with horse statues in a foggy Parisian-style city, a view from a balcony overlooking the same city with the Eiffel Tower in the distance, and a close-up of the news anchor. The city appears desolate.

"Entire cities designed to look like Paris, so why doesn't anybody want to live there?"

Setting: Tianducheng, China and news studio — overcast, diffused

Text: "ABC NEWS", "#NIGHTLINE"

The video shows three different news articles about Tianducheng. The first article's headline reads "Paris In China: Tianducheng Is An Eerie, Abandoned City Of Lights Clone". The second article's headline reads "Paris or China: Can you tell real thing from replica?". The third article's headline reads "China's Tianducheng Is An Eerie Ghost Town Version of Paris". Each article features an image of the replica Eiffel Tower.

"Online, it seems like this place is abandoned, however, and it's impossible to get any up-to-date reliable insight into what goes on in this city."

Setting: digital screen — bright

Text: "Paris In China: Tianducheng Is An Eerie, Abandoned City Of Lights Clone", "Paris or China: Can you tell real thing from replica?", "China's Tianducheng Is An Eerie Ghost Town Version of Paris"

Thomas, a young man with a beard, sits at a table in a modern restaurant, speaking directly to the camera. Another man sits across from him, listening intently. Thomas gestures with his hands as he speaks.

"Like not many people go to this place. There aren't any updated videos or anything from it, so um, I don't know."

Setting: restaurant — bright, natural light from windows

Text: "THOMAS"

The video rapidly cuts between three different aerial shots of massive infrastructure projects in China. The first shows a huge circular radio telescope nestled in green mountains, the second features a long bridge spanning a deep valley, and the third displays a vast construction site with numerous cranes and partially built structures.

"China's been quite notorious for its mega infrastructure projects that sometimes end up abandoned."

Setting: various locations in China — bright, natural sunlight

The video shows a view of Tianducheng from a balcony, with the Eiffel Tower replica visible in the distance. The city is quiet and appears sparsely populated. This is followed by a shot of a man in a blue vehicle smiling and looking at the camera, then a blurry shot of a city from a moving train, and finally, a man standing on a train looking thoughtful. The final shot shows two men looking out from a dark, unfinished room onto the Parisian-style city.

"Is this one of them? Well, in our second adventure in China, we decided to take a train out there with the aim to explore and find some locals to talk to and document properly what goes on in Tianducheng, China."

Setting: Tianducheng, China, city street, train, abandoned building — overcast, natural light

Text: "Is this one of them?", "Tianducheng, China"

The video shows a cityscape at sunset, with tall buildings silhouetted against an orange and pink sky. Text appears on screen, indicating a time jump.

"Shanghai 24 hours earlier"

Setting: Shanghai, China — natural sunset light

Text: "SHANGHAI", "24 HOURS EARLIER"

A group of four friends, including Matt, walk down a city street. Matt, wearing a white cap and black sweatshirt, turns to the camera, smiles, and makes a fist. He then gestures around as he talks about their 'explorer squad'. On-screen text lists items on an 'Explorer Squad Checklist'.

"All right, the adventure begins. The adventure begins. We look like an explorer squad right now. We got our backpacks, we got the different nationalities, different, you know, levels of skills, different areas, sandwiches."

Setting: Shanghai city street — bright, natural sunlight

Text: "MATT", "Explorer Squad Checklist", "1. Backpacks", "2. Different nationalities", "3. Different, you know, levels of skills", "4. Different areas", "5. Sandwiches"

Matt walks down the street with his friends, continuing to talk to the camera. He gestures with his hands as he speaks. The street is lined with trees and modern buildings.

"This is like Ocean's Six, actually. Huh?"

Setting: Shanghai city street — bright, natural sunlight

Text: "Explorer Squad Checklist", "1. Backpacks", "2. Different nationalities", "3. Different, you know, levels of skills", "4. Different areas", "5. Sandwiches"

Thomas, wearing a white t-shirt and backpack, walks down a city street, speaking to the camera. He looks slightly overwhelmed. He then turns to his right, and the shot cuts to Derin, who is laughing and holding a takeout container as he walks.

"It does feel like a little homesick with all this, so we're going to head back to Paris. No, no, no."

Setting: Shanghai city street — bright, natural sunlight

The video quickly cuts between a black and white close-up of Derin's face, looking serious, and then a hand tapping on a train ticket machine. This is followed by Matt looking up and smiling, and then two men, including Matt, boarding a modern train.

Setting: train station — bright, artificial

The video shows a split screen. On the left, Omar is seen on a video call, smiling and making a fist. On the right, two men, one with a beard and the other with a cap, are seen smiling and posing for a selfie. Text appears on screen, explaining Omar's absence.

"Our team this trip is quite special. Unfortunately, as you know, once again, Omar's visa to China got turned down and he missed the trip."

Setting: car, room — bright, natural

Text: "He missed the trip"

The video introduces Derin with a series of quick cuts. First, he's in a bathroom, smiling, while another man holds a towel. Then, he's outdoors, smiling and wearing a t-shirt that says 'I'm Derin from Turkey'. Next, he's in a blonde wig and green jacket, smiling on a city street. He's also shown in a white suit with a red cape, ice skating, and then with three other men on a rooftop, all raising their arms. Finally, a timeline graphic shows '2015' and '2015 -> 2017' over a city aerial shot. Text appears on screen, introducing Derin and his role in Yes Theory.

"On the other hand, Derin, for those of you who have been with us since the very start, will remember that he is one of the four original founders of Yes Theory, back from 2015 to 2017. And this is the first trip he's joining us on since then. He's one of the sweetest and smartest people I know, but may also be a serial killer."

Setting: various — various

Text: "DERIN", "I'm Derin from Turkey", "2015", "2015 -> 2017"

The video cuts to a black and white close-up of Derin's face, looking serious and intense, before returning to color. He then smiles and gestures with his hands as he sits on a train, looking out the window. The train is moving, and the landscape outside is a blur of buildings and fields.

Setting: train — bright, natural light

Derin sits on the train, looking at the camera with a playful smile. The train is stationary, and a platform is visible outside the window. He gestures with his hands as he speaks.

"Are you a serial killer, Derin?"

Setting: train — bright, natural light

The video shows a series of fast-paced shots from the train window, revealing a rapidly changing urban landscape. Tall, modern buildings, some under construction, dominate the skyline, interspersed with bridges and rivers. The architecture is repetitive, with many identical high-rises.

Setting: various cities in China — bright, natural sunlight

Thomas, wearing a white t-shirt and backpack, walks along a train platform, speaking to the camera. He gestures with his hands as he talks about the vastness of China's cities. Matt, wearing a white cap and grey t-shirt, then walks alongside Thomas, also speaking to the camera and gesturing. Other passengers are visible in the background.

"It's pretty wild looking out the window of the train and seeing all the copy-paste buildings, just endless sea of high-rises. You really start to get a sense for the scale of this country. I mean, we just rolled past these cities that you've never heard of that are probably the size of Paris. There was actually a point where Thomas and I were talking when we first landed in China where I was like, how many people live in China? Is it like a billion, a billion something? And Thomas goes, that something is the size of the United States. 1.4 billion. That 0.4 is bigger than the US. The scale of it, it's insane. It's also so new. Not even 20 years of architecture type, you know?"

Setting: Hangzhou Railway Station, China — bright, natural sunlight

Text: "Hangzhou Railway Station"

The video transitions to a promotional segment. It starts with a shot of the friends walking through the train station, then quickly cuts to a web browser typing 'www.seekdiscomfort.com'. The screen then displays various products from the Seek Discomfort website, including a book, a shoulder bag, a keychain, a card game, and a hat. It also shows a promotion for a chance to win a paid trip. The video then cuts to people interacting and laughing, followed by more product displays. The overall mood is upbeat and promotional.

"Yeah. This adventure in China is brought to you by ourselves. So just a quick reminder that there are only seven days left for our Black Friday promo on seekdiscomfort.com with a free keychain, a free conversational card game, and a free dat hat as gifts with purchase based on purchase amount. On top of all of that goodness, in the theme of the drop, Talk to Strangers, we're also going to match two amazing humans who purchase for a Yes Theory style trip together to spark a new friendship for life somewhere in the world. So check out seekdiscomfort.com linked in our description before this promo is gone in a week."

Setting: various — various

Text: "www.seekdiscomfort.com", "Talk To Strangers: The Yes Theory Story", "A CHANCE TO WIN A PAID TRIP WITH A FRIEND YOU HAVEN'T MET YET"

The video shows a car driving through a city. The camera is positioned inside the car, looking out the front windshield. Tall, modern apartment buildings line the streets, interspersed with green trees. The sky is bright and clear.

Setting: city street, China — bright, natural sunlight

Thomas and Matt are sitting in the back seat of a car, both wearing seatbelts. Thomas, on the left, is speaking to Matt, who is listening intently and nodding. Thomas gestures with his hands as he talks. The car is moving, and the city landscape is visible through the windows.

"There's something about being in a place that's your home that somebody copied and pasted and put it thousands of miles away and you're about to step into it."

Setting: car — bright, natural sunlight

The camera is positioned inside a car, looking out the front windshield. The car is driving down a wide, tree-lined street with European-style buildings visible in the distance. A blue directional sign is visible on the left. The shot then quickly cuts to a hand opening a car door, revealing a glimpse of the ornate European-style architecture outside.

"This doesn't look like anything that we've seen so far in China."

Setting: Tianducheng, China — bright, natural sunlight

Staffan, wearing a white t-shirt, sunglasses, and a cap, walks towards the camera, smiling and gesturing as he talks about entering a different world. He then gestures towards a grand hotel lobby with a domed glass ceiling and a large chandelier. Thomas walks into the lobby behind him, looking around in awe.

"Okay. It's like we're stepping into a completely different world just by entering the hotel. I kind of feel like at home. Look at this."

Setting: hotel lobby — bright, natural sunlight

Text: "STAFFAN"

The camera pans up to reveal the grand hotel lobby. A large, ornate chandelier hangs from a domed glass ceiling. The lobby is decorated with classical pillars, marble floors, and large paintings in ornate frames. The overall impression is one of opulence and grandeur.

"Wow. Are you kidding me?"

Setting: hotel lobby — bright, natural sunlight

The video showcases several pieces of art and decorative elements within the grand hotel lobby. It starts with a close-up of a framed portrait of a woman in historical attire, then cuts to a bouquet of white and teal flowers, followed by a detailed shot of a crystal chandelier. Another painting, this time of Napoleon on horseback, is shown, and finally, a portrait of the Mona Lisa is revealed. The artwork is all in a classical European style.

Setting: hotel lobby — bright, natural sunlight

The video shows a series of paintings displayed in the hotel lobby. First, a painting of Napoleon on horseback, then the Mona Lisa, and finally a portrait of the King of France. Staffan is seen looking at the portrait of the King of France, then turns to the camera, laughing and gesturing. Derin also looks at the camera, smiling. Thomas looks around the lobby, speaking to the camera.

"It's like artwork of Napoleon and Mona Lisa. And the King of France."

Setting: hotel lobby — bright, natural sunlight

The friends are in the opulent hotel lobby, looking around in awe and confusion. Staffan laughs and gestures, while Derin smiles. Thomas speaks to the camera, expressing his feeling of being in a movie set. Staffan then looks at the Mona Lisa portrait, seemingly seeing it for the first time. The camera pans around the empty, grand lobby, highlighting the lack of people despite the luxurious setting.

"What the hell? What the hell? It smells really nice. Yeah. But there's nobody here. I feel like we've entered like a movie set. Yeah. You know, it's like Truman Show, but where are the characters? I'm just realizing it's the first time I ever see Mona Lisa. Yeah. No, no, no, no. We knew when we go back, we should go back to the things you haven't seen. The hotel rooms here are super cheap. It's 70 bucks for one room for two beds. So like $35 per person. It doesn't seem like there's anybody in this hotel though. What the hell?"

Setting: hotel lobby — bright, natural sunlight

Matt, wearing a white cap and grey t-shirt, walks down a long, ornate hallway in the hotel. The hallway is lined with paintings and features classical architectural details. The camera follows him from behind, then cuts to a wide shot of the hallway, emphasizing its length and grandeur. The hallway is empty, adding to the surreal atmosphere.

Setting: hotel — bright, natural light

Matt, wearing a white cap and grey t-shirt, stands in front of a large painting depicting the crowning of Napoleon. He points at the painting and speaks to the camera, expressing his surprise that it's a recreation rather than a photograph. He then looks closely at the painting to confirm it's a painting.

"The crowning of Napoleon. It sounds like they took a photo and copied it. They like recreated it. It's a painting? Wow, it is a painting. Yeah, yeah."

Setting: hotel — bright, natural light

The video shows a corner of the hotel lobby with two red armchairs and a small round table. A landscape painting hangs on the wall above them. Staffan then leans in close to the painting, examining it intently. The camera then cuts to Matt speaking to the camera, gesturing with his hands. He talks about the Chinese fascination with Paris, and the camera cuts to a hand picking up a plastic baguette from a display. Thomas examines the baguette, then looks around the empty lobby, expressing his mixed feelings of excitement and fear.

Setting: hotel — bright, natural sunlight

A woman with a backpack walks down a long, yellow-lit hallway, followed by two men. The camera then focuses on Staffan, who is looking at a painting of a man with a beard, then turns to the camera, smiling and gesturing. He then points to a painting of water lilies, and then to another landscape painting. The hallway is lined with paintings in a gallery-like setting.

"Monet Gallery? What is happening? Monet is here, bro. This is a very famous Monet. These ones."

Setting: hotel — bright, natural light

Two men walk down a long, brightly lit hallway in the hotel, with paintings and blue curtains on either side. The camera follows them from behind. The shot then cuts to Yan, a woman with a backpack, looking at the camera and speaking as she stands in a yellow-lit hallway. She smiles and gestures with her hands.

Setting: hotel — bright, artificial

Text: "请刷卡入内", "PLEASE SWIPE THE ROOM CARD TO OPEN THE DOOR"

Yan, wearing a white t-shirt and backpack, stands in a yellow-lit hallway, looking at the camera and speaking. She smiles and gestures with her hands. Two men walk past her in the background. The shot then cuts to Staffan, who is laughing and gesturing as he speaks to Yan.

"Yan, what do you think so far? It's big and confusing. Yeah, you said. Yeah, you said."

Setting: hotel — bright, artificial

Text: "请刷卡入内", "PLEASE SWIPE THE ROOM CARD TO OPEN THE DOOR"

The video introduces Yan, a young Chinese woman. She is first seen outdoors, laughing and wearing a yellow sweatshirt, with Derin next to her. Then, there are several quick cuts of Yan in different locations: smiling in a narrow street, speaking to the camera in a room, sitting on a bus with other people, smiling next to a woman in a headscarf, waving at an airport, and talking to a man in a hat. A YouTube channel page for 'Little Chinese Everywhere' is shown, highlighting her videos. Finally, Yan is seen in a kitchen clapping, and then the friends walk into a hotel room, looking around.

"We also have one of our new friends Yan along with us. When we asked a Chinese friend of ours who the Yes Theory in China was, they answered Yan. She started barely over a year ago and mostly creates videos on Chinese platforms, but also posts on YouTube with a channel name Little Chinese Everywhere. She's got amazing videos in China, highly recommend you check her channel out. She's joining us as a local friend and to help us communicate. I'm honestly not too sure how she'll stand us for the next two weeks, but I guess let's see."

Setting: various — various

Text: "Yan", "Turkey", "hi youtube, this is yan, this is the end of my 1st season.", "Little Chinese Everywhere", "Nepal", "imaging all the kids, they had been running over"

The friends enter a hotel room, looking around in awe. Derin, wearing a blue t-shirt and white shorts, stands by a large window, laughing and gesturing. Yan, with a backpack, stands next to him, also smiling. The room is spacious with a bed and a couch, and through the window, the Parisian-style city is visible.

"Whoa. Are you kidding me? Okay, this is weird. Now this is weird."

Setting: hotel room in Tianducheng — bright, natural sunlight

Derin, wearing a blue t-shirt and white shorts, stands on a balcony, laughing and gesturing. He then turns to the camera, still gesturing. Staffan, wearing a white t-shirt and cap, stands next to Thomas, who is sitting in a chair, looking thoughtful. Staffan speaks to the camera, gesturing with his hands, while Yan watches. The camera then focuses on Derin, who speaks to the camera, throwing his hands up in a gesture of confusion.

"But I say not props to that. Really painted the effect. It does feel like being kind of home a little bit. But like the pillars, like everything. No, this is like way more accurate in a feeling than I thought it would be. Yeah. It feels like we have a thousand of questions now. Now the question is, can we find people who we can ask these questions to? And just ask them why. What is it? Why?"

Setting: Tianducheng, China — bright, natural sunlight

The video shows a busy city street with European-style buildings. Cars and scooters are moving, and people are walking. The camera is positioned inside a moving vehicle, then cuts to Thomas, wearing sunglasses and a white t-shirt, speaking to the camera. He is surrounded by his friends, including Derin, who is looking at a sign. The camera then focuses on a balcony with clothes hanging to dry, emphasizing the residential aspect of the buildings.

Setting: Tianducheng, China — bright, natural sunlight

Thomas, wearing sunglasses and a white t-shirt, walks down a city street with his friends, speaking to the camera. He gestures as he talks about the city's appearance. The camera then focuses on a balcony with clothes hanging to dry, emphasizing the residential aspect of the buildings. Thomas and his friends continue walking, looking around at the Parisian-style architecture.

"What we've read online is that this place is abandoned. Occupancy is is very low. It really does look like Paris right there. There are people living there, hey? You see laundry."

Setting: Tianducheng, China — bright, natural sunlight

Thomas, wearing sunglasses and a white t-shirt, walks down a city street with his friends, speaking to the camera. He gestures as he talks about wanting to see the apartments. The camera then focuses on a French-style building with Chinese company signs. Staffan, wearing a white t-shirt and cap, looks amazed, and Derin laughs. The friends continue walking, expressing their astonishment.

"We got to get into some of these buildings and see what the apartments look like. It's like a French building, but it's like now it's very Chinese companies. Oh my God, this is insane. It's jumping in between. Oh my God. Oh. Hello."

Setting: Tianducheng, China — bright, natural sunlight

The friends walk down a city street, looking around in amazement. Matt, wearing a white cap and a pink and white t-shirt, turns to the camera, smiling and gesturing. The camera then pans to reveal the replica Eiffel Tower in the distance, surrounded by Parisian-style buildings. The street is quiet and appears almost empty.

"And all of a sudden, as we turn around the corner, ladies and gentlemen, there she was."

Setting: Tianducheng, China — bright, natural sunlight

An aerial shot of Tianducheng reveals a wide, tree-lined avenue leading to a replica Eiffel Tower in the distance. The city is characterized by its uniform, European-style buildings and manicured green spaces. The sky is clear and blue.

Setting: Tianducheng, China — bright, natural sunlight

The camera slowly zooms in on the replica Eiffel Tower, revealing its intricate metal structure. The tower stands tall amidst a backdrop of numerous high-rise apartment buildings. The surrounding area appears to be a mix of green spaces and undeveloped land.

Setting: Tianducheng, China — bright, natural sunlight

An aerial shot of Tianducheng shows the replica Eiffel Tower at its center, surrounded by European-style buildings and green spaces. The camera slowly zooms out, revealing the vastness of the city and the numerous high-rise apartment buildings in the distance. The area around the Eiffel Tower appears somewhat undeveloped.

Setting: Tianducheng, China — bright, natural sunlight

The video shows a street in Tianducheng, with the replica Eiffel Tower in the distance. The street is lined with European-style buildings and lampposts, but appears deserted. Matt, wearing a white cap and a pink and white t-shirt, walks with his friends, speaking to the camera and gesturing. He expresses his surprise at the emptiness of the city. The camera focuses on the buildings, some with clothes hanging on balconies, and then on the Eiffel Tower. Matt continues to speak, comparing the deserted city to an apocalypse.

"There's there's no one here. This street is called Champs-Élysées. Are you kidding? What the heck? It's just kind of eerie because there's really no one in like an iconic monument area. I'm so used to seeing the Eiffel Tower and just like swarms of people. Yeah. It's like almost like the the apocalypse and then you see the Eiffel Tower."

Setting: Tianducheng, China — bright, natural sunlight

Thomas, wearing sunglasses and a white t-shirt, stands on a street in Tianducheng, speaking to the camera. Matt, wearing a white cap and a pink and white t-shirt, then joins him, also speaking and gesturing. They discuss the surreal feeling of being in a replica Paris. Matt points towards the buildings, highlighting the clothes hanging on balconies. The street appears empty despite their discussion of people living there.

"You live in Paris currently. Yeah. Like it feels both familiar and not. Like every shop here is obviously Chinese. Look, look at all the people on the laundry. There's so many people. So it seems like it actually worked. Like the people actually moved here. But there's nobody here."

Setting: Tianducheng, China — bright, natural sunlight

Matt, wearing a white cap and a pink and white t-shirt, stands on a street in Tianducheng, pointing towards a real estate center. Yan and other friends are with him. The camera then cuts to the group entering the real estate office, which has a modern, brightly lit interior with a reception desk and a colorful backdrop. A man in a white shirt and dark pants greets them.

"There's a real estate center right here where you can inquire about buying property."

Setting: real estate office in Tianducheng — bright, artificial

The group is inside the real estate office. Yan translates for the group, explaining that the visitors are French and want to be in 'Petit Paris'. A real estate agent, a man in a white shirt, shakes hands with Thomas and invites them to sit down. Yan explains that to buy property, one needs a Chinese household. Staffan and Yan then have a playful exchange about whether they are lying about being 'family' to the agent, with Staffan asking if Yan 'just' lied.

"Nihao. They're French. So they want to be in Petit Paris. Paris, huh? Nihao. Sit down first. So I said that you have Chinese family because you need to have a Chinese household. They're really like family here. We're like friends, family. We're not lying, right? Yes. Definitely. Did you just? Did you just?"

Setting: real estate office — bright, artificial

Yan asks the real estate agent if there's an empty room to look at, and the agent confirms. Thomas then speaks to the camera, expressing his surprise at how quickly they went from just looking to potentially moving in. He playfully suggests that perhaps Tianducheng was built first and Paris copied it. The camera then cuts to a black and white shot of Thomas's face with an Illuminati-like symbol superimposed, adding a humorous, conspiratorial tone. The shot then returns to color, showing Matt walking out of the real estate office into the Parisian-style city.

"Is there an empty room over here to look at? Yes, you can. We went from just rolling into moving in very fast. Maybe they built this first and Paris copied them. Who knows?"

Setting: real estate office, Tianducheng — bright, artificial and natural

Matt, wearing a white t-shirt and cap, walks out of the real estate office into the Parisian-style city, looking around in amazement. Thomas, wearing sunglasses and a white t-shirt, also walks out, speaking to the camera and expressing his disbelief. The street is wide and lined with European-style buildings and manicured green spaces. The replica Eiffel Tower is visible in the distance.

"I can't get over this. I can't get over that."

Setting: Tianducheng, China — bright, natural sunlight

The friends enter an apartment building and walk up a staircase. Thomas and Matt are seen entering an empty apartment, which is under renovation. Matt points towards the window, revealing a view of the Parisian-style city with the Eiffel Tower in the distance. He expresses his excitement. Staffan then examines a wall decal of dandelions and fairies, and reads the text aloud. The camera then shows the view from the window, confirming the presence of the Eiffel Tower.

"Okay. Not really in Paris. Oh, cool. Oh, wow. You can see the Eiffel Tower. Oh. I'm protesting in love. May my love riding dandelion fly. What they said. Well, they got a nice view."

Setting: apartment in Tianducheng — bright, natural sunlight

Text: "May my love riding dandelion fly"

The video shows the friends walking down a deserted street in Tianducheng, with the replica Eiffel Tower in the distance. The street is lined with European-style buildings, some with clothes hanging on balconies. The camera follows them as they walk, then cuts to a close-up of a man in a black t-shirt, who is being interviewed by Yan. Thomas and Derin are also present, listening intently.

"When we first arrived, we weren't too sure what to feel. The streets were mostly empty, but it was also only 11:00 a.m. and likely people were at work or just at home. With confusion, however, we kept going, hoping to find some people to talk to."

Setting: Tianducheng, China — bright, natural sunlight

Yan interviews a local man in Tianducheng, asking if he lives there and if he's been to Paris. The man replies that he's learned about Paris online. He then describes the city as having good foot traffic but being more casual. Thomas, Matt, and Derin listen intently. The street is lined with European-style buildings, and the replica Eiffel Tower is visible in the distance.

"Excuse me, do you live here? Yeah, what's up? Has he been to Paris? No. No, no. I've learned all about Paris online. Only through the internet. What what is the best thing with living in this city? I think the foot traffic is better here, but it's also more casual."

Setting: Tianducheng, China — bright, natural sunlight

The friends are outside a restaurant in Tianducheng, with the Eiffel Tower in the background. Yan translates as a group of elderly locals greet them, welcoming them to Paris. One elderly man, 85 years old, demonstrates his basketball skills, much to the delight of the friends. They then sit down at an outdoor table to eat. An elderly woman gives Staffan a small red music player, and he dances with her. The friends clap and cheer. The segment ends with the friends eating and discussing the unexpected positive interactions they've had.

"We should do that. They're from Paris. They came here. Welcome to Paris. Who plays basketball? We should do that. He's 85 years old and he plays basketball. Yeah. Yeah. I'm from the Zhejiang Provincial Senior Team. He wants to play ball with you. What position are you playing? Point guard. Back like that. Whoa. Okay. Whoa. Thank you, sister. She said sit down and enjoy the food. That's he's only 10 years away from 100 years old. Wow. What is her secret to get all these? Oh my God. Did that just happen? I'm getting so inspired because there were some people in Sweden who said like, don't go to China. You can't talk about an entire country when it comes to the people and the humanity. Like, just super moments which you can't find on the internet. You have to go and travel and have the medicine of traveling and then then we're here. Amen. This is an undiscovered blue zone. Yeah. Yeah, literally. What's blue zone? What the hell is that? You don't watch Yes Theory videos?"

Setting: Tianducheng, China — bright, natural sunlight

Text: "So you can listen to the music", "She said sit down and enjoy the food", "Thank you sister", "Yes Theory's Blue Zone Episodes"

Matt and Yan stand on a street in Tianducheng, with the Eiffel Tower in the background. Matt speaks passionately about the fear-based narrative of China in the US and the positive interactions they've had with locals. Yan listens and agrees, adding that media often focuses on politics rather than ordinary people. They both express that human beings are fundamentally the same. They high-five, and then Matt greets a local woman who is selling fruit. The interaction is friendly and positive.

"Honestly, in the in the US, the narrative of China is very fear-based. As an American, you know, and I think for all of us, we come here. We have these incredible interactions with people. And we're like, this is crazy. And meanwhile, you're like, this is pretty normal. Yeah, for me, it's really I'm so used to it, so I don't get the other perspective. But I think media really reports on, you know, political stuff. It's never about ordinary people. But I also found that human beings are the same. So wherever I go, I always meet people with this kind. The natural state is love. Just humans, baby. Nihao. Nihao. How are you? We're all good. You guys are good too."

Setting: Tianducheng, China — bright, natural sunlight

Text: "How are you?", "We're all good", "You guys are good too"

Staffan and Thomas walk down a street in Tianducheng, discussing a construction site. Staffan points towards a building under construction, expressing his desire to see the view from there. Yan then approaches a construction worker, asking if they can go up to take a picture. The worker explains they have to go around. The friends then walk towards the construction site, with Yan leading the way.

"I want to see that view. Let's ask and we see what they say. We'd like to go up there and take a picture. Is that okay? You'll have to go around that way. We have to go like this. She's just interrupting his construction day."

Setting: Tianducheng, China — bright, natural sunlight

Text: "We'd like to go up there and take a picture. Is that okay?", "You'll have to go around that way."

The friends enter a construction site and walk into an unfinished apartment. Construction workers are visible in the background. The friends greet the workers. Thomas points towards the window, revealing a beautiful view of the Parisian-style city. He expresses his amazement at the view. Staffan also looks out the window, smiling and speaking. The camera then shows the view from the window, highlighting the symmetrical layout of the city and the ornate fountain.

"Nihao. Nihao. Wow. Beautiful. Yeah, very beautiful. This is amazing. Look at this. It's like surprisingly beautiful. From this way, it really does look like some neighborhood of Paris I don't know."

Setting: apartment in Tianducheng — bright, natural sunlight

The video provides a historical overview of Tianducheng. It starts with a shot of two men looking out from an unfinished room onto the Parisian-style city. Then, it shows old footage of the city under construction in 2007, with tall buildings and the Eiffel Tower replica surrounded by farmland. The video then cuts to images of other themed towns in China, mimicking Venice, Switzerland, and London, to illustrate the broader trend. The narrative explains the city's purpose and its initial failure to attract residents, earning it the 'ghost town' reputation.

"So what is this city? Well, in 2007, a Chinese real estate company began its construction, mostly at the time surrounded by farmland. The primary motivation behind creating Tianducheng was to attract home buyers seeking a unique and aesthetically pleasing environment. The project was a part of a broader trend in China at the time, where developers were creating themed towns and entire cities based on foreign landmarks and architectural styles. However, at the onset, partially from its strange location, occupancy and interest for the city seriously lacked, earning it this reputation of a ghost town."

Setting: Tianducheng, China, Italy, Switzerland, England — overcast, natural sunlight

Text: "ITALY", "CHINA", "SWITZERLAND", "ENGLAND"

The video shows a grand staircase with statues of horses and people. Thomas and Matt walk up the stairs, looking around. The camera then cuts to a historical image of the Apollo Fountain at the Palace of Versailles. Thomas looks at the camera, smiling, and says the copy is identical. He then walks up the stairs, looking at the camera.

"That's a copy of a Versailles fountain."

Setting: Tianducheng, China and Palace of Versailles — bright, natural sunlight

Text: "Apollo Fountain, Palace of Versailles", "It's identical"

Thomas walks up the grand staircase in Tianducheng, looking at the view. He then turns to the camera, smiling. The camera shows a wide shot of the Parisian-style city from the top of the stairs, with the Eiffel Tower in the distance. The city appears quiet and serene.

"Look at that view. Yeah, man."

Setting: Tianducheng, China — bright, natural sunlight

The video shows a street in Tianducheng, with the replica Eiffel Tower in the distance. The street is lined with European-style buildings and lampposts. Matt, wearing a white cap and a pink and white t-shirt, stands on the street, looking at his phone. He then looks up, smiles, and speaks to the camera, expressing his excitement about being close to the Eiffel Tower. He then looks at Thomas, who is walking behind him.

"This is wild to be this close. We should definitely go towards it."

Setting: Tianducheng, China — bright, natural sunlight

Matt, wearing a white cap and a pink and white t-shirt, walks down a street in Tianducheng, looking at his phone and speaking to the camera. He talks about the height of the real Eiffel Tower compared to the replica. He then looks up at the replica Eiffel Tower, which is visible in the distance. He continues walking towards it with his friends.

"The real Eiffel Tower is three times as tall. It really makes you realize how big the real one is. Yeah."

Setting: Tianducheng, China — bright, natural sunlight

Thomas, wearing sunglasses and a white t-shirt, walks with his friends towards the replica Eiffel Tower. He points out an abandoned construction site around the tower. Derin, in a blue t-shirt, looks around. The camera shows the desolate construction site and the incomplete structures. Thomas expresses his surprise at the abandonment.

"Around the Eiffel Tower, there's like an abandoned construction site. Look at that. Oh, wow. It is a little weird to leave this stuff around here. It is. It's like they gave up on finishing whatever they were."

Setting: Tianducheng, China — bright, natural sunlight

Thomas, wearing sunglasses and a white t-shirt, stands near the replica Eiffel Tower, pointing towards the overgrown area around it. He then steps over a metal barrier, entering the area directly beneath the tower. The camera shows the tower from a low angle, emphasizing its grandeur. Derin then attempts to climb over the barrier, struggling slightly, while Thomas watches and laughs.

"Like it's kind of overgrown around."

Setting: Tianducheng, China — bright, natural sunlight

An aerial shot of the replica Eiffel Tower reveals a desolate landscape around its base, covered in rubble and overgrown grass. Two people walk on a path in the distance. The camera then shows a close-up of the tower's intricate metal structure against a clear blue sky. The camera then pans up the tower, revealing its height and the surrounding city of high-rise buildings.

Setting: Tianducheng, China — bright, natural sunlight

An aerial shot of the replica Eiffel Tower shows the circular park around its base, with intricate green patterns. The camera then pans up the tower, revealing its height and the surrounding city of high-rise buildings. The camera then shows a close-up of the tower's intricate metal structure against a clear blue sky. The camera then pans up the tower, revealing its height and the surrounding city of high-rise buildings.

Setting: Tianducheng, China — bright, natural sunlight

Thomas, wearing sunglasses and a white t-shirt, stands near the replica Eiffel Tower, looking up. He points out a giant bird's nest inside the tower. The camera zooms in on the nest, which is visible within the metal structure. The friends then walk towards the tower, with Thomas leading the way. Derin struggles to climb over a metal barrier, while Thomas watches and laughs.

"What did you see? There's a giant bird's nest inside the thing. What the hell? It's like they gave up on finishing whatever they were."

Setting: Tianducheng, China — bright, natural sunlight

The friends walk towards the replica Eiffel Tower, passing under its arching structure. The camera is positioned low, emphasizing the grandeur of the tower. They then look up, marveling at the intricate metalwork. The camera then pans up the tower, revealing its height and the surrounding city of high-rise buildings. The camera then shows a close-up of the tower's intricate metal structure against a clear blue sky. The camera then pans up the tower, revealing its height and the surrounding city of high-rise buildings.

Setting: Tianducheng, China — bright, natural sunlight

The friends walk away from the replica Eiffel Tower, which is visible in the background. The camera follows them as they walk down a path. The camera then shows an aerial shot of the Eiffel Tower, surrounded by the city. The camera then shows a close-up of the tower's intricate metal structure against a clear blue sky. The camera then pans up the tower, revealing its height and the surrounding city of high-rise buildings.

Setting: Tianducheng, China — bright, natural sunlight

Derin, wearing a blue t-shirt and white shorts, attempts to climb over a metal barrier near the replica Eiffel Tower. He struggles slightly, then manages to get over. The friends then walk away from the tower as the sun begins to set. The camera shows an aerial shot of the Eiffel Tower and the surrounding city at dusk. The city lights begin to twinkle, and people start to appear on the streets.

"We're trying to be discreet here."

Setting: Tianducheng, China — natural sunset light, artificial city lights

Text: "We're trying to be discreet here"

Thomas walks through the city at dusk, speaking to the camera. He expresses his surprise that the city is not as abandoned as he had thought, noting that people are starting to come out. The camera shows the replica Eiffel Tower in the distance, and the streets are slowly filling with people. The scene then shifts to a town square where children are playing with bubbles and jump ropes. The square is lively with families and couples. Thomas speaks to the camera, marveling at the sudden influx of people.

"It's interesting. People online seem to made me believe that this place was basically abandoned and maybe a few years ago it was way less inhabited than it is now. People seem to be coming out, hanging out. There's more more life. It feels less eerie and strange and deserted. It actually feels like people exist here. The town square got packed. Once the sun started going down, everybody came out."

Setting: Tianducheng, China — natural dusk light, some artificial lights

Matt, crouching down, interviews a group of young children playing in the town square. He asks them about living in the city and if they're having fun. Yan translates. The children are seen playing with jump ropes and bubbles. Matt then high-fives a young girl. Yan then interviews a group of adults sitting on the steps, asking them how long they've lived there and why they moved. They explain they moved in July because houses in their previous location were too expensive. Matt high-fives another child.

"How is it to uh to live here? Are you having fun times with your friends? Doing an interview with three-year-old children. Yeah. Yeah. How is it to uh to live here? We just moved in. We moved here in July. Why did you move over here? It's because we can't afford to buy a house over there. It's over 40,000 over there. Oh, oh."

Setting: Tianducheng, China — natural dusk light, some artificial lights

Text: "I'm thrilled by you", "You play with me", "How may years have you lived here?", "We just moved in", "We moved here in July", "Why did you move over here?", "It's because we can't afford to buy a house over there", "It's over 40,000 over there"

Thomas walks through the town square at dusk, speaking to the camera. He expresses his surprise at how much he likes the city, contrasting it with his initial expectation of finding an abandoned place. Children are playing in the background. He then bends down to greet a young boy, who runs towards him and jumps into his arms. Thomas playfully lifts the child up. The square is lively with families and children.

"I thought this this whole story would be like, go to this abandoned copy of Paris and instead we like want to move here. Hi."

Setting: Tianducheng, China — natural dusk light, some artificial lights

The friends are sitting on the steps in the town square, with the replica Eiffel Tower in the background. Children are playing around them. A young boy runs towards the camera, smiling, and then the camera focuses on him. The scene then transitions to night, with the city lights illuminating the streets. People are walking around, and street vendors are selling food and clothes.

Setting: Tianducheng, China — artificial city lights

The city comes alive at night. The friends walk through bustling streets filled with street vendors, locals, and children playing. They try a Chinese crepe, and Thomas enjoys it. They interact with families, and Matt high-fives a young girl. The scene then shifts to a lively square where people are dancing in groups. Matt and Derin join in, dancing with locals. They express their surprise and delight at the unexpected vibrancy of the city, contrasting it with the 'ghost town' narrative. They are all smiling and laughing, enjoying the communal atmosphere.

"In the evening, the whole city came alive. Chinese crepe? Okay. Paris in China, baby. Just got a crepe by the Eiffel Tower. Oh, good. And we got to see a side of it that I guess the news maybe didn't stick around long enough to see. A very communal, family-oriented environment where kids are safe enough to run around the streets, even without their parents. How long? Nice to meet you. Five. Where are you from? America. Sweden, America, and Paris. Same same like Paris? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Small Paris. What is happening right now? We were told this place was abandoned. There are people out dancing. Look at this. People are just, okay, what is happening? Yeah, baby. Strange as the situation itself is, as a travel memory, it couldn't have been any better. Everyone is so smiley and so friendly and so open. I was not expecting when we woke up that we were going to dance by the Eiffel Tower."

Setting: Tianducheng, China — artificial city lights

Text: "Chinese crepe?", "Nice to meet you", "Five", "Where are you from?", "America", "Small Paris"

The video shows a series of quick cuts. First, a man laughs with another man in a room. Then, Staffan and another man make fists, smiling. Next, Staffan, Yan, and an elderly woman are clapping and cheering, with Staffan looking excited. The scene then shifts to Staffan and another man in a room, looking thoughtful. Staffan then speaks to Yan, who holds a sign that says 'DO YOU WANT TO COME TO OUR PARTY?'. The video then shows a lively party scene with people dancing and laughing. Finally, Staffan stands in a crowded street, surrounded by people holding up their phones, asking if they want to come to a party.

"Just a week into our trip to China, many of our expectations have been shattered, which made us feel at this point that we had to dial up our challenges with more complicated ideas. So, for our second part of the trip, we did. So do you want to come to a party?"

Setting: various — various

Text: "DO YOU WANT TO COME TO OUR PARTY?", "So do you want to come to a party?"

Staffan is surrounded by a large crowd of people, all holding up their phones and recording him. He smiles and gestures, looking overwhelmed but happy. He then speaks to the camera, suggesting they need a bigger venue.

"I think we need a bigger venue."

Setting: city street — artificial street lights

Text: "(Next weeks episode)"