China is clamping down on giving places like Thames Town in Shanghai “bizarre” Westernised names.
The vast country has scores of towns, bridges and landmarks named after Western places, including Eton Town in Shuzhou, Beijing Yosemite and Chateau Edinburgh.
But following a two-year geographical survey cabinet guidelines released this week aim to halt “the chaotic propogation of grandiose West-worshipping and weird architecture”.
The first places that could have their names changed to something more Chinese include those guilty of “exaggeration”, such as Venice Water Town in Hangzhou, which has just a tiny pond.
Civil Affairs Minister Li Liguo said changes would be made to “those that cause damage to sovereignty or national dignity, those that are at odds with socialist core values, those deemed immoral, as well as those that have attracted the most public complaints.”
Thames Town in Shanghai includes cobbled streets, Victorian-style terraces, red phone boxes and even a statue of Winston Churchill.
It is thought the money spent on the town, which was only completed 10 years ago, may save its name.
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