A tiktoker has revealed that she visited Greece's most iconic island over 7,000 kilometers away – in China. Yasmin von Roon, 27, was stunned when she discovered Dali's Ideal State resort – a faithful replica of the island of Santorini, reports The Sun.
Spread over 3,700 acres along the Cangshan mountain range, the popular resort – nicknamed the 'fake Santorini' – has copied the island's signature cobbled streets and blue windows.
Dali boasts clear skies and a relaxing atmosphere, while visitors can enjoy a cool frappe in the sun – just like in Greece.
The Aegean Sea, the volcano, and the famous Santorini sunset may be missing, but otherwise the Chinese version closely resembles the original.
The sunny Greek island is one of the most popular wedding destinations for Chinese couples – which is why almost £1bn has been spent to create a replica of it in Yunnan province.
Santorini is among the most popular holiday destinations in Greece. pixabay photo (Archive)
Content creator Yasmin von Roon came across this unique place during a trip. She told the quoted source that she first saw photos of the area circulating on Chinese social media.
“Being close to the beautiful old town of Dali, I couldn't resist seeing it with my own eyes!”the young woman confessed.
Dali has become a popular tourist resort and has various Greek-like hotels, shops and restaurants.
The TikToker, who is a student at China's Zhejiang University, believes that while the replica is quite convincing, nothing compares to the original.
“Having visited Greece several times, including Santorini, I can appreciate the charm of the Chinese replica. It is located in one of the most scenic locations in China, and the ambiance, with frappes, exudes a relaxing atmosphere reminiscent of Greece.
There were couples taking their wedding pictures there, just like in the real Santorini.
Although the setting is stunning, the essence of Greece is irreplaceable.
While the copy does well on visuals such as architecture and coastal scenery, the cultural and historical depth of the original is unmatched“, said the young woman.
Chinese media have described Dali as a “resort town with beautiful scenery and Santorini-style buildings that attracts many couples to take wedding photos.”
