A replica of one of Shanghai's most famous attractions - the Yuyan Garden - will be built in Hamburg next year, Germany as a mark of friendship between the two cities.

A file photo of the Yuyuan Garden.

People in Hamburg will be able, without leaving their hometown, to visit all the scenic spots of the garden, including the Zigzag Bridge, the ornamental lake and the pavilion at its center.

There will also be traditional Chinese performances and Chinese tea and dim sum will be served there, just like the one in Shanghai.

The construction of the replica garden, which will spread over 3,000 square meters near a downtown university, kicked off yesterday, and Hamburg's mayor said that the Chinese garden has been a "dream" for his city.

Hamburg, he said, had been waiting for such a garden for a long time.

The Yuyuan Garden, which is listed as a national heritage site, was built in 1559 and expanded in 1577. Each section of the garden is separated by curved white walls crowned with the head and body of a dragon.

It was named "Yu" after its original owner.

The garden is decorated with rocks one of which is said to have been the property of Emperor Hui Zong (AD1082-AD1135) from the Song Dynasty.

During the past National Day holiday, the garden attracted 910,000 tourists in just three days.

In recent years, China has enthusiastically built replicas of traditional gardens for sister cities abroad.

Early this year, more than 50 Shanghai architectural workers flew to New Zealand to "reassemble" a traditional Chinese garden they built in Dunedin, a sister city of Shanghai.

The Dunedin Chinese Garden was built to commemorate the Chinese settlers in Dunedin who have contributed to the city since the 19th century gold rushes. The garden will cost more than 30 million yuan (US$3.88 million).

(Shanghai Daily October 12, 2007)