Thames Town is a development in Shanghai’s western suburbs that is designed to look like a replica of an old English village. The fact that it’s completely fake (there’s an empty, giant Church in the middle) doesn’t seem to really bother anyone involved in the photography bit. It’s one of approximately nine such developments (there’s a modern-ancient Chinese town in Zhujiajiao, and a Weimar Republic era town somewhere in the north). Thames Town has been in the news as an example of China’s wild property market: barely anyone actually lives here, even though most of the residential properties have been sold.

There is, however, a thriving industry of wedding photography, since young couples are eager to be photographed and photoshopped in an ersatz paradise. A quick scan through the town found that the only open commercial enterprises were a small cafe, and half a dozen wedding photography studios. On a nice day, the place is crawling with couples in kitschy wedding/period garb, and their photograph entourages. Companies that specialize in this charge Rmb4,000-6,000 for a two day photo shoot, which includes transportation and photo editing.

And here, in one shot, we see three separate parties:

Happy Tiger Year!

What we have here is a the neighborhood wet market (in the rain), filled with delicious fruits, meats (mmm eel) and vegetables.

Here is the pharmacy that’s right next to the market. Yes that’s a hand written sign advertising Viagra. Despite my insistence that I was a medical doctor in my homeland of Weisikangxin, the pharmacist would not let me buy mass amounts of antibiotics without a written prescription. Upon investigation, it was revealed that the Viagra could be purchased without a prescription. Unfortunately I doubt it would be effective for treating a sore throat.

Apparently what you do: go to the wet market, get your fresh produce. Go to the pharmacy, put your kids in the coin operated car-rides out front, and go buy some Viagra. Pudong: perfect life.