Students of social anthropology have long mused over the phenomenon of the Chinese tourist group. It moves like a whirlwind through majestic natural wonders and imposing architectural accomplishments, pausing only to get the photo. It often seems as though tourist attractions only exist to have people photographed in front of them.

For residents denied much in the way of travel opportunities, the World Park in southwest Beijing is the logical solution. Complete with miniaturized versions of many of the world's top tourist attractions -- past and present -- the park allows you to photograph yourself in front of everything from the Statue of Liberty to the Gate of Babylon, with the Golden Gate Bridge and the Taj Mahal in the background for good measure.

Kitsch-loving Westerners will find the World Park a gold-mine. Excitement lurks around every corner in the form of another bizarre juxtaposition. The Eiffel Tower stands behind the British Houses of Parliament (strangely reinterpreted in gray concrete) just across the river from Manhattan Island; the stone sculptures of Easter Island pop up on the east side of Port Jackson, just across from the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. If this isn't enough, there is the surreal bonus of Deng Xiaoping's aeroplane and a Disneyesque castle and "fairy-tale world." Not least of the park's attractions is the chance to see vainglorious architectural statements cut down to size -- Lenin's brooding marble mausoleum becomes a large shoe box, while St Basil's Cathedral really does look like a wedding cake.

A group of American and Australian visitors last month was thrilled. "It's cool," said one. "We have really tacky theme parks all over the States, and this makes us feel right at home."

Interestingly, Chinese visitors were less impressed. "It's not what I expected," said Ai Li, a young Beijing woman out with her fiancé. "It's smaller and tattier than it looked in the adverts." "Maybe Westerners like it because you've seen these places for real, or have been familiar with them from books and TV all your lives, so for you it's fun," said Jiu Ping, a law student from Guangzhou. "To me it's pretty boring."

The Russian dance troupe went down best with locals, who seemed happy to forego the rest of world culture for the sake of four women with extremely long legs in white lingerie. "Who can blame them?" said Jiu.

The World Park is in Fengtai District, about 12 kilometers southwest of Beijing West Railway Station along the Jingshi Expressway. Take double decker No. 7 or the World Park special bus, both of which go from Changchunjie. The Russian dance troupe performs every day at 1:30pm. Entry costs 48 RMB, plus two yuan for the elephant show, if you're so inclined.