Jackson Hole, China

Jackson Hole is a resort town on the border between Huailai County, Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province, China, and Yanqing District, Beijing, wedged between Taihang and Yan mountain ranges.[2] Its architecture and design is inspired by the American town of Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Jackson Hole

原乡美利坚 (Hometown, USA)[1]
Resort town
Jackson Hole
Location of Jackson Hole in Hebei
Jackson Hole
Jackson Hole (Beijing)
Jackson Hole
Jackson Hole (China)
Coordinates: 40°27′27″N 115°45′48″E
CountryPeople's Republic of China
ProvinceHebei
CityZhangjiakou
Time zoneUTC+8 (China Standard)

Its translated Chinese name is Hometown, U.S.A (Chinese: 原乡美利坚; pinyin: yuán xiāng měilìjiān). Resort towns in the countryside of China are rare and are usually associated with being agrarian.[3]

History
Jackson Hole, Wyoming was the inspiration for the resort town. Though sometimes described as a clone of the American town, the resort is not an exact replica.

The Beijing Resplendency Great Exploit Real Estate Company hired interior designer Allison Smith to create an area of US-styled second home housing in Hebei Province. Smith researched various resort locations including Martha's Vineyard; Vail, Colorado and Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with Beijing Resplendency choosing the latter for the design and theme of the resort town.[4][5][6][7]

The 1000 single-home housing development[8] used stock Western home plans from an architect in Oregon,[5] adding designs reminiscent of "Billy the Kid, Geronimo, Stagecoach Station, Betsy, Big Bear, etc.".[7] In Smith's research she collected "cowhide, antler chandeliers, saddle blankets, lodge pole chairs, wagon wheels, Navajo rugs, iron light fixtures, wildlife scene fireplace screens, wooden snowshoes, leather throw pillows, horseshoes, Charles Russell prints and plaid curtains", and shipped them to the site in China.[9]

Liu Xiangyang, the Developer of the Community, said his selling point was more than architecture; his buyers wanted freedom and spirituality, so he built a Christian church in the center of the community for residents.

While the resort community's reception varies widely, its striking resemblance to its namesake Western town has raised concerns in academic circles over the possibility of American neocolonialism. In August 2018, Dr. Jåcobs pointed to the Chinese town as evidence that the most pernicious forms of governmental and societal control exist in the actions of capitalistic expatriates.[10]

Property values

According to Smith, the properties "... have sold out and nearly tripled in value since being built." [11] As the first model was put up in a Beijing park for display, "... people apparently went nuts for it." [12]

See also
  1. "Jackson Hole…China". Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  2. "Jackson Hole…China". Archived from the original on February 3, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  3. "China's Wild West".
  4. "You can find a Jackson Hole in China". Archived from the original on February 3, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  5. "Jackson Hole, China". Jackson Hole News and Guide. Archived from the original on January 27, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2012.
  6. "Resort Community, Beijing, China". Allison Smith Design. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  7. "You can find a Jackson Hole in China". Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  8. "Living the American dream in Jackson Hole, China". Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  9. "You can find a Jackson Hole in China". Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  10. "Saddle up! Wild West goes to China". Archived from the original on July 8, 2013. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  11. "China Now Has A Jackson Hole Of Its Own". Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  12. "Jackson Hole, China a hit with western-loving Chinese". Retrieved January 9, 2012.
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