There's A Jackson Hole In China?

Wait, what?

Surrounded by mountains two hours north of Beijing lies a town that looks freakishly similar to the American west. Behold -- Jackson Hole, China, a resort town where wealthy Chinese city-dwellers vacation in timber-frame homes surrounded by expansive views, moose decals and other ranch-like accoutrements. There's even a quaint town square, a clapboard church and a rock-lined creek.

Peek inside the town with the video above from the folks at Great Big Story. While the vacation spot is not a direct copy of America's Jackson Hole, as the Atlantic reported in 2014, the town was heavily inspired -- especially the China resort's commercial center that's named Teton Village after the Wyoming original.

Though it may seem peculiar, China is not alone in its fascination with America's west. Bad Segeberg, a town in northern Germany, resembles a western film set complete with a sheriff's office and saloon. The town hosts an annual festival devoted to Karl May, an adventure writer who, according to the New Yorker, sold millions of copies of his stories bout the American West despite never visiting region.

The Karl May Festival in Bad Segeberg, Germany.
Peter Bischoff via Getty Images
The Karl May Festival in Bad Segeberg, Germany.
The Karl May Festival in Bad Segeberg, Germany.
Peter Bischoff via Getty Images
The Karl May Festival in Bad Segeberg, Germany.
Scenes from a performance during the Karl May Festival in Bad Segeberg, Germany.
Peter Bischoff via Getty Images
Scenes from a performance during the Karl May Festival in Bad Segeberg, Germany.

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