Elaborate counterfeit schemes are nothing new within the far east, but the latest scam to be uncovered has amazed many at it's sheer brazen audacity - an entirely fake version of the country China has been discovered slightly to the northeast of the real China.
Visitors were fooled by an elaborately constructed replica of Beijing, including an international airport, Forbidden City and Tiannamen Square. Even the local inhabitants were duped into thinking they were real Chinese citizens. Over seven hundred million people are believed to be currently living and working in this replica China.
Suspicions were raised by tourists who, on being taken to the Great Wall of China, discovered it was made from breeze blocks. But others praised the ingineuity of the counterfeiters who used modern technology to improve their copy - for example the replica of Chairman Mao in his mausoleum uses modern animatronics to sit up, wave to visitors and sing patriotic songs.
The leaders of the real China are of course unimpressed, and have poured scorn on those who have fallen for this "obvious scam", such as the French auto manafacturer Renault, who had already opened three automobile factories in the fake China and was constructing two more before realising that the fake country's roads were just painted onto the bare rock.
"Don't fall for cheap substitutes", Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao announced, " the genuine China is of superior quality and workmanship"
