Rooms fashioned after the ancient Chinese imperial style inside the Sphinx replica are used for films and TV series. [Photo by Zhang Yu/China Daily]

"They just need to bear a resemblance to the appearance of the original structures for the aim of making films and TV series, and satisfying the curiosity of casual tourists who haven't seen the originals," Fang said.

A worker surnamed Liu at the Hebei Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage said people should not think the replicas are the same as the originals.

"For film and entertainment purposes, it's OK. But there's no cultural value or history embedded in the replicas," Liu said.

In other parts of China, there are miniatures of famous architectural wonders.

Jing Xiaofeng, who lives in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, said the city has a park named the "Windows of the World" that features miniatures of famous scenic spots and historical relics such as towers and museums from different countries.

"The park represents a living history of China and the world through its use of replicas of ancient palaces and streets," Jing said. "People can come to understand more about these famous structures and feel like they have traveled through time and space."

Wang Zhe, a tourist who once toured a similar park in Changsha, Hunan province, said the miniatures are much too small.

"What's the point of making such grotesque and fake replicas? They are so unnatural," Wang said.

Contact the writers at zhangyu1@chinadaily.com.cn