Thames Town has taken its inspiration from several UK cities

Thames Town, on the outskirts of Shanghai, has been created to look like a quintessential English town.

It has cobbled streets, mock Tudor houses, English-style boutiques, pubs and even a fish and chip shop.

On Sunday, its civic leaders toured Poundbury to learn about Charles's urban expansion to nearby Dorchester.

Lyme Regis pub

Poundbury was conceived by the Prince to inspire town planning and design after he derided contemporary architecture.

It is built on land owned by the Duchy of Cornwall and represents Charles's vision of a sustainable and inclusive community.

Nick Rowson, from Atkins, the firm responsible for designing and engineering Thames Town, said: "The two (Poundbury and Thames Town) have a lot of similarities in terms of complete from scratch, new build with a range of housing, retail and other types of development, effectively creating a character which suggests an organic growth."

Poundbury was conceived by Prince Charles to inspire town planning

Thames Town, created in Songjiang, has a sandstone church based on a Bristol chapel and an near to exact replica of The Rock Point Inn in Lyme Regis.

It is one of nine satellite towns planned for Shanghai with replica German, Italian and Spanish towns in development.

A spokeswoman for the Duchy said: "People from around the world have been to see Poundbury and learn about the principles of urban planning that have been put in place there.

"We always welcome visitors who want to come and see what it's all about."