Did you know there’s a replica of Mount Rushmore in the middle of China? It sounds unbelievable, and people usually roll their eyes—until I show them the pictures.

Back in 2018, I had the fantastic opportunity to take my oldest daughter on a trip to China over her 18th birthday. We flew first to Beijing, then to Xi’an, and then took a bus all the way to Shanghai, staying in several cities along the way. An incredible distance was covered, and I had the privilege of viewing a vast amount of the Chinese countryside.

It was during that long bus ride from Xi’an to Shanghai that the unexpected happened, if only because our tour guide gave us no preparation for what we were about to see. We’d stopped for lunch and were let out to roam in some sort of themed center featuring a tall white tower that looked remarkably like the Washington Monument, except that it was plastered with Chinese characters.

Then I saw it and did a double-take. I could hardly believe my eyes, yet it was unmistakable. There, carved into a mountainside, somewhere in the middle of China, were the familiar faces of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln. Unfortunately, the surrounding hedges were heavily overgrown, obscuring the view, especially of Roosevelt.

It turns out we were in a place called “Song Dynasty Town,” which sits in front of a massive theme park that’s dedicated solely to China’s Song Dynasty. I don’t know why that park is guarded by four of the most famous American presidents, but it’s definitely the quirkiest thing I found during my visit to the country.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever discovered while traveling? Let me know in the comments, and thanks for reading!