India, May 3 -- A theme park in northern China has sparked national ridicule after attempting to pass off a modest hill as a replica of Japan's iconic Mount Fuji by simply painting its summit white, according to the South China Morning Post.

Located in Hebei province, the attraction, called Universe Fantasy Land, was designed as a fantasy-themed escape featuring a man-made mountain, scenic lake, green pastures, a white horse, and a quaint wooden cabin. Targeting weary urban dwellers from Beijing, the park promised a fairy-tale getaway just a few hours from the capital.

To mimic Mount Fuji, developers sodded the hill last year and painted its peak white. To add to the illusion, weekend "eruptions" of pink artificial smoke are released fr...