Chinese ‘Friends’ fan re-creates Central Perk

>>> since rachel, ross, monica, chandl chandler, joey and phoebe became everyone's "friends." now you can hang out at a replica of central perk .

>> reporter: good morning from what i suspect is a rather familiar-looking coffee shop but this central perk is in downtown beijing . it's almost a decade since the last original episode of one of the most popular sitcoms of all time aired here on nbc. "friends" lives on in the heart of the chinese capital where a central perk has been built, goes by the name of gunther , cafe owner of the show.

>> i'm crazy about "friends".

>> reporter: he has watched all 236 episodes several times, looped on a large screen where his customers fight for a seat on that infamous couch. all the servers go by the name of rachel. menu is inspired by the show. the infamous stolen cheesecake scene.

>> if you eat your --

>> reporter: from season seven is a particular inspiration.

>> a lot of people know this from "friends" in china.

>> reporter: merely teenagers when the season ended but they're still attracted by the carefree friendship lifestyle.

>> we admire their life. we want to be like one of the characters in the show.

>> it's about the caring between friends.

>> reporter: it's an appealing contrast to the often stressful and competitive world facing young chinese. there have even been five marriage proposals in beijing 's central perk , inspired by another famous scene.

>> i really cried at that moment.

>> reporter: other see "friends" as a tool for learning colloquial english.

>> i like chandler.

>> reporter: and most memorable scene.

>> i think it's so touching.

>> reporter: for china's gunther it's not so much a business but what he call a passion and a dream.

>> there you go. enjoy.

>> reporter: this place has proved to be so popular that gunther has opened a second central perk in shanghai. it may have been almost a decade since the last show but his passion is still shared by a legion of young chinese. i have to tell you guys, the cheesecake is great.

>> thanks for trying for all of us, ian. we appreciate tiit. i an williams in beijing . savannah?