- China has around 65 million empty residential units, enough to house France’s entire population.
- Massive construction projects created entire cities that remain largely uninhabited.
- Modern cities like Kangbashi and Tianducheng struggle with 90% vacancy rates.
For centuries, building new towns and cities has been seen as a symbol of progress — offering modern homes, shiny new infrastructure, and the promise of thriving communities. Typically, that recipe works, drawing both homeowners and investors, which makes these projects a success.
However, in China, things took a bizarre turn. Entire cities were built with skyscrapers, perfectly paved roads, and fancy apartments, but no one moved in. They are now left standing empty, like elaborate movie sets from a lost Blade Runner sequel, waiting for actors who never show up.
An Economic Boom Gone Wrong
China’s economy skyrocketed in recent decades, and with that growth came a real estate frenzy. Developers built high-rise apartments and urban complexes at breakneck speed, betting that a rising middle class would rush to fill them. Trillions were invested and expectations ran high.
But then—crickets. The buyers didn’t come. Families hesitated, investors backed off, and developers realised they’d seriously overestimated demand. Now, about 65 million residential units sit empty — that’s enough housing for the entire population of France. Imagine entire neighbourhoods of pristine buildings with no lights on at night, roads without cars, and playgrounds where the swings never move. Eerie doesn’t even begin to cover it.
The Ghost City of Ordos
One of the most infamous examples of China’s ghost cities is Kangbashi, a district in the city of Ordos in northern China. It was built during the early 2000s coal boom and was supposed to house over a million people. The city had it all — sleek apartment complexes, parks, a library, and a modern museum. On paper, it was a dream city, but the people of China simply weren’t interested.
To make it seem less depressing, local authorities moved government offices there and encouraged workers to relocate. Some did — about 100,000 people — but that was still only a small number compared with what was planned and the city still feels far from the bustling hub it was meant to be.
Kunming’s Failed Dream
Chenggong, located near Kunming, tells a similar story. It was launched in 2003 to ease urban crowding and the plan was simply to build a satellite city that people flocked to. Instead, it became yet another ghost town. It had high-rise apartments stretched as far as the eye could see, but lights rarely flickered on at night.
Things got so bad that in 2021, officials demolished fifteen unfinished buildings after developers ran out of money.
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Tianducheng: China’s Failed “Paris”
Tianducheng, nicknamed “China’s Paris,” represents another failed urban project. The town isn’t just a few streets with French names. We’re talking about a replica Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, charming Parisian-style buildings, fountains, and neatly landscaped gardens. It was built in 2007 and was meant to be a romantic getaway with European charm.
But things didn’t go as planned and now the city feels like a dream someone forgot to wake up from. Only 30,000 people live there, which is just 10% of what the developers had hoped for. You can stroll the streets with barely another soul in sight, making it perfect for taking selfies but not so much if you want community vibes.
Of course, not all hope is lost. Some of these cities have seen modest population increases. But let’s be real — there are millions of apartments that still sit empty.
