The overgrown ghost town that is now a tourist attraction
Houtouwan is one of many small settlements in China that have been abandoned by residents in search of better prospects.
A ghost town in eastern China that has been reclaimed by nature has been reborn as a tourist attraction.
The village of Houtouwan on Shengshan island in the province of Zhejiang was once home to more than 2000 residents, Travel + Leisure reported.
However, as ships grew bigger and could no longer fit in the tiny port, it struggled to compete with larger fishing villages.
The greenery has engulfed many buildings inside and out.
When seas were stormy, the only way in and out of the village was a small, winding, hillside path.
READ MORE:
* West Coast – the ghost town capital of New Zealand
* Exploring Pripryat, the world's premier ghost town
* The ghost town being swallowed by sand
"Giving birth, children going to school, when people got sick - all we had was that small path. It took too much effort," a former resident told the Daily Mail.
Dogs rest on stone steps in the abandoned fishing village.
Residents started leaving in the early 1990s and now only a few villagers remain.
Over the years, vivid green vines and ferns have engulfed the stone buildings, making them look like a topiary village.
Rediscovered in 2015, the green ghost town has become a popular with intrepid tourists.
Lin Fazhen, 60, is one of the few remaining residents.
Last year, local authorities introduced a 50 yuan (NZ$11) fee for tourists to enter the village. Visitors follow a dirt path that weaves between the stone houses, some of which are still furnished.
Shengshan is one of about 400 islands in the Shengsi archipelago. While only about 65 kilometres east of Shanghai, Houtouwan can take up to 36 hours to reach from mainland China.
But those who have made the effort seem to feel it was worth it - travellers have variously described it as "magical", like "the scenery of a dreamland" and capturing "the beauty of that which is no longer there".
Lin Fazhen, 60, left, leaves his home with a neighbour.
A path draws visitors down footpaths winding past structures worn down by roots, rain, vines and wind.
An ivy-covered building.
The village was abandoned in the 1990s as families moved to the mainland for better prospects.
- Stuff
Comments