Houtouwan - China’s Beautiful Ghost Village

Houtouwan is an abandoned fishing village on the northern side of Shengshan Island, one of the Shengsi Islands, a chain of 400 islands located 40 miles east of Shanghai, China.

The village was once home to more than 2,000 fishermen among other residents, but was abandoned in the early 1990s. Reasons for the near total abandonment of the village include problems with education and food delivery.

Since its decline, greenery has overtaken what was once a bustling village, making it a surreal sight and a photographer’s paradise. Some homes even remain furnished. Today the popular tourist attraction is only home to a handful of people selling essentials for the day trippers.