Ghost Town 鬼城

Ghost Town 鬼城

China’s “ghost towns” got their name because they are either empty of people or have negligible populations living and working in them. They typically lack commercial or industrial activity and thus offer no incentive for people to move in. Businesses refuse to open due to lack of a customer base and residents will not move in due to a lack of services and commerce. Ghost towns can be standalone cities or on the outskirts of established urban areas. One reason for the phenomenon is the buying of units only as an investment that is intended to be left empty until a profit can be made from resales. The number of ghost towns has risen along with the central government’s drive for urbanization and the encouragement this gives to property developers.