Houtouwan
Houtouwan | |
|---|---|
 Houtouwan at dusk | |
  Houtouwan Location within China | |
| Coordinates: 30°43′37″N 122°49′12″E / 30.727°N 122.82°E | |
| Country |  China |
| Region | East China |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+08:00 (CST) |
Houtouwan (Chinese: 后头湾; pinyin: Hòutóuwān) is an abandoned fishing village and tourist attraction on the northern side of Shengshan Island (Chinese: 嵊山岛; pinyin: Shèngshān dǎo), one of the Shengsi Islands, a chain of nearly 400 islands[1] located 64 kilometres (40 mi) east of Shanghai, China.[2][3]
History
[edit]The village was established in the 1950s and was once home to more than 2,000 fishermen and 500 homes.[4] By the 1990s, the population began to rapidly decline due to lack of adequate connection to the mainland, education, and job opportunities.[4] The fishing community could not keep up with the growing competition in Shanghai, causing the fish dependent community to migrate to the mainland for better prospects.[5] Only a handful of people remained in the village by 1994,[6] and by 2002, the village had been depopulated,[7] although in 2015 a few people were known to reside there.[6]
Since its abandonment, the once-bustling village has been overtaken by greenery,[1] and it has become a "popular tourist attraction" which has resulted in some former residents returning each day to work at the village.[4][6]
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Abandoned Chinese village swallowed by vines". CNN.com. June 12, 2015. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
- ↑ "The Abandoned Fishing Village of Shengshan Island - Urban Ghosts". Urban Ghosts Media. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
- ↑ 谢梦洁, ed. (June 26, 2018). 嵊泗网红景点“绿野仙踪”后头湾村正式对外营业 [Shengsi's Internet-Famous Sightseeing Spot "Green Heaven" Houtouwan Village Officially Opens for Business]. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
- 1 2 3 "Abandoned 'ghost village' in China becomes overgrown". bbc.co.uk. BBC News. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
- ↑ "Visit Plant-Infested Houtouwan, a Chinese Ex-Fishing Village". Travel. December 5, 2025. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
- 1 2 3 Taylor, Alan (July 29, 2015). "The Abandoned Fishing Village of Houtouwan". The Atlantic. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
- ↑ Wong, Maggie (October 6, 2022). "China's forgotten village swallowed by nature". CNN.com. Retrieved June 3, 2025.