As soon as I knew I was going to be visiting Ordos City, Inner Mongolia in July 2025, I knew I was going to have to write an essay about “ghost cities” and whether Ordos is one (or not).
Never ceases to amaze me the arrogance some people have when they are "reporting" about China. More than happy to make completely incorrect statements about something and then gloat about it a decade later. Anyone who has lived in China has watched new cities or areas being built, empty for a while then filling up before you know it. Wade Shephards' book did a lot to dispel that myth. Thanks for this post.
The Kangbashi story is very dear to me as I spent two weeks in May researching on the Ghost City Angle BUT it didn't feel right to me and I wasn't happy and Pivoted back to the China in 5. I loved though the beautiful buildings in the City.
I added the Education bit on my Hengshui High School Article. I am glad you also touched on it
You're right, the "whole city" version of Ghost City is simplified nonsense. But it can't be denied that excessively over indulging is also a feature of the culture. The ghost cities exist in some form, as scattered empty apartments, unfinished buildings, distorted rent and home prices... just like the loss-making majority of high speed rail, just like covid over-reach, and an endless succession of over runs on hot brands, new restaurants, maotai, and so on and on. It is too persistent to not be a feature of the culture.
China discourse is always too defensive for my taste, in both directions.
Under a standard growth model, outlying lands would become exurbs, then suburbs, then edge cities, and finally be discussed in their own right, though never as much as the center. With enough nudging, the center can move. China made the decision to deliberately try to jump start these things. The result can be accurately described as "ghost cities."
Would we expect them to slowly fill up over the course of decades in healthy, growing cities? Sure. Could all those materials and labor be better used than in buildings sitting empty for 10 years before that happens? Certainly. Are they a scam to manipulate GDP numbers? Hardly.
Is my pride wounded if McKinney, TX never has a postcard skyline? Absolutely not.
Never ceases to amaze me the arrogance some people have when they are "reporting" about China. More than happy to make completely incorrect statements about something and then gloat about it a decade later. Anyone who has lived in China has watched new cities or areas being built, empty for a while then filling up before you know it. Wade Shephards' book did a lot to dispel that myth. Thanks for this post.
For a snapshot of the city in 2015, check out the photos in this piece: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/china-ordos-ghost-city-life_n_7204016
Yes, shameless self-promotion but the it's really about the pics by Matjaž Tančič.
The Kangbashi story is very dear to me as I spent two weeks in May researching on the Ghost City Angle BUT it didn't feel right to me and I wasn't happy and Pivoted back to the China in 5. I loved though the beautiful buildings in the City.
I added the Education bit on my Hengshui High School Article. I am glad you also touched on it
https://open.substack.com/pub/chinain5/p/the-code-of-hengshui-how-a-chinese?r=1c80q&selection=6b6eb64d-d6df-4808-b0df-c93c952c2717&utm_campaign=post-share-selection&utm_medium=web&aspectRatio=instagram&textColor=%23ffffff&bgImage=true
A perspective on the ghost city moniker with great reportage and facts. Enjoy your substack and will upgrade to paid. This was an excellent post.
Thanks Xu Xi!
You're right, the "whole city" version of Ghost City is simplified nonsense. But it can't be denied that excessively over indulging is also a feature of the culture. The ghost cities exist in some form, as scattered empty apartments, unfinished buildings, distorted rent and home prices... just like the loss-making majority of high speed rail, just like covid over-reach, and an endless succession of over runs on hot brands, new restaurants, maotai, and so on and on. It is too persistent to not be a feature of the culture.
China discourse is always too defensive for my taste, in both directions.
Under a standard growth model, outlying lands would become exurbs, then suburbs, then edge cities, and finally be discussed in their own right, though never as much as the center. With enough nudging, the center can move. China made the decision to deliberately try to jump start these things. The result can be accurately described as "ghost cities."
Would we expect them to slowly fill up over the course of decades in healthy, growing cities? Sure. Could all those materials and labor be better used than in buildings sitting empty for 10 years before that happens? Certainly. Are they a scam to manipulate GDP numbers? Hardly.
Is my pride wounded if McKinney, TX never has a postcard skyline? Absolutely not.
Thank you for a necessary update.