China’s Futuristic $22 Billion Island: The Most Expensive Ghost Town Ever?

Ocean Flower Island (海花岛), just off the coast of Hainan (海南), was once hailed as China’s answer to Dubai — a futuristic paradise of theme parks, luxury hotels, and residential towers blooming from the South China Sea (南海). Built at a reported cost of over 160 billion yuan, it was the crown jewel of the Evergrande Group (恒大集团), China’s second-largest property developer.

But today, Ocean Flower Island tells a very different story. As Evergrande collapsed under more than 300 billion USD of debt, the project became a symbol of China’s real estate crisis. Many of its glittering towers stand empty, hotels see only a trickle of guests, and vast sections of the island feel eerily deserted. What was once branded as the “Oriental Dubai” has become known internationally as a “ghost island (鬼城)”.

Walking along the wide boulevards, travelers encounter surreal contrasts: pristine beaches with no swimmers, sprawling malls with shuttered shops, and amusement rides standing still under the tropical sun. Entire neighborhoods of brand-new apartments remain unoccupied, their lights never switched on.

The financial collapse has rippled far beyond Hainan. Evergrande’s downfall has shaken investor confidence across China and triggered debates on the sustainability of large-scale urban experiments. For locals, the promises of jobs, tourism, and prosperity tied to Ocean Flower Island (海花岛) have largely evaporated, leaving uncertainty about what comes next.

And yet, the island remains strangely compelling. Its monumental architecture and sheer scale are impressive, even if haunting. For visitors, it offers a glimpse not only into China’s ambition but also into the risks of overbuilding — a place where dreams of global prestige collided with economic reality.

Ocean Flower Island (海花岛) today is less a destination than a monument: a reminder of how quickly fortunes can turn, and how fragile even the grandest visions can be when built on shaky foundations.

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2024/4/20

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????Itinerary
00:00 Ocean Flower Island No. 1（海花岛一号岛）
06:48 Empty Shopping Mall（空无一人的商场）
19:26 Empty Church（空无一人的教堂）
24:48 Empty Food Street（空无一人的美食街）
30:13 Seaside Promenade（海边步道）
37:02 Ocean Flower Island No. 2（海花岛二号岛）

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