Houtouwan: China’s Abandoned Fishing Village

On the northern side of Shengshan Island, off the coast of Zhejiang in eastern China, there is a village that looks almost unreal. White houses climb the green hillside, narrow paths disappear beneath vegetation, and thick vines spill over walls, windows, and rooftops. This is Houtouwan, the famous abandoned fishing village in China.

Houtouwan, an abandoned fishing village on Shengshan Island, is slowly being covered by lush vegetation.

At first glance, Houtouwan looks as if it has been deserted for centuries. In reality, its transformation happened within living memory. The village was once a busy fishing community, but during the 1990s, most residents left in search of better access to services and economic opportunities. As people disappeared, vegetation slowly took over the empty houses. Today, Houtouwan has become one of China's most unusual abandoned places—and one of the most photographed villages in the Shengsi Islands.

Where Is Houtouwan?

Houtouwan is located on Shengshan Island, part of the Shengsi Islands in Zhejiang Province, China. The island group lies east of Shanghai in the East China Sea. The village occupies a steep coastal hillside, which helps explain its distinctive appearance. Houses are packed into the slopes above the sea, connected by narrow paths and steps. Houtouwan is often described as being about 40 miles (roughly 64 km) from Shanghai, although travel from Shanghai takes considerably longer because visitors must combine road and ferry journeys.

Houtouwan Was Once a Busy Fishing Village

It is easy to forget that Houtouwan was once a working community. During its active years, the village was home to more than 2,000 people, including fishermen and their families. Fishing was central to local life, and the settlement developed around the surrounding waters. But life on the remote island presented challenges. Access to education, food supplies, transportation, and other services was difficult, while residents also faced changing economic conditions in the fishing industry.

National Geographic reported that competition associated with nearby Shanghai and changing opportunities contributed to residents moving away from the village during the 1990s. Reuters also reported that problems involving education and food delivery were among the reasons residents left. The abandonment was therefore not a single dramatic event. Families gradually moved elsewhere, leaving more and more houses empty.

Why Did People Leave Houtouwan?

The story of Houtouwan is sometimes simplified as a village abandoned because its fish disappeared. The reality appears more complicated. Poor accessibility and limited services were important factors. Residents needed better access to schools, food, and everyday facilities, while opportunities elsewhere became more attractive.

Economic changes also played a role. As China's economy developed, people increasingly moved toward larger towns and cities where there were more employment and educational opportunities. By the early 2000s, Houtouwan had become largely deserted. Sources differ on the exact timeline and on which factor was most important, so it is better to view the abandonment as the result of several pressures rather than one single cause.

Gouqi Island in the Shengsi Islands, close to the abandoned village of Houtouwan.

Nature Takes Over the Empty Houses

This is what makes the abandoned village so extraordinary. Once people stopped maintaining the houses, nature began to reclaim them. Vines climbed walls. Grasses appeared along paths. Trees and other vegetation spread around abandoned buildings. Over time, the greenery became so dense that many houses almost disappeared beneath it.

From a distance, the village can look like a continuous green hillside. Only the geometric shapes of windows, doors, and rooftops reveal the hidden buildings underneath. National Geographic described houses covered by lush vegetation, while photographs distributed by Reuters show entire buildings surrounded by vines and greenery. The result is unusual: the scene is not simply a collection of crumbling ruins. It is a place where architecture and vegetation have become visually intertwined.

Is Houtouwan Really a Ghost Village?

The nickname “ghost village” is understandable, but Houtouwan is not completely frozen in time. For years, a small number of people continued to live in or around the village. Reuters documented some remaining residents, while National Geographic reported that fewer than a dozen people were still living there at the time of its 2018 report.

The village also developed a new relationship with tourism. Its unusual appearance attracted photographers, explorers and curious visitors from around the world. What had once been a remote fishing settlement became an unexpected tourist attraction. The transformation is almost ironic: the village was once supported by fishing, while its abandoned appearance later created an entirely different reason for people to visit.

The fishing communities of the Shengsi Islands lie east of Shanghai along China's coast.

Houtouwan and Tourism

Houtouwan's popularity grew rapidly after photographs of its vine-covered houses spread internationally. Visitors come mainly for the atmosphere and photography. The narrow paths, abandoned homes, steep hillsides, and views toward the sea create a landscape unlike the polished tourist destinations found elsewhere in China.

However, Houtouwan should not be thought of simply as an empty movie set. Behind the spectacular photographs is the history of a real community whose residents moved away as circumstances changed. Current information from Zhejiang's official government portal notes that Houtouwan remains one of Shengshan Island's notable attractions and describes the village as a green, plant-covered landscape.

Getting to Houtouwan

Houtouwan is remote compared with Shanghai's urban attractions. Travellers generally need to reach Shengshan Island or nearby Gouqi Island by ferry and then continue locally toward the village.

National Geographic reported that the journey from Shanghai could involve a bus and ferry connection, followed by local transportation and a walk. Current transportation conditions can change, so visitors should check local ferry schedules and access arrangements before travelling. Because the village contains deteriorating buildings and steep, overgrown paths, visitors should also be careful when exploring.

Vines and wild vegetation are gradually reclaiming the abandoned homes in Houtouwan.

What Makes Houtouwan So Fascinating?

The appeal of Houtouwan goes beyond its photographs. It tells a story about migration, changing economies, and the return of nature. A village that once depended on fishing became too difficult for most families to maintain. People moved away, leaving behind houses that gradually became part of the surrounding landscape.

Google Arts & Culture's documentation of the Shengsi Islands similarly highlights the contrast between the active fishing communities of the region and Houtouwan's quieter, nearly abandoned landscape. That contrast is perhaps the most striking part of Houtouwan. Nearby islands still support active communities and fishing, while this particular hillside settlement has taken an entirely unique path.

Gouqi Island is part of the Shengsi Islands archipelago in Zhejiang Province, China.

Frequently Asked Questions About Houtouwan

Where is Houtouwan located?

Houtouwan is an abandoned fishing village on the northern side of Shengshan Island, part of the Shengsi Islands in Zhejiang Province, China.

Why was Houtouwan abandoned?

Most residents gradually moved away during the 1990s because of difficulties including limited services, transportation, and economic opportunities. Fishing-related economic changes also contributed to the village's decline.

How many people once lived in Houtouwan?

Houtouwan was once home to more than 2,000 people, according to National Geographic and Reuters reporting.

Why is Houtouwan covered in green vegetation?

After many houses were abandoned, they were no longer regularly maintained. Vines, grasses, and other vegetation gradually spread across the buildings and paths.

Can tourists visit Houtouwan?

Yes. Houtouwan has become a tourist attraction, although it is a remote destination and access can involve ferries, local transportation, and walking. Travellers should check current local arrangements before visiting.

Is Houtouwan completely uninhabited?

Not necessarily. Reports have documented a small number of remaining residents, so calling it completely uninhabited can be misleading.

Shengshan Island is home to Houtouwan, the famous abandoned fishing village.

The Shengsi Islands form an archipelago in the East China Sea, east of Shanghai.

Nature has gradually reclaimed the abandoned houses and paths of Houtouwan.

Houtouwan's abandoned homes have gradually disappeared beneath dense vegetation.

Vines and wild vegetation cover the abandoned houses of Houtouwan.

Conclusion

Houtouwan is often called China's “ghost village,” but this label does not capture the full picture. Behind the famous photographs of green-covered houses was once a normal fishing community. Families lived there, children went to school, and fishermen went out to sea. When transportation, education, fishing, and everyday life became increasingly difficult, people gradually moved elsewhere.

All these changes happened very slowly, but the people left, and the landscape stayed. Vines climbed over the walls. Weeds filled the paths. Empty houses weathered year after year until the greenery became the most recognisable part of the village. That is why the abandoned fishing village is so fascinating. It is not a ruin of a distant civilisation. It is a relatively recent community whose buildings still stand, quietly reclaiming the landscape around them.

References & Sources

• National Geographic — Visit Plant-Infested Houtouwan
• Reuters photographs and reporting on Houtouwan
• Zhejiang Government — Shengshan Island tourism information
• Google Arts & Culture — Houtouwan
• The Indian Express — Houtouwan and its abandoned homes
• The Guardian — Houtouwan photography and former residents
• Images — www.boredpanda.com