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New satellite images show inside China's ghost cities

Chenggong was labeled a ghost city back in 2012 with reports of 100,000 vacant apartments. Five years later, the city still looks very empty—yet they’re still building skyscrapers.

New satellite images show inside China's ghost cities

Chenggong has big plans, evident in an extensive road grid. But the roads are still mostly empty, and many city blocks are still farmland.

Chenggong has big plans, evident in an extensive road grid. But the roads are still mostly empty, and many city blocks are still farmland.

A closer look at some of Chenggong’s mostly vacant skyscrapers. Note the paved road that transitions to dirt as it moves to the left.

A closer look at some of Chenggong’s mostly vacant skyscrapers. Note the paved road that transitions to dirt as it moves to the left.

Chenggong, like other ambitious Chinese developments, has dramatic architecture—in this case surrounded by farmland.

Chenggong, like other ambitious Chinese developments, has dramatic architecture—in this case surrounded by farmland.

Chenggong has several big new university campuses. This has sat mostly empty and unfinished for a while, according to DigitalGlobe.

Chenggong has several big new university campuses. This has sat mostly empty and unfinished for a while, according to DigitalGlobe.

Erenhot is a notorious ghost city in Inner Mongolia. Check out our time lapse of one development there — just dirt in 2013 …

Erenhot is a notorious ghost city in Inner Mongolia. Check out our time lapse of one development there — just dirt in 2013 …

Streets full of McMansions in 2015 …

Streets full of McMansions in 2015 …

Still-empty streets full of McMansions in 2017.

Still-empty streets full of McMansions in 2017.

Ordos, another notorious ghost city in Inner Mongolia, is reportedly adding people but still has lots of unsold housing and unfinished construction. This beautiful stadium, for instance, has been sitting not-quite finished for a long time, according to DigitalGlobe.

Ordos, another notorious ghost city in Inner Mongolia, is reportedly adding people but still has lots of unsold housing and unfinished construction. This beautiful stadium, for instance, has been sitting not-quite finished for a long time, according to DigitalGlobe.

Source: Forbes, Forbes

Another cool building in Ordos sits dormant, no longer under construction and not in use, according to DigitalGlobe.

Another cool building in Ordos sits dormant, no longer under construction and not in use, according to DigitalGlobe.

Dongsheng (named by Baidu as a partial ghost city) has large developments sitting dormant like this one. The skyscrapers are apparently finished, but the construction equipment is gone, so it appears they’ve stopped working on the site, DigitalGlobe says.

Dongsheng (named by Baidu as a partial ghost city) has large developments sitting dormant like this one. The skyscrapers are apparently finished, but the construction equipment is gone, so it appears they’ve stopped working on the site, DigitalGlobe says.

This development in Dongsheng is up and running but appears to have very few residents.

This development in Dongsheng is up and running but appears to have very few residents.

Ghost city or future city? The giant Meixi Lake development looks eerie today, with skyscrapers going up by the dozens and not a lot of residents. Then again prices are still rising in the area and, according to DigitalGlobe, construction is still going rapidly.

Ghost city or future city? The giant Meixi Lake development looks eerie today, with skyscrapers going up by the dozens and not a lot of residents. Then again prices are still rising in the area and, according to DigitalGlobe, construction is still going rapidly.

Source: Fortune, Wired

Once called a ghost city, Zhengdong is reportedly doing quite well. Still, the city is building new skyscrapers by the dozens.

Once called a ghost city, Zhengdong is reportedly doing quite well. Still, the city is building new skyscrapers by the dozens.

Source: Forbes

Another shot of Zhengdong. Will people move in? Time will tell.

Another shot of Zhengdong. Will people move in? Time will tell.

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