The city of Xiong’an in China has been dubbed a ‘ghost town’ after it was built for $85billion (£70billion) and one of its few residents has said it is ‘boring’
Labelled ‘boring’ by one of its scant few residents, China’s $85billion (£70billion) ‘ghost town’, the city of Xiong’an, has underwhelmed despite significant hype.
The Hebei province city, hailed in 2017 as a ‘model city in the history of human development’ after being launched by President Xi Jinping, hasn’t quite hit the mark for at least one local who divulged to the Times that the city lacks excitement.
She said: “There isn’t much social life. Young people all work overtime, and there aren’t many opportunities for leisure or socialising. As for finding a boyfriend, you’ll just have to make do with hoping your friends provide.”
Xiong’an was designed to be futuristic, featuring buried fibre optic cables that theoretically run everything from facial recognition systems to autonomous vehicles. .
Despite its ghostly quietude, President Jinping remains optimistic about the city’s prospects, aiming to convince investors of its potential vibrancy.
State media has reported 1.2 million souls residing in Xiong’an; this figure is bolstered by the merging of three neighbouring counties under its banner, with plans to accommodate around five million residents.
The recent showcase of a new £3bn tunnel, anticipated to be the world’s longest upon its completion in 2031, reflects continued ambition. Construction on this landmark transport link through a mountain commenced back in 2016, epitomising China’s commitment to ground-breaking infrastructure.
Travel time is set to be slashed with the new Tianshan Shengli tunnel, which is scheduled to open in October 2025, allowing drivers to traverse the mountains in a mere 20 minutes.
The 13.7-mile-long tunnel will also reduce the journey from Urumqi to Korla, a key city in southern Xinjiang, to under two hours, reports the Express.
Xu Tianchen, an expert from The Economist Intelligence Unit, shared with the Sun: “Completion will certainly benefit trade and economic growth in the underdeveloped part of Xinjiang.”
He added: “Central Asia provides a reasonable return-risk mix, especially with its rich energy reserves and acceptable security situation.”
It comes after a tourist claimed China’s £500m “fake British town” would have been proven the perfect replica had it included just one more feature.
Ali Korsan journeyed to the Far East to explore Thames Town, named after the River Thames, which was constructed in 2006 to draw people away from the bustling city of Shanghai, located a mere 30km away. Nestled within Songjiang New City, in the Songjiang District, the town currently houses around 2,500 residents but has space for up to 10,000.
Thames Town boasts architecture lifted straight from classic British designs, complete with its own church, pub, and fish and chip shop. “The Chinese have copied Britain brick-by-brick,” Ali (@alikorsan_) said in his TikTok video. He noted the attention to detail, including the road’s double yellow lines, as he strolled down the street.
“It does feel like you are in Britain, but something just doesn’t feel quite right,” he remarked. Ali wandered through a cobbled street shopping area, pointing out the local fascination with Carnaby Street. However, he expressed disappointment at a missed opportunity, lamenting: “I don’t really know why they have this shop here when it has no British goods at all – it’s like a lost opportunity I feel.”
