24 Eerie Abandoned Places with Dark Pasts and Even Darker Secrets

15. Houtouwan: China’s Forgotten Fishing Village

Once a thriving fishing village on Shengshan Island, Houtouwan is now a ghost town swallowed by nature. In the 1980s, over 3,000 people lived here, but due to its remote location and declining fishing industry, residents slowly moved away, leaving their homes to be overtaken by thick green vines. The result is a breathtaking scene—entire houses draped in ivy, stairways vanishing into overgrowth, and a surreal blend of human structures and natural reclamation. While largely abandoned, Houtouwan has become a photographer’s dream and a fascinating case study in what happens when nature is left to run wild.