Witness the power of Mother Nature: An abandoned fishing village turns completely green!
There’s an old saying: Mother nature always takes back what she gave. That is absolutely the case here.
Hidden in the Shengsi Archipelago, China, lies an abandoned fishing village, where every man made structure has been overtaken by lush green vines. Houtou Wan Village is located on Shengshan Island, which is part of the Shengsi Islands. Neighboring Gouqi Island is linked to Shengshan by the Sanjiaojiang Bridge.
Once a thriving fishing community, now Houtu Wan village is a deserted tomb, slowly engulfed by nature. Resources started depleting, the industry started shifting towards industrialization in tone with the rapid growth of the country and so, at one time, the villagers left their houses in search for a better living in the city, leaving everything behind.
What happened next is stunning: Nature reclaimed its own. Every wall, window, crack and other traces of man-made construction have been filled by green plant life, turning the place into a surreal Tolkien’s Shire-like place. One might say the place has been made so deliberately, and not by Nature alone. Wood Elves would gladly call this home.
Jane Qing, a photographer from Shanghai captured the beauty of this coastal village. Breathtaking stills show a great contrast to the abrupt looks of the metropolitan areas in China. The whole place has an eerie, rainy look that only pictures can describe.
It took only 50 years for the greenery to plume like that! And by the looks of it, it won’t take long until nature will cover all of the human traces.
Images via BoredPanda, MyModernmet.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Houtouwan Village, Shengshan Island (connected to neighboring Gouqi Island by the Sanjiaojiang Bridge), Shengsi County, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, China
- Coordinates
- 30.7265593, 122.8193331
- Access
- Houtouwan is on Shengshan Island, not Gouqi Island; the two islands are linked by the Sanjiaojiang Bridge. Reach Shengshan by ferry from Shanghai, Zhoushan or Sijiao; some services land on Gouqi, so check the ferry endpoint and onward transport. The current route guide describes a ticketed high-side visitor entrance and a steep downhill path to a lower exit. Confirm the day’s route, return vehicle and ferry plan before entering. Stay on open paths; abandoned buildings may be unstable.
- Admission
- Visitor guides describe ticketed entry. A current practical guide gives CNY 60 as a high-season reference, while other listings report CNY 50–60; no current official tariff was located. Confirm the price and any seasonal changes at the visitor centre.
- Time needed
- Allow about 40–60 minutes for a short route or 2–2.5 hours for the full downhill route, according to a current practical guide. These are route estimates, not an official time limit. The path has steps and slopes; plan the exit vehicle and allow extra time for the return ferry.
- Best season
- Spring is specifically recommended by the Zhoushan Municipal Government information office for Shengshan Island and Houtouwan’s spring blooms. This is seasonal scenery guidance, not a guarantee of foliage, suitable weather or ferry service.
- Opening hours
- No authoritative current Houtouwan schedule was found. A current practical guide estimates high-season hours around 08:00–17:30, with last tickets around 17:00; other visitor listings report about 06:00–18:00. These secondary schedules conflict and low-season arrangements may change. Confirm opening, last entry and route locally before travelling.
- Location checked
- 2026-10-13
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-13
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