The mysterious abandoned fishing village that's been taken over by nature

There's something undeniably intriguing about deserted places. Whether it's dilapidated houses or the mystery surrounding why their inhabitants left, they often have an uncanny, ghost town-like feel.

Houtouwan, an abandoned fishing village on Shengshan Island in China, has recently become a magnet for tourists because its buildings are swallowed by nature.

It's ranked number one of the top 16 attractions in Shengshi County on TripAdvisor and "very much worth the visit", according to reviews.

As for its eerie past, Houtouwan was once home to a bustling community of 3,000 people, but the remote village now stands empty, making it hard to envision its past life.

The villagers began to abandon Houtouwan in the 1990s due to its isolated location. 

Difficulty reaching the mainland and lacking job opportunities led many to seek a new life elsewhere and by 2002, Houtouwan was officially declared depopulated, and the remaining residents were absorbed into a nearby village.

Once deserted, lush vegetation quickly engulfed the buildings; thick vines crept into houses, puncturing windows and taking over room after room. Buildings are covered in thick green blankets of plants which are rooted into the walls and roofs to completely cover the remaining dwellings on Houtouwan.

In 2015, images of the hauntingly beautiful abandoned village went viral on social media, leading to a sudden influx of tourists. This unexpected surge worried officials on Shengshan Island, with one reportedly stating that the village "wasn't equipped" to handle the visitors.

However, Houtouwan has been steadily gearing up for growing tourism, with a viewing platform that opened in 2017 and a small fee implemented to allow visitors to hike around the village.

Visitors are advised to exercise caution while perusing the spooky village, as with all abandoned structures, the buildings are decaying and unstable in parts.

The deserted fishing village has become a popular weekend getaway from Shanghai, reportedly attracting 90,000 visitors in 2021. That said, it's no easy feat to get to, requiring a five to six-hour journey including a ferry ride and a local taxi.

One TripAdvisor reviewer who visited the isolated address in 2018 suggested that there are two ways to see the village: one is by taking a taxi to a viewing platform (entrance 20RMB per person), where you get a "beautiful view" of the village from the top of the hill. To enter the village, it's only possible to take a boat from the main village on Shengshan Island (100RMB per person). 

They added: "To get back to Shanghai, there is one ferry daily, which leaves at 1.30pm. We didn't get back to Shanghai until 6.30pm, as the bus got stuck in traffic."

As for whether it's worth the visit, the tourist wrote: "Overall, I can really recommend travelling there if you don't mind travelling five to six hours from Shanghai to get there. It's beautiful and for me, it was unlike any other place I'd been to in China."

Houtouwan has a few restaurants serving fresh seafood and a cafe that overlooks the beach, in addition to hotels.

One visitor suggested that "it's better to carry some snacks and drinks" rather than relying on amenities during the journey from Shanghai to Shengshan Island.

According to TripAdvisor recommendations, it's best to purchase a ticket to Gouqi Island at the bus station at Nanpu Daqiao in Shanghai the day before you intend to visit the abandoned village.