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What China Doesn’t Want You to See About Its $25B Man-Made Island
Ocean Flower Island: Exploring China's Abandoned Artificial Island
In 2020, the world’s largest artificial island was opened in China. Built at a cost of almost 25 billion US dollars, Ocean Flower Island was meant to attract international tourists from all over the world.
Curious, I decided to check out the archipelago consisting of three independent islands...
In 2020, the world’s largest artificial island was opened in China. Built at a cost of almost 25 billion US dollars, Ocean Flower Island was meant to attract international tourists from all over the world. Curious, I decided to check out the archipelago consisting of three independent islands myself. But what I found stood in stark contrast to what Ocean Flower Island, also known as Haidua / Haihuadao Island, was originally supposed to be. Instead of a bustling tourist hub, Ocean Flower Island now sits mostly unfinished or abandoned. In this vlog, I’ll take you around the main island and one of the residential areas, which today falls into the category of a ghost town. Since the project's developer, Evergrande Group, went bankrupt in 2023, I don’t know whether Ocean Flower Island will ever be completed — or if it really is a failed project. This is Part 2 of my trip to Ocean Flower Island.
Ocean Flower Island, a colossal artificial island in China, costing nearly $25 billion, promised to be a global tourist attraction. However, Cori Ander's exploration reveals a starkly different reality: unfinished structures and abandoned areas. The island, also known as Haidua or Haihuadao Island, stands as a testament to the failed ambitions of its developer, Evergrande Group, which went bankrupt in 2023. This video offers a captivating glimpse into the island's ghost town atmosphere, showcasing abandoned malls, parks, and residential areas. The footage explores the contrast between the island's intended purpose and its current state, leaving viewers to ponder its uncertain future.
In 2020, the world’s largest artificial island was opened in China. Built at a cost of almost 25 billion US dollars, Ocean Flower Island was meant to attract international tourists from all over the world. Curious, I decided to check out the archipelago consisting of three independent islands myself. But what I found stood in stark contrast to what Ocean Flower Island, also known as Haidua / Haihuadao Island, was originally supposed to be. Instead of a bustling tourist hub, Ocean Flower Island now sits mostly unfinished or abandoned. In this vlog, I’ll take you around the main island and one of the residential areas, which today falls into the category of a ghost town. Since the project's developer, Evergrande Group, went bankrupt in 2023, I don’t know whether Ocean Flower Island will ever be completed — or if it really is a failed project. This is Part 2 of my trip to Ocean Flower Island.
This vlog follows Cori Ander's exploration of Ocean Flower Island, the world's largest artificial island in China, revealing a stark contrast between its intended grandeur and its current state of abandonment. Cori documents the unfinished and deserted areas of the island, highlighting the massive scale of the project and its current state of disrepair. The planned international mall, a colossal structure, remains incomplete, its interior a construction site. The eeriness of the empty spaces is palpable, with locked-off areas and overgrown landscapes adding to the unsettling atmosphere.
The video showcases various points of interest, including a civil air defense shelter, its purpose unclear. The shelter's flooded floor and damp conditions underscore the lack of maintenance. A once-vibrant water playground now sits neglected, its water murky and stagnant. Other areas, such as a park, are surprisingly well-maintained, creating an odd juxtaposition with the surrounding decay.
The sheer scale of the project—three islands costing nearly $25 billion—is emphasized, highlighting the financial implications of its failure. The bankruptcy of Evergrande Group, the project's developer, casts doubt on the island's future. Cori contemplates the potential for future development, questioning whether sufficient tourism will ever justify the investment.
The exploration continues to a second island, revealing a similar pattern of unfinished buildings and deserted areas. The lack of activity and the constant feeling of being watched by locals add a layer of intrigue. Cori notes the lack of pedestrians and the prevalence of cars, suggesting a different lifestyle than what one might expect in a thriving tourist destination.
The video also touches upon a scandal involving the demolition of 39 buildings without permits, adding another layer of complexity to the island's story. Cori observes the remains of these demolished structures, which further emphasizes the island's troubled history. The vlog concludes with Cori's reflections on the island's unsettling atmosphere and the unanswered questions surrounding its future.
Throughout the video, Cori's personal observations and emotional responses create a compelling narrative. Her detailed descriptions and insightful commentary transform a simple exploration into a thought-provoking journey, raising questions about China's economic ambitions and the human cost of unchecked development. The unique perspective offered by Cori's vlog provides a rare glimpse into a project that stands as a testament to both human ambition and the potential for unforeseen consequences.
Evergrande Group's ambitious Ocean Flower Island, the world's largest artificial island, is explored by Cori Ander in this captivating vlog. What was intended as a luxurious tourist destination, now presents a stark contrast: unfinished buildings, abandoned infrastructure, and an eerie silence. Cori's journey unveils the island's haunting beauty and raises questions about China's ambitious infrastructure projects and their unforeseen consequences.
Cori Ander explores China's unfinished Ocean Flower Island, a massive artificial island turned ghost town. The vlog reveals stunning visuals and unsettling realities of this ambitious, yet abandoned, project.
Ocean Flower Island: Exploring China's Abandoned Artificial Island
0:20 Explore the unfinished mall on Ocean Flower Island; it's a massive structure with an eerie atmosphere. Note the unfinished interior and locked-off sections.
2:54 Visit the well-maintained park, a stark contrast to the surrounding decay. Observe the civil air defense shelter and its flooded floor.
5:32 See the abandoned water playground; its low water level and dirty condition are telling of the island's neglect.
8:28 Check out the sports facilities; some areas may be open, while others remain closed off and unused.
14:03 Explore the playground; although locked off, it showcases the island's lack of maintenance even in areas that require less upkeep.
16:14 Visit the third island; observe the shops and restaurants, and note the feeling of being watched by locals. Pay attention to the lack of pedestrians and the prevalence of cars.
20:01 Walk the abandoned street; observe the unfinished and abandoned buildings, and note the presence of cameras and the feeling of being watched.
24:00 Investigate the area where the 39 demolished towers once stood; the rubble and unfinished structures highlight the island's turbulent history.
0:20 Explore the unfinished mall on Ocean Flower Island; it's a massive structure with an eerie atmosphere. Note the unfinished interior and locked-off sections.
2:54 Visit the well-maintained park, a stark contrast to the surrounding decay. Observe the civil air defense shelter and its flooded floor.
5:32 See the abandoned water playground; its low water level and dirty condition are telling of the island's neglect.
8:28 Check out the sports facilities; some areas may be open, while others remain closed off and unused.
14:03 Explore the playground; although locked off, it showcases the island's lack of maintenance even in areas that require less upkeep.
16:14 Visit the third island; observe the shops and restaurants, and note the feeling of being watched by locals. Pay attention to the lack of pedestrians and the prevalence of cars.
20:01 Walk the abandoned street; observe the unfinished and abandoned buildings, and note the presence of cameras and the feeling of being watched.
24:00 Investigate the area where the 39 demolished towers once stood; the rubble and unfinished structures highlight the island's turbulent history.
0:00 Island introduction
0:20 Unfinished mall exploration
2:54 Park and shelter visit
5:32 Abandoned water playground
8:28 Sports facilities
9:46 Sci-fi building
14:03 Playground
16:14 Third island exploration
20:01 Abandoned street
24:00 Demolished towers
00:00 Abandoned International Mall
02:54 Civil Air Defense Shelter
04:48 Abandoned Park
08:27 Closed Adventure Park
09:45 Theater & Sports Facilities
14:02 Abandoned Playground
16:11 Residential Island
20:00 Ghost City
23:00 Demolished Towers
中国ocean flower islandhaihuahaihua islandhaihuadaohaihuadao islandghost islandartificial islandman made islandman-made islandinfrastructure chinachina infrastructure
