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I Survived 24 Hours in a Chinese Ghost City... 🇨🇳
Alone at Wyndham Grand in Jing New City, China's Ghost City
What's it like staying in a Chinese Ghost city? I was the only guest to stay in this Wyndham Grand resort in Jing New City, in Tianjin.
What's it like staying in a Chinese Ghost city?
I was the only guest to stay in this Wyndham Grand resort in Jing New City, in Tianjin.
Imagine checking into a massive luxury hotel and being the only person there. That's exactly what ExpatJoel does for 24 hours at the Wyndham Grand in Tianjin's Jing New City — widely called a Chinese ghost city. His stay turns into an unsettling yet fascinating journey through empty corridors, a silent lobby, and a resort built for crowds but devoid of life. It's a haunting look at China's empty new urban developments, captured from the inside.
What's it like staying in a Chinese Ghost city?
I was the only guest to stay in this Wyndham Grand resort in Jing New City, in Tianjin.
Joel's latest challenge sounds like the setup to a horror movie: spend 24 hours as the only guest in a 400-room Wyndham Grand resort lost in the middle of a Chinese ghost city. Jing New City, near Tianjin, was built as an ambitious dream — rows of neat American-style mansions, a sprawling family resort, even a golf range — but today most of it sits empty. When he checked into room 402, the front desk wasn't exactly buzzing. The lobby was deserted, the hallways smelled moldy, and with no air conditioning in public areas, the humidity had him sweating within minutes. Still, the room itself was clean and comfortable, which made the dissonance even stranger.
The challenge: persuade a local resident to give him a tour of their home. At first, it seemed impossible. He rode through silent streets past headless emperor statues and abandoned security academies, peeking into closed garage doors and empty cul-de-sacs. A kind family let him walk around their property but asked not to be filmed. Then at a night market, he enjoyed sour soup and creamy tofu with sausage, and marked his upcoming two-year anniversary of living in China. But the real dread started after dark. The hotel became The Shining in real life: pitch-black corridors, a business center with a leaking ceiling, a conference room frozen in 2014 glory, and a disturbing bathroom scene that nearly made him run back to his room. A bat flew past as he filmed the black void outside. Even the elevator dings made him jump.
He honestly admitted to being terrified, but he pushed through for the video. The next morning, sunlight made everything feel safer. He explored the old gym, bowling alley, mini golf, and a rabbit-breeding area, all abandoned. An employee kept tabs on him and eventually escorted him out. Then, just as checkout was approaching, a chance encounter at a body clinic changed everything. After a painful massage and a cup of tea with the staff, a local man offered to show him around. Joel got a history lesson, toured a basic but rare Chinese house, a friend's mid-renovation home, and finally the man's own personal house — the challenge completed in the nick of time. It was a reminder that sometimes you only find something when you stop looking for it. He paid 450 RMB for the decaying hotel, left a small gift for his host, and rode out under the city's grand arch — a hopeful monument to a place still waiting for its future.
ExpatJoel checked into a 400-room Wyndham Grand resort in Tianjin's ghost city — and discovered he was the only guest. What followed was a surreal 24 hours of eerie corridors, abandoned bowling alleys, a painful massage, and a last-minute local connection that unlocked doors he'd almost given up on. Equal parts horror movie and heartwarming China story, this offbeat adventure proves ghost towns still have secrets.
A travel vlogger spends 24 hours alone in an abandoned 400-room resort in Tianjin's ghost city, facing eerie nights and finding unexpected kindness from locals.
Abandoned Ghost City Hotel in Tianjin: 24 Hours Alone
2:10 When staying at a large hotel in China, try asking the front desk for a direct booking price. The employee canceled the online reservation and rebooked directly, saving money even at an almost empty property.
4:12 Exploring abandoned hotels is eerie, especially after sunset. Bring a flashlight and stay aware of your surroundings, because public areas may be unlit, humid, and full of mold. Stick to safe paths.
7:41 If locals invite you to see their home, accept politely but respect their boundaries. One family showed Joel their entire property but asked not to be filmed, and the experience was still meaningful.
8:31 To meet locals in a quiet Chinese town, visit the night market. It was the liveliest place around and the easiest way to chat, eat local sour soup, and get recommendations from residents.
13:18 Try sour-based soups when eating at a Chinese night market. They are uncommon in Western cuisine but delicious, and pairing them with creamy tofu and sausage makes a comforting local meal.
27:13 Spotting groundskeepers in a supposedly empty neighborhood is a good sign that people live there. Respect gates and security, and always ask permission rather than entering private communities uninvited.
30:05 When a planned activity fails, take a break. A painful massage at a local body clinic unexpectedly led to a conversation and an invitation to visit actual homes, solving the challenge by chance.
2:10 When staying at a large hotel in China, try asking the front desk for a direct booking price. The employee canceled the online reservation and rebooked directly, saving money even at an almost empty property.
4:12 Exploring abandoned hotels is eerie, especially after sunset. Bring a flashlight and stay aware of your surroundings, because public areas may be unlit, humid, and full of mold. Stick to safe paths.
7:41 If locals invite you to see their home, accept politely but respect their boundaries. One family showed Joel their entire property but asked not to be filmed, and the experience was still meaningful.
8:31 To meet locals in a quiet Chinese town, visit the night market. It was the liveliest place around and the easiest way to chat, eat local sour soup, and get recommendations from residents.
13:18 Try sour-based soups when eating at a Chinese night market. They are uncommon in Western cuisine but delicious, and pairing them with creamy tofu and sausage makes a comforting local meal.
27:13 Spotting groundskeepers in a supposedly empty neighborhood is a good sign that people live there. Respect gates and security, and always ask permission rather than entering private communities uninvited.
30:05 When a planned activity fails, take a break. A painful massage at a local body clinic unexpectedly led to a conversation and an invitation to visit actual homes, solving the challenge by chance.
0:01 Abandoned hotel introduction
0:26 Challenge: get a resident tour
2:10 Check-in as the only guest
4:12 Exploring abandoned hotel rooms
7:41 Kind family shows their home
8:31 Dinner at night market
15:20 Returning to dark hotel
19:40 Horror hallway and jump scare
23:40 Morning hotel exploration
32:56 Local man tours his house
0:01 Abandoned hotel introduction
0:26 Challenge: get a resident tour
2:10 Check-in as the only guest
4:12 Exploring abandoned hotel rooms
7:41 Kind family shows their home
8:31 Dinner at night market
15:20 Returning to dark hotel
19:40 Horror hallway and jump scare
23:40 Morning hotel exploration
32:56 Local man tours his house
ghost cityabandoned hotelurban explorationsolo travel chinanight market foodlocal experiencesoffbeat chinacreepy hotelWhat was it like being the only guest in a 400-room hotel?
Honestly, it was terrifying. The hallways were dark and moldy, the public areas had no air conditioning, and at night I saw movement, heard strange noises, and even a bat flew past me. I was on edge the entire time.
How did you manage to get a tour of a local house?
I had basically given up. But after getting a painful massage at a body clinic, one of the locals offered to show me around. He gave me a history lesson, then took me to his friend's house and his own home. It happened when I stopped trying so hard.
Was the hotel as dirty and ruined as it looked?
My actual room was surprisingly clean and the AC worked. But the public areas were falling apart: moldy ceilings, a leaking business center, faded signs, and abandoned hot springs. It felt like a decaying time capsule.
How much did you pay to stay there?
I paid 450 RMB, about 67 US dollars, for one night. That's expensive for China, especially for a property in that condition. A decent hotel usually costs just 20 to 30 dollars a night.
