Far from the upscale accommodations in Shenzhen's central business district or Overseas Chinese Town is a very different type of neighborhood. On Nanwan Jiedao in Longgang District, 124 unfinished buildings stand as relics of a construction project that began in 1992 and was never completed.
Some of the villa-type buildings look almost whole, only the absence of windows giving them away. Others are simply four crumbling walls with no roof to guard against the elements.
The entire area of uncompleted construction spans a total of 30,000 square meters. It belongs to the Nanling Village Group, and lies next to a prosperous-looking residential district. Seen together, the modern high-rises contrast sharply with the plain, two-story brick facades.
For unknown reasons, the construction was abandoned indefinitely, yet the buildings were never torn down. In the absence of regulations or rent, drifters have taken over the area.
They've occupied the three or four villas closest to the road, making them into homes. Occupants cook and wash clothes. Some use the buildings as warehouses for their small businesses.
One of the strongest signs that they've put down roots here, however, are the gardens. The migrants living here use scraps of collected materials to fence off land and plant vegetables, which have flourished under their care.
Another, less flattering testament to occupants' continued stay here is the trash they've left behind.
Still, despite downsides like pollution and safety risks, there's something impressive about the fact that people have managed to make this no-man's-land into a place to live and work.
[Images via Yicai]
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