Living Ruins in Shengshan

An entire village seems to have been forgotten on the Chinese island of Shengshan – a fact that doesn’t come as a surprise granting that the Shengsi islands number more than 400 as part of one of the largest countries in the world. Once known for its fishing community, the timeworn town is beginning to disappear under a flood of new growth. Vines hungrily consume the decrepit stone buildings in a fantastical scene that demonstrates the power of nature. If the quiet area on Shengshan’s North bay didn’t foster human life, it clearly makes a comfortable home for the local flora and fauna. The city’s transformation is particularly impressive considering it was only abandoned by its residents in the early 90s; the roofless homes and broken windows already merge with thriving greenery in what is best described as a “lush ghost town.”