Henry Fok Ying-tung had a dream to transform his hometown in the backwaters of Panyu into a miniature Hong Kong - a playground for the wealthy and cultured, and a haven for scientific research.
But the tycoon died without seeing his vision for Little Nansha, located on the east coast of Nansha Island in the Pearl River Delta, come to full fruition.
Over the years he ploughed more than HK$4 billion into the project, along the way dealing with corrupt officials and disgruntled landowners, and seeing his plan for a clean environment change due to the development of heavy industry and port facilities in Greater Nansha.
Today there is the Nansha Grand Hotel, an elegant bookstore styled after Taipei's trendy Eslite Books, a commercial centre, a convention facility, and technology research hub.
But Little Nansha - which also boasts a ferry service and golf course and has a marina planned - resembles a ghost town. Build it and they will come, at least in 10 years' time, says Fok's team, who are still optimistic about it being a success.
'We have a visionary project,' said Harvard-trained architect Doreen Liu, who is working on the project.