China's economic stimulus programme has accelerated the already aggressive pace of urban development in the country. But while investment in construction is creating much-needed infrastructure in some cities, it is also adding to the number of ghost towns with nearly empty facilities in other parts of the mainland.
The nation already has its share of empty edifices. Overlooking Beijing's 'Water Cube' swimming centre and 'Bird's Nest' stadium stands Pangu Plaza, a huge but little-used five-tower complex spanning the length of seven football fields. The project includes an office block, serviced-apartment buildings, a shopping centre and the Pangu 7 Star Hotel.
Although Pangu Plaza was completed two years ago, the shopping centre is mostly empty, with virtually no tenants and many outlets boarded up, Patrick Chovanec, a professor at the School of Economics and Management at Tsinghua University, said. 'There are no lights in the offices. At night, people don't seem to be home.'
A public relations executive at the Pangu hotel said the shopping centre and office building are still seeking tenants, adding: 'Our hotel's occupancy rate is alright, but this is the low season, so the occupancy is low at the moment.'
The China edition of GQ magazine threw a lavish launch party at Pangu Plaza in November last year, but a New Zealander who attended said the complex is mostly empty.
'The hallways on the ground floor are empty and you feel that it is a ghost town apart from the top floor where we were. It certainly was not full of activity beyond the show,' he said.
Examples of mega projects abound.