Houtouwan 渔村改造项目丨中国舟山

Explore an Abandoned Chinese Fishing Village

In the 1990s, the town was home to about 2,000 fishermen and their families. People were prosperous in Houtouwan for a time, but over the years the fishing community couldn’t keep up with growing competition in nearby Shanghai. So, the fish-dependent population eventually migrated to the mainland for better prospects. Over the next few decades, the houses fell into disuse and local plants invaded.

Dozens of modern houses that have been overwhelmed by nature dot the hillside right up to the sea. Some of their walls have fallen or their roofs have collapsed, while others have had their industrial finish replaced with blankets of local vines and grasses. Snaking dirt roads connect the abandoned houses and the remains of a fishing port hint at the village’s commercial past. If you peek into some former homes, you can see decaying household objects and decrepit pieces of forgotten furniture.

Less than a dozen people still live in Houtouwan today. But instead of profiting from fishing, they’ve turned to something else. Locals now tour a handful of day trippers through the once-thriving village and sell them water, which is the only object for sale in the village. ​​​​​​​