Houtouwan (Chinese: 后头湾; pinyin: Hòutóuwān) is an abandoned fishing village on the northern side of Shengshan Island (Chinese: 嵊山岛; pinyin: Shèngshān dǎo), one of the Shengsi Islands, a chain of 400 islands located 64 kilometres (40 mi) east of Shanghai, China.[1][2][3]
Houtouwan | |
|---|---|
 Houtouwan at dusk | |
  Houtouwan | |
| Coordinates: 30°43′37″N 122°49′12″E / 30.727°N 122.82°E | |
| Country |  China |
| Region | East China |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+08:00 (CST) |
History
The village was established in the 1950s and was once home to more than 2,000 fishermen. By the 1990s, the population began to rapidly decline due to lack of adequate connection to the mainland, education, and job opportunities.[4] By 2002, the village had been completely depopulated.[5]Since its abandonment, the once-bustling village has been overtaken by greenery, and is now a popular tourist attraction.[6]