In 2016,Chineseproperty developer Country Garden unveiled Forest City, an eco-friendly project for a housing complex that would feature a golf course, waterpark, offices, and restaurants. Eight years later, only 15% of the entire project has been built: Forest City is now aghost townof skyscrapers reportedly filled with crocodiles.
HighlightsForest City, a $100B eco-friendly project in Malaysia intended for 1M people, now houses just 9,000.Developer Country Garden faces nearly $200B in debt over the project.Residents describe Forest City as “eerie”; a video claims crocodile attacks, but the developer denies it.
The developer intended to sell thepropertiesin Johor, on the tip of southern Malaysia, to Chinese buyers, acting as a home-away-from-home, according to theBBC.
China’s largest property developer invested $100B in the eco-friendly metropolis as part of the country’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Forest City was meant to house one million people. Now, roughly 9,000 people occupy the city, as perForeign Policy.
Forest City, an eco-friendly city in Malaysia that cost $100 billion to build, is now a ghost town of skyscrapers
Image credits:forestcitycgpv
The project was targeted at foreign buyers, considering the selling prices were out of reach for most ordinary Malaysians. The properties could be used either as an investment or a summer home.
However, a 2017 Chinese law preventing individuals from moving more than $50,000 out of the country annually led to a decrease in investments.
The minimum price of a Forest City apartment is $75,000, with some reaching the sum of $3.5 million.
Then came the pandemic, which stopped international travel and had negative effects on Chinese real estate and economic growth.
Chinese property developer Country Garden unveiled the project in 2016, which was meant to feature a golf course, waterpark, offices, and restaurants
Image credits:Eldines Hoo
“This place is eerie,” Joanne Kaur, one of Forest City’s few residents, said. “Even during the day, when you step out of your front door, the corridor is dark.”
Joanne and her husband live in one of the tower blocks. They are the only ones on the whole floor.
“I feel sorry for people who actually invested and bought a place here. It should be the project that was promised to the people, but that’s not what it is.”
Some couldn’t stand the solitude of living in a deserted city.
“I didn’t care about my deposit. I didn’t care about the money. I just had to get out,” said Nazmi Hanafiah. 30-year-old IT engineer who moved to Forest City in 2022. “It’s lonely around here. It’s just you and your thoughts.”
He added: “To be honest, it’s creepy. I had high expectations for this place, but it was such a bad experience. There is nothing to do here.”
Only 9,000 people currently reside in Forest City
Image credits:Jz Lim
Recently, reports have emerged of an allegedcrocodile invasionin theghost town.
In a viral 47-second video, two men are seen conversing in Mandarin.
The developer—who said last year that they were “optimistic” about continuing with the project in the future—has denied these claims.
What’s more, there have been reports of crocodile attacks in the area
Image credits:Rae Wallis
Residents have described the place as “eerie”
“The company’s representative has filed a police report, and the matter is currently under police investigation. The company reserves the right to take legal action against those responsible.”
Furthermore, Country Garden wrote that the “fabricated allegations” had “adversely affected the public perception, the company’s reputation, and business operation.”
Bored Pandahas contacted Country Garden for comment.
“I wouldn’t live there either,” a social media user commented
You May LikeDisney Worker Downloads Free AI Tool—Loses Job And $200,000 BonusesLei RVWoman Gets Her Hands Bitten Off By Shark After Attempting To “Engage” With The Animal For A PhotoRenan Duarte"Sue Them": Owner Of Harry Potter BnB Left Heartbroken After Guests Left It In Terrible ConditionsRenan Duarte
Lei RV
Renan Duarte
News
