One issue arising out of urbanisation—is the disparity between large and small cities. Bizasia’s Zheng Junfeng explored a famous ghost city, and tells us the story behind it.

 

Rampant apartment blocks, bold landmark buildings, wide and clean roads, vast plazas， and an immense townscape.

Everything looks perfect for this beautiful town, except it’s empty.

 

This is Ordos new town, Kang Ba Shi, a place that has been called the largest ghost city in China. It’s the most spectacular example of over-investment and evidence of urbanisation disparity between China’s large cities and small ones.

 

The story of Kang Ba Shi started 20 years ago with a great coal rush in the Inner Mongolian city of Ordos. After the coal rush cooled down two years ago, only 72 thousand people have moved here, leaving most homes empty and home prices free falling.

 

Mr. Zheng Xiaoping has extensive experience in urbanisation projects.

 

“I think the reason is very obvious. China is driven by economic means. When foreign investors come to China, they understand coastal cities and Beijing and Shanghai better than the mid and western region of China. ”said Zheng.

 

On the other side of disparity is Shanghai, China’s largest city. Compared with the ghost city of Ordos, Shanghai is sleepless.Despite the disparity, small cities like Ordos are not without opportunities, as China directs more resources to mid and western regions.

 

Ordos estimates over 300,000 people will move to the Kang Ba Shi new town by 2020. That’s not bad,because afterall, China’s urbanisation is one of very few certain things in the world.