Young adults in China are moving into newly built, largely vacant apartment complexes in so-called ghost cities to find affordable housing [1, 2].
This shift reflects the growing desperation of a generation facing high living costs amid a systemic collapse of the national property market. By relocating to these underpopulated areas, young workers are bypassing the exorbitant rents of core megacities.
The trend is most visible in medium-sized cities, including regional towns, and smaller provincial capitals [1, 2]. These areas feature high-rise developments that were built with the expectation of high demand but remained empty as the market cooled. Because these units are vacant, landlords and developers have lowered rents to attract any available tenants.
The migration comes as China's real estate sector faces a severe downturn. Data indicates that the new-home sales value of the top 100 developers in China will fall approximately 72.7% between 2021 and 2026 [1]. This massive decline has left a surplus of modern housing that remains uninhabited in many districts.
For many young people, these ghost cities offer a compromise between modern amenities and financial survival. While these developments often lack the robust infrastructure and social networks of major hubs, the low cost of entry makes them a viable alternative to the crowded and expensive centers of the largest cities [1, 2].
Reports on this trend surfaced on the 30th of last month via the Financial Times [1]. The movement suggests a pivot in how young citizens navigate the economic landscape, opting for geographic flexibility over the prestige of living in a primary metropolis.
“Young adults in China are moving into newly built, largely vacant apartment complexes in so-called ghost cities.”
The movement of young professionals into ghost cities signals a pragmatic adaptation to China's prolonged real estate crisis. As the value of new homes plummeted by over 70% for top developers, the resulting vacancy creates a temporary safety valve for housing affordability. However, this trend also highlights the mismatch between state-led urban expansion and actual demographic demand, as these 'cities' were built for a level of growth that no longer exists.
