Inside China's Failed $100 Billion GHOST CITY (shocking) 

Hope you enjoyed this slightly different video! 🧐 Would you like a long weekend in the ghost town of Malaysia? 😉❤️

It’s in Malaysia. The Chinese government instated strict currency controls and the Malaysian government was reluctant to let Chinese buy apartments.

Interesting video but a couple of minor quibbles: Forest City is not a Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project. They tend to be state-backed public infrastructure projects, this is a private real estate venture between County Garden and the Sultan of Johor businesses. Secondly it’s not a $100 billion city, the actual cost is $4 bn.

This reminds me of the set of a post-apocalyptic sci-fi movie. It looks creepy, intriguing and oddly beautiful. The foliage is gorgeous. The black mold and the crocodiles though, make the place a hard pass for me.

What a beautiful place actually, and the peace and quiet may be a bit eerie but after a couple of days or nights in most Asian cities, it could be quite nice too, I guess. I hope they succeed in the future though!

It's safe to say the developer made a bad investment.

Reminds me a bit of the London Docklands area back in the day, huge hype then financial crash and developers struggling to sell the flats. Today the Docklands is full and buzzing.

I wonder why the Malaysian authorities don't just compulsorily purchase the whole area and take control of the development. It must have massive potential being so close to Singapore.

Well your questions can be easily answered. In fact the stage one is almost sold out. That is no joke. But the company lacks of delivery of delivery. Either they are not finised inside, or the buyers are not allowed to acquire. Because most buyers are Chinese. The cash has already flown for long time, but they cannot become owners because of governmental restrictions. In addition the buyers were promised to get mm2h status, but that will not be the case as they will not fullfil the revised much harder conditions. Whitout mm2h, they cannot move in and so they are hoping to get back the money they spent. Unfortunately, Country Garden has defaulted in their interest payment on their bonds and so the company will soon be delisted from Hongkong Stock Exchange. That means that the company itself will be put under liquidation and therefore they cannot continue operations for the moment. You must consider that Country Garden is only one typical project of the company, there are many others of similar size all around China, which are also sold out but not delivered yet. If there is no solution to this company, it might become the biggest desaster that ever happened in Chinese housing. So there are speculations that the government will step in soon and provid the company with fresh funds, as China cannot afford to liquidate this company. But it is really the last chance. However, it is unliely that this lead into stage 2-4. More likely they will finish stage 1 and find an exeption agreement with the Malay Government, so that the chinese buyers can acquire ownership and MM2H-residency. But this will come to a huge cost as it is hard to deal with Malay Government.

This "ghost city" is in Malaysia not China but was built by a Chinese company.

Actually properties there got 85% ownership rate/sold, just 2% occupancy rate because it's mostly second/vacation home for the owners. That's why they're maintained beautifully without much problem

I don't see a future for this apartment complex.

It's built on land owned by the Sultan of Johor also currently the king of Malaysia...there's talk that the proposed high speed rail station will be diverted to Forest City

How can they turn these places into usable space.? Convert them into high retirement resort style apartments, and market them to the European, American and Japanese aging population. Currently, the Malaysian currency is cheap compare with the US$, EU-Euro and Japanese yen. Even neighbouring Singaporean might be interested. Many of them could become Malaysia, my second home residents. No?

Imagine you are a streamer who works from home and live here..... it's like a dream

What a weird place. Definitely very odd vibes. As you say more questions than answers. As always thanks for the insight. ❤

Looks great, I'd live there. If someone was willing to spend the money, I bet they could make it work. Drop prices, turn half of it into hotels, make it a tourist destination instead of a residential area.

Thank you for this video. Im malaysian and staying in Malaysia but didnt know or heard the existence of this place. Such an eye opening.

One of the best yet!!! Thank you guys.

What a waste of resources :( And in many other parts of the world people cannot find a home. Let alone millions of refugees who have nowhere to go. What a world ....

My dad has an apartment unit here. Its not as bad as the video made it out to be. We are not from Malaysia but from Indonesia, we do use this place as a second home so rarely here but we maintain it well. Currently we are staying here for midterm stay. But most of the units arent purchased by malaysians and act as a second home thus not many people stay here long term. But they do have a functioning school that is attended by child of parents living here. And the residents constitutes of mostly foreigners. In my floor out of the 8 units 5 are resided and renovated but the other 3 is sold out but the owners never did anything to them as they are not from here. In my building there are Koreans, Chinese and Indonesians staying here. Its actually quite lovely and lively. We stay at ataraxia park 1 overlooking a swimming pool and its used daily by the residents almost all the time with minimum occupancy so you can enjoy the pool to your group if you time accordingly. The tennis courts and basketball courts are daily used too. Facilities are complete and whats great is due to the place not being so crowded the air is always great, barely any pollution. So if you like a modern atmosphere but want to do a getaway I think this place is the best of both worlds. The only downside i would say is that you need a car here as public transport to the downtown are of Johor is not frequent and its quite a ways away. But if you commute to singapore itll take you to the heart of singapore in 45 mins driving during non rush hour times.

Great vid very strange to see this place thanks for this last weeks vlogg wa good also 👍👍

This was built so rich Chinese people could buy up Malaysian property. It was never meant for Malaysians , so the government restricted ownership. All work stopped immediately afterwards. That tells you everything you need to know. Also, the properties are not worth anything. Tofu Dreg construction is why it’s falling apart after 5-8 years. There’s hundreds of these places all over China. Millions upon millions of empty, half finished homes and apartments. That feeling of being watched is real. You were being tracked the entire time.

That is so fascinating, but, yes, surreal! It has such potential and really is a nice idea.

Truly fascinating! Thank you both for sharing.

Hi you two, this is the first time I've heard of Forest City, what a bizarre experience...it was really interesting to watch but I have so many questions which I'm sure you both do as well....very odd..... thanks for all you do! xox

I've never heard of this place, but it's fascinating. I bet the Al Maktoum family could turn that place around and make it into a new Dubai in no time at all. It's all about the marketing now, because the infrastructure seems to be there.

Awesome video w/ great content. I saw your channel when you guys had 2,000 subscribers. Now, you have over 200K subscribers. Great work and good luck to more ahead!

Your vlog from Forest City has the impression that it sheds a lot of knowledge about certain matters related to China, especially the explanation of the reasons for its failure. From what I read after your vlog, the project itself was also scandalous in many cases when it comes to nature-related destruction. This also sparked protests in Singapore. And the very sight of this abandoned city, before it really started to come alive, resembles a sci-fi disaster movie. As if a significant part of humanity had been exterminated and its few remnants remained in the buildings left by our civilization. Quite a telling sight for us humans. Regards.

I still think I'd prefer China's model. Have too many homes and not enough people, with very little in the way of homeless people. Compare that to US, Canada, Australia UK... Where there are NOT enough homes, skyrocketing prices, and empty homes washing dirty money.

How dare anyone ask questions about a property they may want to buy! Just sign here and hand over the cash.

Wow that is mental...so interesting brilliant video

I really appreciate all the research Matt shares with us!

Great video, Matt & Julia!

Why do they say fail china ghost city. This is a joint project of China private real estate and Malasian company.

There are so many properties in central Johor with an equally short trip to Singapore including Forest Cities long completed little sister called Country Garden. The project is supposed to be on 4 islands and was supposed to take 25 years when announced. As for the beach and the water nice to look at but to harsh to play on and definatley dont go in the water. Its not very clean and there are Crocs!

Wow!!! Fascinating video. Thanks for sharing.

It's important to note that the buildings and grounds seem well-kept, and that the plants and trees around and on the buildings are intentional. The greenery on the buildings is part of the design.

This Forest City really makes me sad on so many levels. What a wasted beautiful place. Being where it is I guess they wouldn't allow an outside country to come in and take control. Has so much potential. I like quiet but this is on a different level. So different from the other places you have shared with us.

Amazing video!

Chinese Developers make their money by churning out properties like these to sell to Chinese buyers. Chinese buyers do not buy these properties to live, but as investments. They buy apartments (usually their second by now), to hold until the value appreciates, and then sell to get a return on their investment. Forest City failed because a) the pandemic - buyers or potential buyers could not travel to Johor to view the development and put a deposit on their new apartment. b) Then Malaysia had a change of govt and the new govt was not so inviting to Chinese investors, particularly in property. c) Then the Chinese govt also cracked down on property investments, and on outflow of capital, so buyers could not service their mortgage for an apartment or home in Malaysia. And I am sure there were other issues. But overall, the plan and intended customers for Forest City was not based on reality. The plan was to build 700,000 units. On reclaimed islands. And priced for Chinese buyers but not Malaysian (local) buyers. The locals could not afford the units. And where would the 700,000 new home owners work? Are there offices, or businesses for 700,000 employees? The reality is that developers do not worry about the bigger picture. There is no bigger picture for them. Build the units, sell them, then move onto the next development.They have left a trail of ghost cities and uncompleted homes in the wake of the property development crash in China. This just happens to be in Malaysia. There are no industry in Johor that will need 700,000 workers who can afford homes in Forest City.

Such a high quality video. Thanks guys.

excellent and unusual episode thanks guys muuuuuuha x

I worked in Bahrain in 1995 - 98 . Property development was ahead of population numbers. I was part of a building team , building a shopping centre. When completed only the cinema let in the first year. A year year later a super market and three or four shops. It is a good sign if the toilets flush, grass is cut, streets are clean.

The video is about a Ghost City in Malaysia and the buildings are in Malaysia, not China.

This is really a strange place you found. As you mentioned completely opposite to Singapore in all ways. Thanks for posting this video. Regards from Denmark

Another cracking video guys.

Who is maintaining the mechanical systems? Who is making repairs? There should be thousands of workers to maintain this city. I have so many questions.

The units are mostly sold out. They’re bought by mainland Chinese. That is how they buy new houses in China - before completely built. But there are other daunting issues of being able to move in. And the workers are rightly suspicious of you - couple non-Chinese snooping around and asking lots of questions. You’re just not their typical buyer.

I've been hearing about this place for many years and I'm absolutely astounded that they are still building! The place is beautiful but I heard that no one wants to live there because it's too far away from the city. Are the buildings being maintained or are they left to decay? That pool or fountain at 21:46 is beautiful as well as all the vegetation in the complex. It's highly doubtful that anyone there will answer questions honestly. It's like you went to sleep and woke up to find that everyone had disappeared. Those nighttime views tell a big tale. 😄

This project is intended for PRC & Singaporean, not for locals. That's why it's empty. What makes it more entangled is that this project still belongs to Country Garden.

Reminds me a bit of some parts of Eastern Germany after the reunification. Everything is nice, working, tidy but there are no people anywhere. Like in a computer game when you are unable to switch to multiplayer mode.

Greed is the biggest weakness of the greedy. Looks like these developers would rather lose everything than lower the price.

The developer is too lazy to send their marketing team to US & European investors.

Loving your channel both of you. There is a part of Tianjin in China which is very similar to this - a complete ghost city with incredibly ornate houses. I stayed at the Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club hotel. There were about 20 of us staying in this huge, beautiful building, and my room was a palatial suite. I was the only one who used the massive indoor pool through the week I was there. Really worth a visit when you’re next in China 🙏🏽

Love your videos, interesting, informative, a great sense of humour, and very well filmed. Keep safe guys 🤗🤗❤️❤️

Now, this is great content! ;ooo :O

Welcome back to Malaysia. I;ve been watching your videos for a while now. What I heard they will open this housing city for Singaporean to buy since the economic downfall in China.

This place looks so awesome to me, as someone with social anxiety who loves the idea of overgrown civilization and post apocalyptic vibes. I would actually love to live there, if not for the dangers of poor upkeep like mold etc, and the lack of shops and food options to actually sustain monthly needs.

48 sq meters is about 450 ft sq for U.S. viewers. That's the size of a rather small house, so the price of 100,000 usd is not bad at all, but is definitely not "fire sale" pricing.

I was thinking one way to salvage this would be to change up the marketing and make it a place for locals instead of the Chinese, but after reading the comments I realised that a lot of the places already have owners and the governments are the problem (sort of). Honestly, it's such a beautiful place and hopefully, it doesn't stay empty for long and it's able to flourish and be lively in the future.

Straight out of a science fiction novel or Gabriel Garcia Marquez! Other worldly! Crazy weird. Eerie is the word. Thanks for this totally bizarre clip! Tashkent on Tuesday!

An ant infestation coupled with Black Mold is enough to shut the whole place down as it is. It would probably cost millions just to deal with those two issues alone. The investment company and government should fix the place up and market it to expats and vacationing foreigners, for purchase or rent. Who wouldn’t want a three bedroom penthouse suite for $800 dollars a month. Something to think about………..

great honest vid. Thanks

Question: did you do the drone shots? I'm surprised you'd have "permission" to do that... so so strange. Creepy beyond belief.

It is so sad to see the state of this growing city. I do hope they are able to figure out something financially and safe it. With 8 yrs now all the damage being done to the buildings will cost a mountain full of money to fix. It def is shady of how the staff reacted and behaved when you both were touring the area. I'd be skeptic to live there, as it looks to be a lot of false truths flying around to hide what they don't want people to know. Not only the destruction to the forests all for nothing. If nothing happens I see the forest city being over taken by the forests itself.

It must be a little sinister to be in a deserted city. Happy travels to you both 😊

What a mad ,weird, fascinating place..You did so well in describing it...thank you.😊

Seems crazy in many of our nations the cities are struggling with housing supply, meanwhile places like this are pretty much completely empty.

Suggestion for a future vlog... I would like you to interview you sister and have her tell what it was like to go along with you two on such an incredible trip for her.

What’s shaken? Nice upload. It would be really cool if you guys would show us the underground bunker part of the city that is underneath all that. Like someone said don’t worry it’s gonna be occupied really soon as soon as it is safe to come back up from down below.

great video

WOW! YOU HAVE REALLY RAISED THE BAR WTH THIS VIDEO. i knew about this place and the Ghost Cities in China but I never thought I'd see one up close. It was, as you said Matt, incredibly eerie. It was also lovely. At night though, with the whole huge city in relative darkness, it feels almost trecherous. I can't thank you enough for going there...staying there!...You two are truly the best of exploreres. Love to You Both....Suzi

Great video, I was always interested in this project. Maybe they should have checked if the water was crocodile infested first.

Who knows. Like loads of other places that were built in china before people began living in them and portrayed as “ghost cities”, eventually they’re time came and they became lived in. Since it’s a country garden project, who went bankrupt and in another country, obviously this project is going to face more hurdles and challenges. But a deal may be eventually found where these homes become sold and people move in. I’d say, still too early to tell.

A place that big and it leaves me with out a thing to say or ask ...... well done

This is the type of place suspense/horror movies are made of. It has that, where are all the people, vibe.

Great video Kids!!

Fascinating video. But I shocked to see a Whsmith in Malaysia Airport 😮

Surreal! The full sized city still looks like a model from the drone footage. Such a monumental waste of time, energy and materials; it's to be hoped that a purpose/new lease of life can be breathed into the place as it stands.

I can't imagine why anyone would want to live high up in a hideous tower block. Especially with views of other hideous tower block all around. Yet billions of people put up with it.

Where'd you guys get your food at??? Also pretty cool video y'all that is got to be a very strange place just from the looks of what you guys showed good video thank you.

Please be very careful it’s appears to be very sinister and creepy! ❤! Such a shame that a beautiful place is so abandoned.

I watched the video all the way through you never once mentioned any prices to say I'm disappointed is an understatement

Beautiful place ❤️

How Ironic ... "Forest City" actually becoming a forest / jungle.

Absolutely very strange indeed. Apparently there's not very many people who live there. Something like that situation would definitely give me the creeps.

Is wonderful city, if the government make a discount on the price, this place will be populated immediately. From the model we understand that only 1-10 of the project is on the ground, when it is completed, it would insane.

Would not exchange my place for a small apartment in a ghost city . If the host was scared about answering simple questions , you would be talking for year , more used to compliant Chinese . All that said , there is a deal to be done, even without the Chinese buyers . With permission from Malaysia , Sg could fix and rent places out over there . Affordability is the key , the whole scheme was way off the charts , targeted at the limited middle to upper income .

Hope Malaysia government and private sector can joint venture and do something about it ... We will see if JS-SEZ could do something about it and we will see it in the next few years

This kind of place is so amazing, peaceful and modern in one

it looks such a lovely place, i would stay there just for the reason its quiet!

The lifts still work....this is a good sign. If the toilets flush .... good .... If the streets are clean .... yes , good. The project may just be .... in remission.

A Singaporean/Cambodian/Chinese venture is building a new 16 billion dollar in Sihanoukville called Ream City - along with a whole new island in Phnom Penh (Koh Korea). The island is in a central area and a ton of new shops and cafes have opened up in the area + tons of ppl go everyday. The view of the water is really nice and a lot of ppl go after school or work. The real estate developments have not finished, so the long term success is unknown right now. Ream City is in a random location (similar to forest city), and it doesn't look like it'll be successful in the long run tbh

Great video of a ghost city 😊

Actually looks quite chill. Id love to live there as it would be quite a calming experience

Thanks for taking the time to survey this derelict of a failed ambitious project. Mind you the sultan of Johor (now Malaysia's king) has a 40% stake in this failed housing venture. I am sure the sultan gets nightmares when he occasionally looks at this ghost city. You know if this project had succeeded it would have been (indirectly) a boon for Singapore's economy tenfold really.

Very strange. It is hard to call it a ghost town as it was never really inhabited. I have to hand it to you that you even stayed there!

I expect Singaporians will buy up the city when it will be linked by the 3rd crossing (by rail).

Since Country Garden is kaput, this project will never be completed. The agent was jumpy because he knows the truth.