Another installment in our series on abandoned places in the world.
1. New South China Mall, Dongguan, China
What will 7,100,000 square feet of leasable mall space featuring a replica of Venice’s St. Mark’s Bell Tower, Paris’ Arc de Triomphe, a 2.1 kilometer canal with gondolas, a 553 meter indoor-outdoor roller coaster and seven zones modelled after 7 cities get you? Apparently, a vacancy rate of 99%. The largest mall in the world, the New South Mall in Dongguan, China, owes its poor fortune to both flaws in the mall’s location (accessible mainly by car) and the Chinese property bubble.
2. Fort and lighthouse, Mogadishu, Somalia
Ravaged by years of war, the 19th century fortified watchtower is located at the western end of the traditional port in Mogadishu. Often described as the “Italian lighthouse,” the site’s status and history remain largely unknown.
3. Underground tunnels, Germany
Oh, weirdos from the Stone Ages, what are you trying to tell us? No one seems to know why these man-made subterranean systems were built, but it is believed that at least 700 of them exist in Germany and hundreds more across Europe.
4. Himeyuri Park, Okinawa, Japan
Located in Southern Okinawa, the Himeyuri Park (also referred to as the “Cactus park”) was once a popular theme park containing over 450 species of cactus. The park has been abandoned for decades due to mismanagement.
5. Abandoned City Hall Subway Station, New York, United States
Opened in 1904 as the southern terminal of the Manhattan Main Line, the City Hall station closed on December 31st, 1945 due to low ridership. While the station continues to be closed to the public, New Yorkers can see this architectural gem by remaining on the number 6 train as the subway makes its turnaround following the Brooklyn Bridge stop.
Can’t get enough of the forgotten, neglected, abandoned? Read a selection of previous entries here and here.
