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China's Ghost City: Exploring a Colossal Urban Development

Secrets from China’s $150 Billion Ghost City

Destination:ChinaProvince:InnerMongoliaCity:Ordos

China travel video

Secrets from China’s $150 Billion Ghost City. This China travel video was filmed by Small Brained American. Watch the full journey and explore the filming details and destinations on this page.

The 62 minute extended-cut version is live on Patreon right now.

--- Small Brained American
January 29, 2025, Winter in China

Travel Guides & Tips in this video

Small Brained American explores Ordos, a city often called a ghost city. He finds a lively funfair alongside empty parks, sparsely populated malls and buildings that appear abandoned. The trip includes Korean food, conversations with friendly local residents, a self-driving car sighting, an ice cream truck, museums, large statues and the Erdos Library. He also notices the city’s architecture and coal industry, reflecting on its ambitious development and why some large public spaces feel underused. The contrast includes both active public attractions and vast spaces with few visitors.

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More about the current video:(Published on 2025-01-29)

Secrets from China’s $150 Billion Ghost City

A city of contrasts

Small Brained American arrives in Ordos, a city known for its “ghost city” reputation. He visits a funfair that is active and crowded, then explores areas that feel much emptier, including a large park and buildings that appear unused. The contrast shapes the trip: some public spaces are quiet, while other places have visitors and local activity. He also notices a self-driving car and comments on the scale of the roads and buildings.

The host meets local residents and has spontaneous conversations. He describes them as friendly and welcoming, and these exchanges complicate the assumption that the city is empty. He tries Korean food and follows an ice cream truck, adding ordinary street encounters to the tour. The route takes in Chinese architecture and large public statues, which he discusses as part of Ordos’s ambitious design.

History, public spaces and local life

The visit includes a main square, museums, a shopping mall and Erdos Library. At the mall he looks for souvenirs connected with local culture and history. The library offers another view of the city’s civic spaces and resources. He also talks about Ordos’s coal industry and how economic growth and city planning contributed to its development.

Small Brained American reflects on the mixture of large infrastructure, sparsely used spaces and friendly interactions. His trip does not reduce the city to a single label: he sees empty areas, but also people going about their day. The journey ends with his thoughts on how the city has been built and what its public spaces reveal about development in China.

FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)

Q: Why is Ordos called a ghost city?
A: Small Brained American finds large areas with few visitors, including parks and buildings that appear unused, but also sees a lively funfair and meets local residents.
Q: What did he see during his visit?
A: His route includes a funfair, Korean food, parks, museums, a main square, large statues, a shopping mall and the Erdos Library.
Q: What stood out about Ordos?
A: He notices the city’s large-scale architecture, a self-driving car and the coal industry, as well as friendly conversations with local residents.

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China's Ghost City: Exploring a Colossal Urban Development

The 62 minute extended-cut version is live on Patreon right now. Join now to get access to 41 extended-cut, ad-free & uncensored videos.

Ordos, China: Exploring a Modern Ghost City

Explore the enigma of China's massive, partially uninhabited city in this captivating documentary. Journey through a landscape of striking contrasts, where ambitious urban planning meets unexpected realities. Discover the stories behind the development and witness firsthand the intriguing atmosphere of this colossal project. A thought-provoking exploration of China's economic ambitions and their impact on the environment and society.

Attractions in this video: Empty Parks, Gigantic Statues, Grand Museums, Massive Library, Ornate Buildings, Festival Installations