Olivier first heard about Ordos about eight years ago, when developments first started to make international headlines.
Ordos Library —
Olivier first heard about Ordos about eight years ago, when developments first started to make international headlines.
raphael olivier
Ordos, a wealthy region in Inner Mongolia, is known as China's largest ghost town.
Ordos Sports Center Stadium —
Ordos, a wealthy region in Inner Mongolia, is known as China's largest ghost town.
raphael olivier
In the early 2000s, the local government came up with an ambitious redevelopment plan.
In the early 2000s, the local government came up with an ambitious redevelopment plan.
raphael olivier
The goal was to turn the city into a cultural, economic and political center.
The goal was to turn the city into a cultural, economic and political center.
raphael olivier
The new city was meant to accommodate a million residents.
The new city was meant to accommodate a million residents.
raphael olivier
Ordos is one of the richest areas in the country, thanks to stores of coal, gas and rare earth metals.
Ordos is one of the richest areas in the country, thanks to stores of coal, gas and rare earth metals.
raphael olivier
However, high real estate prices deterred people from actually moving there.
However, high real estate prices deterred people from actually moving there.
raphael olivier
"As a result the city is now a surreal landscape of empty streets, decaying monuments, abandoned buildings and half-finished housing projects," says French photographer Raphael Olivier.
Ordos Grand Theatre —
"As a result the city is now a surreal landscape of empty streets, decaying monuments, abandoned buildings and half-finished housing projects," says French photographer Raphael Olivier.
raphael olivier
Olivier photographed the city for his <em>Ordos - A Failed Utopia </em>photo series.
Olivier photographed the city for his Ordos - A Failed Utopia photo series.
raphael olivier
"It sounded so unreal so I told myself I would have to visit this place one day," Olivier says.
"It sounded so unreal so I told myself I would have to visit this place one day," Olivier says.
raphael olivier
Olivier moved to China in 2011, settling in Shanghai.
Mosque of Ordos —
Olivier moved to China in 2011, settling in Shanghai.
raphael olivier
"I told myself I couldn't leave without seeing this city. So I just packed my camera bag and headed there without much more thinking," he says.
"I told myself I couldn't leave without seeing this city. So I just packed my camera bag and headed there without much more thinking," he says.
raphael olivier
Olivier finally visited the area in late 2015.
Ordos Horse Racing Track —
Olivier finally visited the area in late 2015.
raphael olivier
He photographed the sites and buildings over the course of five days.
He photographed the sites and buildings over the course of five days.
raphael olivier
Ordos' most famous landmark is the Ordos Museum, designed by MAD Architects.
Ordos Museum by MAD Architects —
Ordos' most famous landmark is the Ordos Museum, designed by MAD Architects.
raphael olivier
"There is also a huge architecture exhibition called Ordos 100 which was curated by Ai Wei Wei in collaboration with Herzog & de Meuron," Olivier explains.
Abandoned building in Ordos 100 Project —
"There is also a huge architecture exhibition called Ordos 100 which was curated by Ai Wei Wei in collaboration with Herzog & de Meuron," Olivier explains.
raphael olivier
"The project was supposed to feature 100 conceptual architecture villas designed by various architects from 27 countries."
Abandoned building in Ordos 100 Project —
"The project was supposed to feature 100 conceptual architecture villas designed by various architects from 27 countries."
raphael olivier
Unfortunately the project was abandoned, leaving just 12 unfinished structures around the city.
Abandoned building in Ordos 100 Project —
Unfortunately the project was abandoned, leaving just 12 unfinished structures around the city.
raphael olivier
Ordos Stadium has a capacity of 35,107.
Ordos Stadium —
Ordos Stadium has a capacity of 35,107.
raphael olivier
The local government has made efforts to entice locals to move into the area.
The local government has made efforts to entice locals to move into the area.
raphael olivier
Stunning photos of a Chinese ghost town

Story highlights

French photographer Raphael Olivier visited China's largest ghost city Kangbashi (New Ordos)

Officials invested over $1 billion into the development of the city, today it's home to a fraction of its projected population

Buildings by high profile architects are abandoned

Olivier recently went to N. Korea to document its architecture, see photos below

CNN  — 

Once intended to accommodate over one million residents, the new town of Kangbashi in northern China is today home to just one-tenth of its projected population.

In the early 2000s, Chinese government officials poured over $1 billion into the development of the city, several miles south of Ordos in Inner Mongolia. The result, according to French photographer Raphael Olivier, is a “very beautiful city, full of contradictions.”

Drawn to the “post-apocalyptic” feel generated by the juxtaposition of vacant, large-scale buildings and the surrounding desert, Olivier documented the ghost town and its partially complete architectural marvels.

A failed utopia

For years, China has been an architect's playground, with lucrative funding and interest in foreign 'starchitects' giving rise to imaginative buildings. In 2016, China's State Council released new urban planning guidelines. According to the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fenglish.gov.cn%2Fnews%2Ftop_news%2F2016%2F02%2F22%2Fcontent_281475294306681.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank">document</a>, "odd-shaped' buildings" -- or "bizarre architecture that is not economical, function, aesthetically pleasing or environmentally friendly" would be forbidden in the future. The document follows a 2014 call by Chinese President Xi Jinping for less <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2014%2F12%2F05%2Ftravel%2Fgallery%2Fchina-weird-buildings%2F" target="_blank">"weird architecture"</a> to be built.
Is this the end of ambitious Chinese architecture? —
For years, China has been an architect's playground, with lucrative funding and interest in foreign 'starchitects' giving rise to imaginative buildings. In 2016, China's State Council released new urban planning guidelines. According to the document, "odd-shaped' buildings" -- or "bizarre architecture that is not economical, function, aesthetically pleasing or environmentally friendly" would be forbidden in the future. The document follows a 2014 call by Chinese President Xi Jinping for less "weird architecture" to be built.
courtesy wanda group
Memorable architectural designs, already built in China, include the Guangzhou Circle, home to the Guangdong Plastic Exchange. According to Italian architecture firm A.M. Progetti, the design is inspired by ancient jade discs.
Chinese architecture: Spectacular, or weird? —
Memorable architectural designs, already built in China, include the Guangzhou Circle, home to the Guangdong Plastic Exchange. According to Italian architecture firm A.M. Progetti, the design is inspired by ancient jade discs.
Courtesy Joseph di Pasquale
The CCTV headquarters, located in Beijing, was designed by OMA. It's nicknamed "big pants" by locals for its resemblance to trousers.
Chinese architecture: Spectacular, or weird? —
The CCTV headquarters, located in Beijing, was designed by OMA. It's nicknamed "big pants" by locals for its resemblance to trousers.
Ed Jones/ AFP/ Getty Images
The building opened in 2008 in Beijing's Central Business District.
Is this the end of ambitious Chinese architecture? —
The building opened in 2008 in Beijing's Central Business District.
Eric Gregory Powell
Beijing residents poked fun at The People's Daily Headquarters in Beijing while it was under construction. A doctored photo of the phallic building, superimposed under the CCTV 'pants' building, went viral on the Internet before censors removed the images.
Chinese architecture: Spectacular, or weird? —
Beijing residents poked fun at The People's Daily Headquarters in Beijing while it was under construction. A doctored photo of the phallic building, superimposed under the CCTV 'pants' building, went viral on the Internet before censors removed the images.
Mark Ralston/ AFP/ Getty Images
The Phoenix Towers are planned for construction in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province. The towers will be one kilometer high, and are scheduled for completion by 2017 or 2018.
Is this the end of ambitious Chinese architecture? —
The Phoenix Towers are planned for construction in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province. The towers will be one kilometer high, and are scheduled for completion by 2017 or 2018.
Courtesy Chetwoods Architects
The Gate of the Orient in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, stands more than 300 meters tall and has been compared to a pair of long johns.
Chinese architecture: Spectacular, or weird? —
The Gate of the Orient in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, stands more than 300 meters tall and has been compared to a pair of long johns.
The Sunrise Kempinski Hotel on Beijing's Yanqi Lake has a private marina and is lit up by hydroelectric-powered LED lights.
Chinese architecture: Spectacular, or weird? —
The Sunrise Kempinski Hotel on Beijing's Yanqi Lake has a private marina and is lit up by hydroelectric-powered LED lights.
courtesy kempinski
This building, by Zaha Hadid Architects, is the fifth hotel tower of Macau's sprawling City of Dreams complex. It is meant to evoke an abstract lucky number 8.
Is this the end of ambitious Chinese architecture? —
This building, by Zaha Hadid Architects, is the fifth hotel tower of Macau's sprawling City of Dreams complex. It is meant to evoke an abstract lucky number 8.
courtesy Melcro Crown entertainment
Zaha Hadid Architects also built the Galaxy SOHO building in Beijing.
Chinese architecture: Spectacular, or weird? —
Zaha Hadid Architects also built the Galaxy SOHO building in Beijing.
Pool/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images
Zaha Hadid's signature style has been imitated in other provinces in the country. This building in China's Chongqing district has a striking resemblance to architect's work.
Is this the end of ambitious Chinese architecture? —
Zaha Hadid's signature style has been imitated in other provinces in the country. This building in China's Chongqing district has a striking resemblance to architect's work.
MARK RALSTON/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
A horseshoe may be seen as lucky for some and comedic fodder for others. The $1.5 billion Sheraton in Huzhou, Zhejiang province is famed for its unusual design. The area was also the location for scenes from Oscar-winning movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."
Chinese architecture: Spectacular, or weird? —
A horseshoe may be seen as lucky for some and comedic fodder for others. The $1.5 billion Sheraton in Huzhou, Zhejiang province is famed for its unusual design. The area was also the location for scenes from Oscar-winning movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."
courtesy sheraton
Opened in 2013, Langham Place's exterior is designed to resemble unfolding wings in action, "evoking a sense of freedom and space," according to a hotel spokesperson. It also has Guangzhou's biggest ballroom.
Is this the end of ambitious Chinese architecture? —
Opened in 2013, Langham Place's exterior is designed to resemble unfolding wings in action, "evoking a sense of freedom and space," according to a hotel spokesperson. It also has Guangzhou's biggest ballroom.
courtesy Langham Place
The city of Ordos is commonly referred to as a "Ghost Town" due to its lack of people. Here is a view of the City Library and the Ordos Museum building.
Chinese architecture: Spectacular, or weird? —
The city of Ordos is commonly referred to as a "Ghost Town" due to its lack of people. Here is a view of the City Library and the Ordos Museum building.
MARK RALSTON/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
No more 'weird' buildings: Is this the end of ambitious Chinese architecture?

Entitled “A Failed Utopia” his stunning – if oddly surreal – collection of images focus on the city’s ambitious developments, rather than its “empty streets.”

“I was just keen to take my time, and walk through different districts, and almost in a catalogue way, find as many interesting structures as possible,” he says of covering parts of the 355-square-kilometer (137 square mile) sprawl.

“There’s the super-modern edgy Ordos Museum [by MAD Architects], the more boring, modern Chinese residential blocks, unfinished projects from Ordos 100 [a project by Swiss firm Herzog & de Meuron and Chinese artist Ai Weiwei to invite 100 architects from 27 countries to design for Ordos] as well as the influence of Soviet-style architecture,” explains Olivier.

China's private art museums: Icons or empty vanity projects?

“This mix is only really possible in China because it’s the only country that is both communist and has the money and power to attract so many architects from abroad.”

Though Olivier admits the story has been covered in the news media, he feels that the ghost town tag overlooks the reality of the city’s continued expansion.

“Foreigners consider the city to be abandoned. Chinese consider the city to be still developing,” he explains. “A lot of the early news reports focus on it being a failed, weird place – but it’s also a huge accomplishment and people there are not necessarily unhappy, there is a huge sense of hope. You have to respect that on a certain level.”