The dream of a neighborhood for China’s oligarchs came to a screeching halt in 2018, leaving rows of half-built houses standing like skeletal sentinels against the landscape.

Developed by the Greenland Group, these luxury mansions were named the State Guest Mansions and were situated in the foothills surrounding Shenyang, a city in northeastern China. Construction began in 2010 with the ambitious vision of creating palatial homes for China’s upper class. However, the project abruptly plummeted in 2018.

The exact reason remains unclear, shrouded in speculation. Experts point to China’s economic downturn as a possible culprit, suggesting the housing market cooled significantly during that period.

Despite their abandoned state, the State Guest Mansions have become an unexpected tourist destination. Urban explorers are drawn to the eerie beauty of this ambitious project gone awry. Meanwhile, farmers now graze their cattle or cultivate crops where manicured lawns and opulent gardens were once planned.