Xiongan, a $93 billion futuristic city championed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, was built to ease Beijing’s overcrowding and showcase China’s urban planning prowess. But despite rapid construction and government backing, the city remains eerily empty, raising concerns about its future viability, The Wall Street Journal reported.
A high-stakes urban experiment Located 60 miles outside Beijing, Xiongan was envisioned as a modern socialist metropolis that would attract top industries, state-run companies, and millions of new residents. Once farmland and swamps, the city was transformed in under a decade, featuring sprawling residential complexes, government offices, and one of China’s largest train stations, designed to handle 100,000 passengers per day.
However, when The Wall Street Journal visited the station, it was largely silent, with only cleaning staff and security personnel visible. Across the city, meticulously planned infrastructure stands mostly unused, and despite official claims that 1.2 million people live in Xiongan, much of this figure includes incorporated surrounding areas, rather than actual newcomers.
