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Not every building is as beautiful as the Palace of Versailles. Or blends into its surroundings as well as the Macallan Distillery. On the contrary, there are many structures across the world looking like outcasts that will fall apart during the next storm. In some places, they aren't isolated examples, either — even an entire neighborhood can be an abomination. And you can find them on r/UrbanHell.

It's a photography subreddit of "all the hideous places human beings built or inhabit." The online community invites everyone who wants to explore the darker side of the cities, towns, and villages in our shared world and welcomes any photos which show either ugliness, or a problem in urban development. Rural and suburban nightmares are also allowed.

Below you will find a collection of pics that perfectly describe what this subreddit is all about.

#1

The Annual Monsoon Ritual Of Mumbai's Ocean Giving Back What Has Been Dumped In It

The Annual Monsoon Ritual Of Mumbai's Ocean Giving Back What Has Been Dumped In It

93arkhanov93 Report

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#2

Hong Kong Street Life

Hong Kong Street Life

DrFetusRN Report

About half of the global population already lives in cities, and by 2050, two-thirds of the world's people are expected to live in urban areas. But as you can see from some of the photos in r/UrbanHell, in cities, two of the most pressing problems facing the world today also come together: poverty and environmental degradation.

Bad urban development isn't just ugly aesthetics. It's also poor air and water quality, insufficient water availability, waste-disposal problems, and high energy consumption, all of which are exacerbated by the increasing population density and demands of urban environments. Strong city planning is essential in managing these and other difficulties as the world's urban areas grow.

#3

New Delhi - During Lockdown vs. Now

New Delhi - During Lockdown vs. Now

naughty_ningen Report

#4

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

QAFY Report

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#5

Beirut Port

Beirut Port

Gordn_Ramsay Report

Some of the biggest problems caused by urbanization are:

  • Intensive urban growth can lead to greater poverty, with local governments unable to provide services for all people;
  • Concentrated energy use. It leads to greater air pollution with a significant impact on human health;
  • Automobile exhaust produces elevated lead levels in urban air;
  • Large volumes of uncollected waste create multiple health hazards;
  • Urban development can magnify the risk of environmental hazards such as flash flooding;
  • Pollution and physical barriers to root growth promote loss of urban tree cover;
  • Animal populations are inhibited by toxic substances, vehicles, and the loss of habitat and food sources.
#6

Uae Nad Al Sheba III Neighborhood

Uae Nad Al Sheba III Neighborhood

DrFetusRN Report

#7

It's Baffling How Fast It Changes

It's Baffling How Fast It Changes

ilovebravebrowser Report

#8

Mumbai, India

Mumbai, India

yehbikgayehaigormint Report

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Solutions might include:

  • Combat poverty by promoting economic development and job creation;
  • Involve local community in local government;
  • Reduce air pollution by upgrading energy use and alternative transport systems;
  • Create private-public partnerships to provide services such as waste disposal and housing;
  • Plant trees and incorporate the care of city green spaces as a key element in urban planning.

Ultimately, cities can bring us obstacles and opportunities as well as freedom and captivity, and it's up to us to get the most out of them.

#9

People Offering Prayers At River Yamuna, India, Which Is Frothing From Industrial Waste

People Offering Prayers At River Yamuna, India, Which Is Frothing From Industrial Waste

excitedrod Report

#10

Hotel In Łodz, Poland

Hotel In Łodz, Poland

tanmayp63 Report

#11

An Interesting Perspective I've Stumbled Upon In Macau A Year Ago

An Interesting Perspective I've Stumbled Upon In Macau A Year Ago

diejesus Report

#12

Petare, Venezuela

Petare, Venezuela

antoine_montt Report

#13

Before And After A Desert Is Turned Into A Soulless Suburb Of A Desert. Jk, Its A Single Photo Of Arizona

Before And After A Desert Is Turned Into A Soulless Suburb Of A Desert. Jk, Its A Single Photo Of Arizona

TownPro Report

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#14

Not A Very Romantic Scene

Not A Very Romantic Scene

lazybong Report

#15

Naples, Italy

Naples, Italy

biwook Report

#16

People Living Next To A Helicoidal Street In Chongqing

People Living Next To A Helicoidal Street In Chongqing

biwook Report

#17

Kowloon Peninsula, Hong Kong. Comparison Of 1964 - 2016.

Kowloon Peninsula, Hong Kong. Comparison Of 1964 - 2016.

polysabu Report

#18

Electrical Wiring And Water Pipes In A Brazilian Favela

Electrical Wiring And Water Pipes In A Brazilian Favela

justuniqueusername Report

#19

Johannesburg, South Africa

Johannesburg, South Africa

Intricate1779 Report

#20

Literally, Just Thanksgiving Traffic In La

Literally, Just Thanksgiving Traffic In La

WhiteMos Report

#21

Private Houses On The Roof Of An Eight-Story Mall In Zhūzhōu, China

Private Houses On The Roof Of An Eight-Story Mall In Zhūzhōu, China

adamlm Report

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#22

Cairo, Egypt

Cairo, Egypt

biwook Report

#23

Downtown Seattle, In The Heart Of The Retail District

Downtown Seattle, In The Heart Of The Retail District

unlordtempest Report

#24

Progressive Insurance's Call Center

Progressive Insurance's Call Center

acamu5x Report

#25

Hyderabad, India

Hyderabad, India

hafeezahmed2839 Report

#26

Ghost City In China, Made To Be A Replica Of Paris - Tianducheng

Ghost City In China, Made To Be A Replica Of Paris - Tianducheng

hasanah78 Report

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Banana Rama
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Compared to some pictures from China, not too bad visually. Waste if it is a ghost city tho.

Christiana Kitty
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’d say cultural appropriation but apparently European culture is free for grabs

Kamaria Johnson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is not appropriation. It literally says it's s Paris "replica ". It's not done disrespectfully. Weird, but that's not a crime

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Rosidah Yahya
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

it is the government , the country and the ordinary ppl r awesome, it is a beautiful country, unfortunately the communist government n corruptions 'n terrible human rights ..the world knows..but wht can we do ?

James Madison
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not a "Ghost City" anymore. Originally built to house 10,000, it had 30,000 people living in it as of 2017 (Y'know, 5 YEARS AGO). Stellar journalism, Bored Panda. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tianducheng

Altezzoso Burton
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Interesting, china. Is this to film french-located movies without france?

Jake Wheeler
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hey, Hollywood, need a Paris movie set? They could do an Indiana Jones there.

Alex Ernst
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Chinese economy is a house of cards held up by debt and real estate speculation. God help us all.

TonyTee
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wowww that is so cool, I would've never known that part of China existed, Idegaf if it's a "ghost city", I'd still visit!

Londo Cotto
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because originality is too difficult? Just go visit Paris yourself, you can be dissapointed in a foreign country.

F. G-Lacoste
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is so chinese hahaha.. Ultra-riches like this exotic feeling. There are like americans on this point. ... Useless construction is useful for maintaining employment and avoid social catastrophes like in India.

Ruth Scheidler
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So those buildings are all empty? After seeing people living in small, dark stacked boxes, this seems hard to fathom.

Stacie Bannon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Construction at Tianducheng began around 2007. Its central feature is 108-metre-tall (354-foot) replica of the Eiffel Tower and 31 km2 (12 sq mi) of Parisian-style architecture, fountains and landscaping. It opened in 2007, and can accommodate more than 10,000 residents. Initial occupancy was low, with an estimated 2,000 people living in the development by 2013, leading some to label it a ghost town. By 2017, its population had grown to 30,000 and the development was expanded several times. A Hangzhou Metro station on Line 3 is expected to open in 2021.

Tinaaa
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

was made supposedly to be a city for rich people-if you go there today, its probably cheaper than other cities in china

Gerardo McCabe
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's not a ghost city https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tianducheng

mande.be
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

China expanded by x 5.000 times in the last 30 years! 1,3 Billion people and second (or third?) surface size country of earth. So, they can do this

Joseph
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've read these cities are designed to handle the population shift if they get into a war with a super power that bombs their major population centers.

Eva B
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a waste of original natural beauty and wildlife 🌳

Robert Meissner
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So what? In the 17th and 18th centuries, the so-called Chinoiserie was very popular in Europe. Entire palaces, pagodas, teahouses, etc. were copied or built in the Chinese style...it was just as exotic for Europeans back then as a copy of Paris in the middle of China is today.

Jerry Cynova
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I guess they are thinking of the future of more people.. If they can afford it. mc

Charmwashere
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's just bizarre. I know they have multiple cities that were built just to inflate thier productivity and economic numbers. Where whole cities were built but no one lives there. But this is the first city built to look like another city that I've seen. That's just weird.

Jason Huang
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

because they have lost their soul... Used to be a proud civilization that everybody copied from.

Kantami Blossom
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For a country with one of the richest cultural histories in the world China seems to spend more time ripping off and building replicas of other countries culture than it does celebrating its own.

Anja Henriksen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's not a ghost town (the citizens was low in the beginning, but that's not unusual in a new city especially one that is very different). It's not cheap. Why do so many people think it's ridiculous they have build it? Why isn't it funny to have a replica of an European city in China? Many countries have small culture build upon another country's culture.

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Umi
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I will still live there if I lived in China a better place to live but still wtf were they thinking

Vic Rosendale
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Features in this music video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTGJfRPLe08

James Madison
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not a "Ghost City" anymore. It was built to house 10,000 and as of 2017 has 30,000 people living in it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tianducheng

Michał Newiak
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not a ghost city anymore, more than 30k people living there and the settlement was expanded several times.

Luna Lovegood
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Am I the only one who is confused on why China would make a city meant to be a replica of Paris?

James F. Wilson Jr.
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The leaders did no marketing before trying to get families to move here.

Warren Brown
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

None of the regional farmers will live there! But the government insists they move in! Even by force!!

Karen Anderson
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Population over 30,000. Originally designed to house 10,000 people but as of 2017 there were 30,000. Looking at Vegas though I don't think we can throw stones.

Deborah Blair-Krosnicki
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In China the GDP is determined by building real estate, so the government builds real estate where ever possible whether it's needed or not. There are other examples of empty cities in China due to this financial benchmark.

Peter Kovak
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are lots of. Just type "ghost cities in China" on YouTube.

Khadija Hammond
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why don’t some of the people living in those hell holes Move there and make it livable? Why do they do something like this? This is strange AF!

CharliAnn Olney
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Must look pretty for tourist photo ops! Nothing to see here, move along. No human rights violations in this country. Move along now. See? Pretty!

Mónica Elisabeth Sacco
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Chinese have several places like this. Cities' réplicas. Can't understand why.

Walkus-Andrew Andrea
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Probably, like North Korea, to impress someone. North Korea also has a ghost city.

Ellie Gillard
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This was used in an unofficial video for the Jamie XX track Gosh directed by Romain Gavras. Fascinating but weird.

Marylen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why is it a Ghost town though... You can imagine China doing a kind of lottery to populate the place at the same time.

rabbitsrabbit
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

II I recall right, China's rapid economic growth meant that crazy phase of developing rural areas. The pace of building outstripped their population growth. I think there is demand as ppl see property as a form of investment but they r not ready to uproot their lives for an 'untested' new land.

Load More Replies...
Samantha PandaNotBored
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Didn’t the US do something similar. What a total waste of space . China is nothing but a disappointment to everyone. Untill they start behaving, they should be hit with sanctions on every level . Maybe then they,l learn that people are human beings not commodities

Rosidah Yahya
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

imagine the government is now a superpower, wht can US and western world do ??

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#27

All Residents Of Whittier, Alaska Live Inside One Building

All Residents Of Whittier, Alaska Live Inside One Building

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#28

Manila, Philippines

Manila, Philippines

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#29

One More Lane Will Fix It

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#30

Somewhere In Brazil In The 90's

Somewhere In Brazil In The 90's

LeandroGanchas75 Report

#31

Baghdad Between Then And Now!

Baghdad Between Then And Now!

alfredokurdi Report

#32

Billionnaire Vijay Mallya's Mansion Atop A Skyscraper In Bangalore, India

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#33

The Capital Of California

The Capital Of California

ZappCoast Report

#34

Dubai, The Hollow City Of Artificiality

Dubai, The Hollow City Of Artificiality

Cat-attak Report

#35

Chongqing, China

Chongqing, China

The_Eastern_Stalker Report

#36

Mirny In Siberia, Russia

Mirny In Siberia, Russia

ADarkcid Report

#37

Ah, Good Old Car Culture...

Ah, Good Old Car Culture...

biwook Report

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#38

Block 23, New Belgrade, Serbia

Block 23, New Belgrade, Serbia

Porodicnostablo Report

#39

16-Lane Highway Built Through The Downtown Where A Market Square Used To Be In Moscow, Russia

16-Lane Highway Built Through The Downtown Where A Market Square Used To Be In Moscow, Russia

matthewstifler Report

#40

Nobody: Southwest Us Developers:

Nobody: Southwest Us Developers:

Zidar93 Report

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#41

Two Cities

Two Cities

graydarkblack Report

#42

Smog In Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Smog In Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

kirime Report

#43

The Apartment I Used To Live In. Dhaka, Bangladesh

The Apartment I Used To Live In. Dhaka, Bangladesh

remiswifu Report

#44

An Apocalyptic Landscape With Balloons At The Ghaziabad Industrial Area, India

An Apocalyptic Landscape With Balloons At The Ghaziabad Industrial Area, India

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#45

The Most Depressing City In Russia - Norilsk

The Most Depressing City In Russia - Norilsk

MrRipperGuy Report

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#46

Corviale, Rome, One Of The Longest Single Residential Building In The World (1 Kilometer In Length, Housing 8000 Persons)

Corviale, Rome, One Of The Longest Single Residential Building In The World (1 Kilometer In Length, Housing 8000 Persons)

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#47

My Country Doesn't Make It Often To This Sub, But Here's One: House Under A Highway Bridge, Zürich, Switzerland

My Country Doesn't Make It Often To This Sub, But Here's One: House Under A Highway Bridge, Zürich, Switzerland

biwook Report

#48

Mecca, This Cityscape Is Deeply Unsettling

Mecca, This Cityscape Is Deeply Unsettling

reddit.com Report

#49

Anti-Homeless Architecture - Porto Alegre, Brasil, 2021

Anti-Homeless Architecture - Porto Alegre, Brasil, 2021

tsprado Report

#50

Endless Parking Lots, Highways, Strip Malls With The Same Franchises All Accessible Only By Car. Topped Off With A Nice Smoggy Atmosphere And A 15 Minute Drive To Anywhere. Takers ?

Endless Parking Lots, Highways, Strip Malls With The Same Franchises All Accessible Only By Car. Topped Off With A Nice Smoggy Atmosphere And A 15 Minute Drive To Anywhere. Takers ?

humzahjaleel Report

#51

San Francisco, USA

San Francisco, USA

Sayl0 Report

#52

Jaywick, Essex, UK

Jaywick, Essex, UK

jas2244 Report

#53

Shinjuku, Tokyo

Shinjuku, Tokyo

wkndmnstr Report

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#54

A Graveyard In Hong Kong

A Graveyard In Hong Kong

Porodicnostablo Report

#55

L.a.'s Concrete River

L.a.'s Concrete River

Phara-Oh Report

#56

Alexandria, Egypt

Alexandria, Egypt

Halla5432 Report

#57

Salty Hker Here. This Is Far Worse Than Skyscrapers And Apartment Buildings Imo

Salty Hker Here. This Is Far Worse Than Skyscrapers And Apartment Buildings Imo

SamBkamp Report

#58

Bucharest In 1999

Bucharest In 1999

andromedass Report

#59

How People Commute In L.a. (And Most Of America)

How People Commute In L.a. (And Most Of America)

grobby-wam666 Report

#60

Water Pipelines In Our Locality. Kalimpong, India

Water Pipelines In Our Locality. Kalimpong, India

friday-boy Report

#61

Waiting For A Bus At -54°c In Yakutsk, Russia

Waiting For A Bus At -54°c In Yakutsk, Russia

andreysavv Report

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#62

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Grillos Report

#63

These Unfinished Monorail Lines All Across São Paulo Were Supposed To Be Ready For The 2014 World Cup...

These Unfinished Monorail Lines All Across São Paulo Were Supposed To Be Ready For The 2014 World Cup...

SilverSkilo Report

#64

Salem, Or, USA. This Picture Was Taken At 5 Pm Today

Salem, Or, USA. This Picture Was Taken At 5 Pm Today

arm2610 Report

#65

Yesterday When It Rained In My City (Luanda - Angola)

Yesterday When It Rained In My City (Luanda - Angola)

LeandroGanchas75 Report

#66

Seoul In Winter 1956

Seoul In Winter 1956

biwook Report

#67

Welcome To The Bay Area

Welcome To The Bay Area

nobodywins888 Report

#68

Minneapolis, USA

Minneapolis, USA

AlAmine Report

#69

To Avoid Homeless People The City Is Installing Stones Under This Bridge - São Paulo, Brazil

To Avoid Homeless People The City Is Installing Stones Under This Bridge - São Paulo, Brazil

PandaReturns Report

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#70

House Of Atomic Engineers, Moscow (400m Long)

House Of Atomic Engineers, Moscow (400m Long)

tanmayp63 Report

#71

"Can We Go To Paris?" -"No, We Got Paris At Home." Paris At Home:

"Can We Go To Paris?" -"No, We Got Paris At Home." Paris At Home:

TopAlternative4 Report

#72

El Helicoide, Venezuela’s Drive Through Shopping Mall Turned Prison

El Helicoide, Venezuela’s Drive Through Shopping Mall Turned Prison

dirtyhippie62 Report

#73

A Cemetery Next To A Factory In Poland

A Cemetery Next To A Factory In Poland

ialmostfelloffmybed Report

#74

Suburb In The Middle Of The Desert, Arizona, USA

Suburb In The Middle Of The Desert, Arizona, USA

Intricate1779 Report

#75

The British Seaside: Where Dreams Go To Die

The British Seaside: Where Dreams Go To Die

shootforthunder Report