China’s High-Rise Apartments Have Turned Into Dangerous Slums

As China's real estate market continues to collapse, high-rise apartments—once a symbol of prestige—have fallen from grace. More and more residents are moving out, opting for pricier low-rise buildings instead of staying in high-rises. Some even believe that these buildings, which once stood as monuments to China’s economic boom, will eventually become worthless.

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[gardencity]

We have many old high rises in Canada from the late 60's that are still liveable. Although not luxurious, since they are well built, with maintnenance they can last indefinitely and are quite liveable. The problem in China is poor construction and lack of maintenance.

[TrangleC]

Maintenance is just not part of the culture in China. People don't take care of old things and rather discard them and buy new ones. When it comes to buildings, that mentality has dire consequences.

[joedarkness]

Apartment value depend on 2 things quality and maintenance.. In Japan apartments tend to go up in value and are maintained to a high level .. even local gov apartments after 40 years still look good..If you build junk what do you expect ?

[ronnelacido]

Considering the quality of typical Chinese-constructed buildings, expecting high-rises to last even 10 years without issues would be nothing short of a miracle.

[C.M.R-dkuc]

My mother use to tell it's better to buy a house than a condo, and looking at it, yeah she's right.

[SusieQ]

My husband and I live in a high-rise built in the 1970s, in the midwest, and it's perfectly livable. Great management.

[SylvainOfGandahar]

There is nothing wrong with high-rises - there are some in the US that are 100 years old and people like living there. They have to be well-constructed though and that is a big issue in the typical Chinese construction system.

[slowbro]

The apartments getting trashy quickly is only a problem in your country. It's the culture and neglect of the environment one is in and unwilling attitude to care for things other than the self.

[zkilerex]

In bulgaria sofia we have 20-30th floor old communist block from 80 years ago and i can say that's only problem in china

[piotrmajewski]

In Poland we have a lot of postsoviet highrises. They stand for decades and will be for long years to come.
China just overbuilds them, with low quality materials and in the middle of nowwhere. If they had migration, like other countries, there would be no problem with occupancy.

[ec]

I think 30yrs is a bit optimistic they look derelict after they are finished.

[Caz-zx]

I’m getting anxiety just watching this video. I’m scared these poorly made high rises are gonna fall.

[KaylaGill-engf]

I love how they're sitting there as if that's how things are in the whole world. All this is only in YOUR country

[safffff]

"Osborne Apartments" in New York City are widely considered to be one of the oldest high-rise apartment buildings still in use today, built in 1885 and featuring a notable Renaissance Revival style design; it was one of the first high-rise residential buildings in the city, setting a precedent for luxury urban living with its innovative steel beam construction.

[namastewoke]

Who the hell wants to live that high up?! I am from St. Louis and I have been up in the Arch a few times. High up that shyt sways!!! 😂😂😂 y'all riding the winds on a daily!!

[amadeusamwater]

doesn't matter how tall the building is, you still have to maintain it. Since the quality of construction in China seems to be falling off, maintenance is even more important.

[AsianJayWalker]

I've often thought China was 50 years behind in 'culture'. Even today, I hear many 60 year old building managers talk about who has the tallest buildings? How CHina has even more 50 floor buildings that the USA! Another was disappointed as he thought Europe was so advanced but when he visited there were only a few skyscrapers, so few, so poor!?
but as this video shows us, in fact, high-rises and skyscrapers were a thing of New York (or other modern nations) in the 1970s era but by the time the Twin Towers were finishing - Americans were already complaining about them. more writers wrote articles on how socially unhealthy these 50 story buildings were. People who had money did NOT want to buy a 30th floor top apartment but (as noted in the video) would spent their money on a 'brownstone' 3 floor 'walkup' and renovate it.
In fact, much of Europe has really 'banned' buildings past 20 or so floors. They found they block the sun and create a grand 'darkness' for everyone else living outside the 30+ floor giant monoliths.
Yes, they look 'cool' and in the 1970s it was like a 'show of your national wealth' or some kind of fantasy of the 'tallest in the world' was some bragging rights.
but China is still in this '1970s' phase where that's the highest number one thing! Its the 'highest money lifestyle!' thing.
and its true that across North America and the UK you notice, these days, the highrises are for the poorer people, refugees, the poorer working class folks, not because they love it but that's sort of the lower rent living places.
*mind you, New York still builds exclusive skyscrapers and their primary buyers? wealth Saudi Arabians and wealthy Chinese mainlanders! They are not actually that popular with native-born New Yorkers.

[Dale-vo]

As often as buildings fall apart and down, I wouldn't live on the first floor of a high rise.

[stischer]

High rise apartments in China remind me of the high rise public housing in the US like Cabrini-Green in Chicago, except that people are paying a fortune for future slums that will be torn down.

[AutomaticSelector]

Who knew square dance noises were a problem with Chinese high-rises?