Gouqi Island
The buildings of Gouqi Island are slowly being consumed by a thick blanket of green. The island is located a few hours east of Hangzhou Bay in eastern China, and was once home to a thriving fishing community. But as the shipbuilding and tourism industries grew, the village became deserted. With nobody left to maintain them, the buildings were soon reclaimed by the natural world. “These buildings are covered with Parthenocissus tricuspidata, a relative of the grape vine and Virginia creeper. It’s native to China but is also widely cultivated as an ornamental climber for its red autumn foliage,” It’s equivalent to ivy in the UK, which will soon cover a building if left alone.”