Forest City

A city waiting for its people...

We visited ‘the city of the future’—a place that probably has the cleanest waste management system in the world. Not because it’s so efficient, but simply because there are hardly any people to produce waste…

Forest City was supposed to become a lively, eco-friendly metropolis with space for 700,000 residents. The ambitious project started in 2015, with impressive plans for golf courses, shopping malls, restaurants and international schools. This was meant to be the hotspot for expats and investors.

But things didn’t go as planned. The city was built for wealthy Chinese buyers, but when China tightened its money rules, the housing market froze. The luxury apartments—complete with swimming pools and sports facilities—were meant as big investments. Now, if you visit, you’ll probably have the entire pool to yourself (if there’s still water in it).

So there’s not much going on in this city, but because of that, we were curious. We rented an Airbnb that, given the circumstances, was super cheap. For a nice apartment right in the city center, with an amazing view and swimming pool, we only paid around 30 euros per night.

As we explored, it was easy to tell that Forest City is still waiting for its people. Shopping malls were quiet, most stores were closed and the streets felt empty. With barely any other road users, we had the streets to ourselves. Despite the presence of plenty of security guards, no one batted an eye when we rode on the wrong side of the road, took a roundabout in the opposite direction, or even cycled against traffic. We even biked through the shopping mall… In a city this empty, the usual rules didn’t seem to apply.

And yet, despite the silence, the city is carefully maintained. As we cycled through, we saw workers non-stop keeping everything in perfect shape. The plants were in bloom, the grass well trimmed and every tile in all the stores was perfectly mopped. It all looked like it was ready to be admired every day -but by whom?

It’s almost heartbreaking to see how dedicated the gardeners, security guards and other workers are maintaining a city that is barely used. You can’t help but wish for a bit more life here; some energy and just a few more people who could appreciate their hard work.

However, for the people who live here—mainly immigrants from India and Bangladesh—the city feels far from empty. Several residents told us they are happy living in Forest City. We could also see this in the local Indian restaurant, where we stopped by several times a day—not only because of the delicious food, but also because of the warm, welcoming atmosphere. Bernardo discovered this place on our first night, while I was stuck in the bathroom with traveler’s tummy. He came back completely surprised —because, of course, It’s quite bizarre to find such a crowded spot in a city that feels so empty.

This Indian restaurant became our go-to spot. As the only tourists among the many workers who gathered there for their meals, we were warmly welcomed. In those moments, the city suddenly felt alive, just as it was meant to be. But as soon as we stepped outside, the silence returned.

This ‘city of the future’ is clearly full of contrasts: perfectly maintained, but mostly empty. A city with all the facilities, but without the people. An ‘eco-city’, but built on artificial islands, which swallowed up a natural habitat. What started as an ambitious project, has now become more of an example of how not to build a city.

And still, despite everything, there’s something fascinating about this place. The silence, the space and the almost surreal beauty make it feel like something out of a fairytale. And let’s be honest—if you hate crowds, traffic and noisy neighbours, this could actually be the perfect city for you. If you go shopping here, you’re guaranteed personal attention, because you’re probably the only customer. And while in Singapore you’d have to pay a fortune for an apartment, in Forest City, you can get one for a bargain (with a guaranteed parking spot right at your doorstep). Not bad, right?

Maybe, one day, this city will get the hustle and bustle it deserves.

Time will tell….

Jule Noah