The eerie beauty of China's seaside ghost town: Stunning images show how an abandoned fishing village became a green wonderland swallowed up by mother nature

• Abandoned former village on Shengshan Island has been slowly overtaken by vines to create incredible scenery
• It is one of almost 400 islands that form the Shengsi Islands which lie east of China’s coastal Zhejiang province
• Seaside village now lies empty because it was more economical for fishermen to move and work on the mainland

Vines climb the old stone walls, weave through the windows and doors and creep along the crumpling paths in an abandoned Chinese fishing village which has been reclaimed by mother nature.

Time stands still in this village on Shengshan Island - one of almost 400 that make up the Shengsi Islands to the east of China’s Zhejiang province.

What was once a thriving fishing hub has been long deserted and naturally transformed into a green jungle of tangled plants and neglected buildings. 

These pictures are taken by Shanghai-based amateur photographer, who calls herself Qing Jian during a recent trip to Shengshan. 

Abandoned: This deserted fishing village on Shengshan Island off the east coast of China has been overtaken by beautiful green vines

Eerie: The hilly terrain on Shengshan Island - one of hundreds that make up Shengsi Islands - make the village look even more picturesque

Mother nature: The island looks like a scene from a movie set and almost every metre of the stone buildings have been overtaken by vines

Greenery: The vines climbing up buildings, along the paths and through the windows of former homes are so beautiful they look deliberate

Home sweet home: What was once home to fishermen and their families in a once thriving village is now overgrown, eerie and abandoned

The island, a few hours east of Hangzhou Bay, is a stark contrast to the vibrant metropolitan skyline of nearby Shanghai - an image conjured up in many westerners' minds when imagining populous China.

Some of the islands at the mouth of the Yangtze river are popular tourist destinations and have been described as a paradise for seafood lover, while others are inhabitable.

The stunning scenery on Shengshan Island is the result of the houses and outbuildings being slowly consumed by nature.

The seaside village now lies empty because it was more economical for the fishermen to move and work on the mainland where catch could easily be transported and sold. 

Location: Shengsi Islands - made up of nearly 400 islands -  are located east of China’s Zhejiang province just hours from Hangzhou Bay

Shengsi Islands: This coastal village on Shengshan Island is covered in greenery - a stark contrast to the metropolitan Chinese mainland

Derelict: The buildings in the village have long been abandoned and vines freely creep through the windows and doors and up the walls

Swallowed by nature: The steep paths heading up the hilly terrain have been overtaken by weeds after being abandoned many years ago

The island, a few hours east of Hangzhou Bay, is a stark contrast to the vibrant metropolitan skyline of nearby Shanghai on the mainland

Green jungle: The seaside village now lies empty because it was more economical for the fishermen to move and work on the mainland

Empty: The beautiful scenery on Shengshan Island looks although it has been made deliberately, but is in fact artwork created by nature

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