Qiao Runling, Deputy Director of the Cities and Small Towns Reform and Development Center, which is under the National Development and Reform Commission, confirmed that “ghost towns” exist in many places in China.
Qiao observed that many cities in China do not have businesses, markets, or residents. He stated that it is not just Ordos. “Many ‘ghost towns’ exist throughout China." There are even ghost towns between Beijing and Tianjin.
"According to our survey, vacancy rates in real estate development projects in some cities range between 40 and 60 percent. For the central and western regions the vacancy rates run as high as 70 to 80 percent."
Source: Shanghai Securities News reprinted by Xinhua, August 7, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2013-08/07/c_125127835.htm