LOOK: China’s mega-cities become ‘ghost towns’ over CNY holiday

While some parts of China’s largest cities may be flooded with tourists at the moment, most city streets, public spaces, and transportation networks are all but deserted once again.

Millions upon millions of migrant workers have returned home this week to spend the Spring Festival holiday with their families, cutting the populations of China’s metropolises in half.

It’s a rare week of comparative peace and quiet for those living in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen — that also makes for some nearly post-apocalyptic scenes.

Beijing

Jinan, Shandong

Guangzhou, Guangdong

Zhengzhou, Henan

Shenzhen, Guangdong

Shanghai

Qingdao, Shandong

Beijing

Beijing

Beijing

Guangzhou, Guangdong

Beijing

Beijing

Beijing

However, those migrants have at least left something behind to remember them by:

[Images via NetEase / Ifeng]

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