Would you go?

Forest City was conceived as a groundbreaking green smart city in Malaysia, envisioned to combine innovative urban planning with sustainability. Designed to house around 700,000 residents, the city promised features such as AI-driven management, car-free zones, and vertical gardens aimed at reducing environmental impact. Despite massive investments and high expectations, Forest City remains largely uninhabited. Its quiet streets, towering apartment blocks, and fully stocked shops are overshadowed by an eerie silence. One of the primary reasons for its failure is that homes were priced primarily for foreign investors rather than local residents, leading to many units being bought as speculative assets and then abandoned. The social infrastructure, including recreations spots like playgrounds, now lies empty, with nature beginning to reclaim the urban spaces. Vines crawl up balconies, stray dogs roam deserted playgrounds, and lights stay off at night. This phenomenon provides a compelling case study of the complexities and risks in developing large-scale smart cities without effectively ensuring community integration and sustainable occupancy. For urban planners, investors, and adventurers alike, Forest City symbolizes both the ambition and challenges of modern urban development. Visiting such abandoned places offers a stark reminder of the gap between visionary planning and practical implementation. Would you dare to explore this ghost city to witness a futuristic paradise that never fulfilled its promise?