Be warned: Urban exploration is neither safe nor legal in most cases. That being said, an adventure through an abandoned building can be an exhilarating experience that gives insight into the city’s past. Here are six abandoned destinations to check out for an urban expedition.
Packard Automotive Plant, Detroit, Mich.
Detroit was once the manufacturing capital of the world, but the Packard Automotive Plant now stands in ruin. It is now a retreat for street artists, urban explorers and paintballers, though the complex is set for redevelopment so it won’t be abandoned for long.
Kangabashi, China
With a population of 1 million, Kangbashi isn’t really abandoned, but it definitely feels that way. Most of the city is uninhabited, giving the sprawling metropolis a jarring feeling of a ghost town. Urban decay is a common site, but you don’t often see pristine cities without people in them.
London Necropolis Railway, United Kingdom
Forget abandoned, this railway line was creepy when still in use. The London Necropolis Company constructed these tracks for transporting coffins and their mourners to Brookwood Cemetery, at that time the largest cemetery in the world. It was closed after suffering damage from an air raid in the beginning of World War II.
Sewell, Chile
Sewell was once a prosperous mining town, filled with colorful buildings and known as the “City of Stairs,” due to its lack of roads and location in the Andes Mountains. The company relocated the town’s families before the Chilean government declared it a historic landmark.
Buzludzha Monument, Bulgaria
This massive structure was home to the Bulgarian Communist Party before falling into neglect. Thieves have ransacked much of it, but you can still see some shadows from Bulgaria’s past.
Khayalami Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa
This derelict hospital has become a graveyard for abandoned medical equipment that includes functional X-ray machines, CAT scans and incubators.
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