This abandoned UFO village near Taipei has a creepy history

Taiwan’s abandoned Sanzhi UFO Village near Taipei

Just an hour’s drive from the bustling streets of Taipei lies one of Taiwan’s eeriest modern relics — the Sanzhi UFO Village, an abandoned cluster of saucer-shaped homes that look like they have dropped straight out of a 1960s sci-fi film. But what makes these alien-like structures so unsettling is not just their design — it’s the story behind why they were left to rot.

Originally constructed in the late 1970s in the coastal district of Sanzhi, the pod-like buildings, known as “Futuro Houses,” were intended as a luxury beachside resort targeting wealthy vacationers and US military personnel stationed in East Asia. Their futuristic design, all curves and fiberglass, captured the space-age optimism of the time.

But things took a dark turn.

According to local legend, a string of mysterious accidents and unexplained deaths plagued the construction site. Workers died in bizarre circumstances, vehicles crashed without cause, and eerie sounds were reported by nearby residents. Many blamed the misfortune on the site being built over a former burial ground, others whispered about feng shui violations or supernatural forces at play.

By 1980, the project was abruptly abandoned. The buildings were left half-finished, slowly being overtaken by coastal winds and wild vegetation. What remained were alien pods perched eerily on stilts, windows shattered, and interiors gutted — a ghost town from the future that never was.

For years, the Sanzhi UFO Village attracted urban explorers, photographers, and thrill-seekers, drawn to its dystopian aesthetic and chilling atmosphere. Despite public outcry, most of the site was demolished in 2008. Today, only fragments of the village remain, but its legend continues to haunt Taiwanese pop culture.

If you are in Taiwan and crave offbeat history and mysterious ruins, Sanzhi is a strange detour worth taking — just be ready for a few goosebumps.