Tourism and entertainment businesses have shown interest in the islands up for lease. Photo / Flickr.com, Trent Strohm
Tourism and entertainment businesses have shown interest in the islands up for lease. Photo / Flickr.com, Trent Strohm
Here's a good way to escape it all. A series of stunning, uninhabited islands are up for rent, with some going for just $700 per hectare per year.
It could be paradise, if you don't mind the nuclear-armed neighbours.
What better way to escape the world's woes than on an island paradise of your own – for a very cheap rental rate?
A series of uninhabited islands off the coast of China are being rented out by the Chinese government for as little as $800 a hectare, a year.
There are close to 500 uninhabited islands in China's northeastern Liaoning province, which borders North Korea, and a further 44 that are empty, CNN reported.
The Yellow Sea: A luxurious slice of privacy is up for grabs on these Chinese islands. Photo / Flickr.com, Dymtok
To rectify this, the Chinese government is looking to rent out the islands based on a complex pricing system that takes in several factors, including whether the island has beaches, wildlife, or development potential.
Some islands being listed for up to 25 million yuan (about $5.4 million) but the cheapest are going for 3700 yuan ($800) per hectare per year.
There are additional costs associated, such as for building expenses, water and electricity, and any development plans will need to be submitted to the Chinese government for consideration.
And you'll need to have a purpose in mind, such as whether the island will be used for tourism, fishing, agriculture, urban development or another approved category, CNN reported.
State-run outlet Global Times reported tourism and entertainment were the most common reasons for the islands leased out so far.
You'll have some interesting neighbours, too. While many of the islands are in the Yellow Sea, some are along the Yalu River near the border with North Korea.
The northern shores of the sea are fairly peaceful, though a popular route for Korean "defectors" crossing the border to China.
The waters between North and South Korea are also not infrequently the site of exchanges of fire between navies, with the most recent in 2015.
But they've been touted as some pretty incredible islands. One of the most popular among them, Bangchuidao Island, is known for manicured gardens and stunning beaches, according to Insider, while Dalu Island, is famous for its sandy beaches and delicious seafood.
The Chinese government is leasing islands to individuals for as little as $700 per hectare. Photo / Flickr.com, Matthew Stinson
The initiative follows a trend in Italy in recent years that has seen houses being sold for under $2 as small villages try to attract new residents.
In June, the Italian town of Cinquefrondi, in the southern region of Calabria, was charging €1 for properties in need of renovations, and a further €250 ($450) insurance policy annually until the property has been renovated.
Bisaccia, in the south of the Campania region, two hours from Naples, put 90 buildings on the market for $1.40.
Mussomeli in southern Sicily was offering homes for $1.40 as well – as long as the buyer renovated the house within a year. And the town of Sambuca was offering them for the same price as long as buyers spent $24,000 doing up the house.
