By Wandera Stephen

KIU, Main Campus - An experimental green housing project in a Chinese megacity promised prospective residents life in a "vertical forest," with manicured gardens on every balcony, AFP reports.

The French Press Agency reports that the project in the southwestern city was built in 2018, with every private balcony designed to provide space for plants to grow, according to local media reports.

All 826 apartments were sold out by April this year, according to the project's estate agent, but instead of a modern eco-paradise, the towers look like the set of a desolate, post-apocalyptic film.

What is the problem then? The mosquitoes love the plants too.

Without any tenants to care for them, the eight towers have been overrun by their own plants câ¬â?? and invaded by mosquitoes.

Plants have almost entirely swallowed up some neglected balconies, with branches hanging over railings all over the towers, footage shot this month showed.

Only a handful of families have moved into Chengdu's Qiyi City Forest Garden because of an infestation, state media reported.

However, even though there is a high rate of mosquito infestations, some residents appeared to have braved the mosquitoes câ¬â?? a handful of balconies had pruned plants and outdoor furniture, and lights turned on inside the apartments.

Paper was seen taped over some of the windows that were still visible behind the overgrown plants. Only about 10 families have moved in, according to the state-run Global Times newspaper.

Picture credit: EPA photo