Overlooking the scenic Shimen Reservoir, the decaying, brutalist concrete shell of the Sesame Hotel stands as one of East Asia’s most notorious modern ruins, widely referred to by urban explorers as the “Abandoned Ghost Palace.” Developed in 1976 by flamboyant military-veteran-turned-entrepreneur Chang Ke-dong, the complex made history as Taiwan’s very first real estate fractional investment scheme, drawing hundreds of retired soldiers who pooled their life savings into the promise of a luxury five-star resort. The resort initially boomed alongside Taiwan’s economic miracle, but a sudden collapse in regional tourism combined with systemic corporate corruption forced the property into a downward spiral of legal battles, culminating in its permanent abandonment in 2008.

The dark lore surrounding the hollowed-out complex centers on a series of tragic accidents and subsequent paranormal reports that surfaced during its final operational years. The hotel’s primary spectral anchor is a long-decommissioned elevator shaft where a guest tragically fell to their death; night investigators and local youths frequently document the sound of mechanical cables grinding and elevator doors opening on empty floors, despite the building being completely disconnected from the power grid. As nature reclaims the interior—covering the grand ballroom and former suites in a thick blanket of moss and structural rot—visitors regularly report seeing shifting silhouettes darting between the empty balcony frames at dusk, accompanied by a heavy, suffocating atmosphere that turns local taxi drivers fiercely resistant to dropping travelers off near the perimeter gates after dark.