恒美新村位於廣東清遠市陽山縣，是一座曾經因天王巨星劉德華捐資建設而聞名的村落。1997年，劉德華斥資一千萬元，捐建這片包含百餘棟房屋的村落，其中還包括一所希望小學，旨在改善當地居民的居住環境並推動教育發展。1998年新村建成之時，劉德華親臨剪彩儀式，並獻唱《中國人》，盛況空前，當時的恒美新村曾經居住著超過一千人，一度充滿生氣與活力。

然而，隨著時間的推移，這片曾經充滿希望的村落卻漸漸走向荒廢。現今的恒美新村雜草叢生，房屋破敗，成為名副其實的“無人村”。附近村民回憶，當年村民陸續搬離的原因有多方面。首先是房屋質量問題。據當地人描述，恒美新村在建設過程中使用大量黃泥，而水泥比例不足，使得房屋結構不夠牢固，經過幾年雨水與自然風化後，房屋出現裂縫甚至傾斜，難以長期居住。

其次，自然災害對村落的影響也不可忽視。1998年，恒美新村剛建成不久便遭遇一場嚴重山洪，洪水衝擊破壞了多棟房屋及基礎設施，居民的生活受到嚴重影響，部分家庭因此決定搬離，以保障生命與財產安全。

此外，生活條件的局限也是居民遷出的重要因素。恒美新村位於偏遠山區，交通不便，經濟發展落後，就業機會有限。隨著時間推移，村民為了追求更好的生活條件與發展空間，紛紛前往城鎮或其他地區定居。

恒美新村的興衰，從一個明星公益項目的成功起步到最終的荒廢無人，不僅折射出偏遠地區基礎設施與自然環境的挑戰，也反映出公益建設在實施過程中需要更多考量長遠生活與維護的現實問題。如今的恒美新村，空留房屋與荒草，成為一段關於夢想、希望與現實落差的歷史見證。

Hengmei New Village, located in Yangshan County, Qingyuan City, Guangdong Province, was once a symbol of hope and generosity, built thanks to a donation of 10 million yuan from Hong Kong superstar Andy Lau in 1997. The village consisted of over a hundred houses and even included a Hope Primary School, intended to provide better living conditions for local residents and support education in the area. When the village was completed in 1998, Andy Lau personally attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony and performed his famous song “Chinese”, marking the event with great fanfare. At its peak, Hengmei New Village was home to over a thousand people and buzzed with life and activity.

However, over time, the once-promising village gradually fell into decline. Today, Hengmei New Village is overrun with weeds, its houses are deteriorating, and it has become a true “ghost village.” According to local residents, several factors contributed to the gradual departure of villagers. First, there were issues with the construction quality. Locals recalled that the village was built using a large amount of yellow mud and relatively little cement, resulting in weak structural integrity. After years of exposure to rain and natural weathering, many houses developed cracks or tilting, making long-term residence difficult.

Second, natural disasters took a heavy toll. Shortly after the village’s completion in 1998, a severe mountain flood struck, damaging many homes and basic infrastructure. The disaster severely disrupted daily life and prompted some families to relocate to protect their safety and property.

Finally, living conditions and accessibility posed ongoing challenges. Hengmei New Village is situated in a remote mountainous area with limited transportation, slow economic development, and few employment opportunities. Over time, villagers sought better living standards and development prospects, gradually moving to towns or other regions.

The rise and fall of Hengmei New Village—from a high-profile celebrity charity project to a deserted, overgrown settlement—highlights the difficulties of sustaining infrastructure in remote areas and the importance of long-term planning in philanthropic projects. Today, the abandoned houses and wild vegetation stand as silent witnesses to a story of dreams, hope, and the harsh realities of life.