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Fengdu Ghost City

The Ghost City Fengdu The Ghost City Fengdu, which also called the "City of Ghosts" on the Ming Hill is 170 km from the east of Chongqing with a history of 1,900 years. Why it has been regarded as the "City of Ghosts"?

The Ghost City is situated on the northern bank of the river between Zhongxian and Fuling, the city was depicted as the 'City of Ghosts' in two ancient, classic Chinese works - "Monkey King" and "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio". Thereafter, Mt. Mingshan gained its reputation as the 'City of Ghosts' where the king lived.

Today, the town throngs with many tourists whom visit temples and shrines dedicated to the gods of the Hell. Landmarks here bear horrific names - Last Glance at Home Tower, Nothing-to-be-done Bridge, and Ghost Torturing Pass - the three trials for ghosts who wanted to enter the nether world.
 

History of Fengdu Ghost City
Horse Statue of Fengdu Ghost CityIt got its reputation as the "Ghost City" in the Eastern Han Dynasty. Two officials from the imperial court: Wang Fangping and Yin Changsheng, got bored with the political life in the court and came to Mt. Minshan outside Fengdu City to practice Taoist teachings. Both of them later became immortals by carrying out self-cultivation. This story widely spread and Mt. Minshan and became famous. When combined together, their surnames Yin and Wang, sound very much like "King of Hell" in Chinese. Hence the people began to call Fengdu the "Ghost City". It was the legendary capital of The Ghost King sculptured statue is 138 meters high and 217 meters wide. The tongue only is 81 meters long and the mouth is 70 meters wide. The pictures are carved in to the mountain for a depth of 26 meters. Visitors can climb the body of the king to the top of the mountain. Guinness World Records has listed it as the biggest sculpture carved on a rock.

With temples constructed on the Ming Hill by the river bank and many statues of ghosts and devils molded in the temples, these terrifying statues describe the after-life where people who disobey ancient Chinese morals are punished in every horrifying way. By the standard of Hollywood movies, it should be rated the highest level.

From the ship pier, you can climb the winding cobblestone road or take a cable car to reach the 288 meter-high hill. Some ships arrange an early night visit to the ghost city just to catch the terrifying effects.
 

Ghost in Chinese Culture
A Statue in Fengfu Ghost CityTo Chinese, the social structure in the hell is exactly like that in this world. In hell, a sprit would go through a whole and complete bureaucracy to get the final sentence. The pure spirits would be rewarded and the sinful ones would be severely tortures. Different tortures would be given to different sins. The Temple built on Mt. Minshan display instruments of torture and wide demon images, which vividly depict the Chinese people's imagination of Hell. Landmarks on the hill bear horrible name - Ghost Torturing Pass, Last-Glance at Home Tower, nothing-to-be-done Bridge and the River of Blood.

Every Chinese Lunar March 3 to 15, merchants and businessmen gathered Fengdu city. There were various folk culture activities.