The town of Fengdu, said to be the abode of devils, is one of the first stops on your Yangtze River cruise. The famous "Ghost City" is really worth a visit. 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".

How the Fengdu Ghost City was Named
Fengdu Ghost City - Must-see Attraction along Yangtze River

Fengdu Ghost City is a long-standing city with a time-honored history, known as the 'Ghost City' to most Chinese people. It got the reputation as the 'Ghost City' in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 A.D. - 220 A.D.). Two officials from the imperial court named Wang Fangping and Yin Changsheng, got bored with the political life in the court and came to Mt. Minshan outside the Fengdu City to practice Taoist teachings. Both of them later became immortals by carrying out self-cultivation. This story is widely spread and makes Mt. Minshan 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'.

The Attractions of Fengdu Ghost City
Attraction in Fengdu Ghost City

According to superstitious legend, the dead come to Fengdu Ghost City and the devils go to hell. Since Tang Dynasty, forty-eight temples have been built in the city, such as the 'Hall of the Jade Emperor', 'the Palace of Hell', 'Boundary between the Living and the Dead', 'the Ridge of Helplessness' and 'the Balcony of Nostalgia'. All of the temples there look quite magnificent while statues are extremely lifelike. Mt. Mingshan is sprawling with evergreen trees and bursting with a series of temples, towers and pavilions, etc…The buildings are all very unique and gorgeous. In addition, there are also a large number of inscriptions and couplets scattered on the mountain. The most famous and impressive attraction on the mountain is the Palace of Hell which is exquisitely designed and decorated with a large number of lifelike statues. The attractions in Fengdu Ghost City are arranged and organized according to the system of mundane world. The city is designed according to a strict hierarchy. In addition, there are also countless other tourist attractions, like the world-wide statue of King of Hell, Han Tombs, Mt. Shuangguishan and Dragon River Scenic Area, etc…