Fengdu Ghost City
Fengdu is located on the northern bank of the Yangtze, 176 kilometers downstream from Chongqing. Known as the "Ghost City", Fengdu is a very popular shore excursion site for tourists on the Yangtze River Cruise.
Fengdu Ghost City was called Yao Du, Capital of Ghost Kingdom, and China's Divine Town, all of which are related to ghosts and gods. From its names, you can find why it's been known as a place where souls go after death for the past 2,000 years, like a gateway between the human world and the underworld. When visiting Fengdu Ghost City, you will find its buildings and sculptures are seen as a reflection of the underworld in this world.
Fengdu Ghost City Facts
Why is Fengdu a Ghost City: Stories
According to historical records such as Ge Hong's “Biographies of Immortals” from the Eastern Jin Dynasty and various editions of the “Fengdu County Annals” , Fengdu received its reputation as the "Ghost City" in the Eastern Han Dynasty. Two officials from the imperial court--Wang Fang Ping and Ying Chang Sheng werebored with 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. Fengdu becomes a center of Taoism in China. 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". On the summit of Mount Ming (where Fengdu Ghost City is located), there is still a building called Erxianlou, which houses statues of Yin Changsheng and Wang Fangping.
During the Tang and Song dynasties, influenced by Buddhist and Taoist religious culture, the fictional realm of "Fengdu" was introduced. In the 13th year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty, Fengdu was named. Moreover, a large number of supernatural novels and operas with themes of ghosts and gods emerged, linking Fengdu County directly with the image of a "ghost city".
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Fengdu Ghost City History
During the Paleolithic era, Fengdu was already a settlement for ancient humans. During the Zhou Dynasty, the area belonged to the State of Ba, and a secondary capital of the Ba Kingdom was once established in Fengdu.
In Chinese history, Fengdu Ghost City gradually became a religious holy site that combined elements of Chinese Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism.
In 1958, shortly after the founding of the People's Republic of China, some of the iron and steel statues and bronze bells on the mountain were smashed into scrap metal for steel production. But, on March 4 of the same year, Premier Zhou Enlai of the State Council arrived at Fengdu Ghost City aboard the “Jiangxia Cruise” and issued instructions to repair and protect the scenic spots and historical sites in Fengdu.
In 1981, the “Ghost City” tourist attraction was established in Fengdu, Chongqing.
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Major Attractions
The Fengdu Ghost City Scenic Area includes the Fengguo Shrine and Shuanggui Mountain, with a total of 27 temples. The Fengguo Shrine is a dynamic artificial landscape. Using modern sound, light, motion, electricity, sculpture, and laser technology, it vividly brings to life nearly 200 “ghost” stories from Fengdu's “Ghost City.”
To Chinese people, the social structure is hell is exactly like that in the real world. In hell, a spirit goes through the whole bureaucracy to be finally judged. Those pure of spirit will be rewarded and those sinful of spirit will be subjected to severe punishments. Different punishment would be given to different kinds of sins. The temples built on Mt. Minshan in Fengdu Ghost City display punishing instruments and wild demon images, which vividly depict the Chinese people’s imagination of Hell.
Ghost City Mountain Archway
This is the gateway to the Ghost City of Fengdu, adorned with exquisite and bizarre sculptures. The most striking feature on the archway is the characters “Ghost City.”
Heng and Ha Shrine
Inside are two divine generals—the one with the swollen nose is Heng General Zheng Lun, and the one with the wide-open mouth is Ha General Chen Qi, characters from the classic novel “Investiture of the Gods.” Heng General Zheng Lun, with a single snort, produces a sound as loud as a bell, simultaneously expelling two streams of white mist from his nose, then absorp people's souls. Ha General Chen Qi, with a single open-mouthed breath, expels yellow mist, causing the souls of those who witness it to disperse.
Hall of Gratitude
The hall enshrines Maitreya, one of the ten great disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha, known as the “first in supernatural powers” and “first in filial piety.” The hall is called the “Hall of Gratitude” because of the story of “Maitreya Rescuing His Mother.” Maitreya's mother, Qingti, was sent to hell and became a hungry ghost because she did not respect Buddhism. To save his mother, Mulian followed the Buddha's guidance and held the Ullambana Festival (Chinese Ghost Festival) on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, the day of Earth Store Bodhisattva's birth. After great hardship, he finally rescued his mother.
Medicine King Hall
The Medicine Kings enshrined here are two renowned physicians in the history of traditional Chinese medicine: Sun Simiao and Pi Tong. They continued to practice medicine in the underworld, helping the injured souls heal their wounds and preparing them for their return to the cycle of rebirth.
Thirty-Three Heavens
The Ghost City of Fengdu has a slope with thirty-three stone steps. These thirty-three steps represent the thirty-three heavens. Climbing these thirty-three steps leads to the Jade Emperor Hall. Ancient Chinese people believed that heaven was very high, with many layers, some saying nine layers, some thirty-six layers, and others ninety-nine layers. The thirty-three heavens here are based on the records in “What the Master Would Not Discuss.”
The Bridge of No Return
Originally an annex to the Liao Yang Palace, the Bridge of No Return was constructed during the Ming Dynasty and later associated with the concept of the Bridge of No Return. The pond beneath the bridge is known as the “Blood River Pond.” The term “Na He” is a phonetic translation of the Sanskrit word meaning “hell,” and it is said to be the bridge connecting the mortal world to the underworld. The bridge measures 7.2 meters in length and 2.5 meters in width.
The Naihe Bridge is not only a passage to the underworld but also a checkpoint to determine whether a person was good or evil in their lifetime. After a hundred years, good people can pass through the Naihe Bridge smoothly, while evil people will be struck down into the Blood River Pool by the bridge guards with sharp knives and forks, then torn apart and devoured by copper snakes and iron dogs.
On either side of the Naihe Bridge are two stone bridges: the Golden Bridge on the left and the Silver Bridge on the right. Those who were officials of integrity and high moral character in life are guided by divine beings and can pass through the Golden Bridge to ascend to immortality. Those who did good deeds and accumulated virtue in life are greeted by the White Wuchang and can pass through the Silver Bridge, then be reincarnated into wealthy families under the decree of the Underworld Emperor.
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The Gates of the Underworld
Legend has it that the Gates of the Underworld in Fengdu Ghost City are the mandatory checkpoint for entering the realm of the dead. Everyone who arrives here must undergo an inspection to verify whether they possess the necessary pass—the “road permit”—to enter the realm of the dead. This serves as the basis for reporting to the realm of the dead after death. The pass is 3 feet long and 2 feet wide, made of yellow soft paper. It bears three seals: “Yin Si City God,” “Fengdu County Government,” and “Ghost Kingdom.” When a person is buried or cremated after death, the pass is burned along with the body, allowing the soul to accompany it to the underworld, where it can move freely without obstruction.
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How to Get to Fengdu Ghost City from Chongqing
There are ways of transportation from Chongqing to Fengdu Ghost City.
- By waterway: Take a Yangtze River cruise from Chongqing Chaotianmen Wharf to Fengdu Wharf, arriving in Fengdu in six hours. The ship docks at the old county seat of Fengdu, and upon disembarking, you will find yourself at Fengdu Ghost City.
- By car: Every hour, there is a bus departing from the Chongqing Sìgōnglǐ Intermodal Transportation Hub Station bound for Fengdu. The journey takes approximately two hours, and upon arrival, you will be at the new county seat of Fengdu. From there, transfer to bus route 109 to reach the scenic area.
- By China high-speed rail: Take a bullet train from Chongqing North Station to Fengdu Station. The journey takes approximately one hour. Transfer to a county bus and get off at Xienanxi Bus Station, then transfer to bus route 109 to reach the Mingshan Scenic Area.
- Self-driving: Take the G50S (Chongqing-Fuling Riverside Expressway) from the Panlong Interchange on the inner ring road of Chongqing's main urban area and drive to Fengdu New County Town.
