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Fengdu Ghost City, Chongqing
Town of Fengdu, said to be the abode of devils, is one
of the first stops on your Yangtze River cruise. Here the famous
'ghost City' is deserved to visit.
 Situated on the northern bank of the river between
Zhongxian and Fuling, the city was once depicted as the 'City of
Ghosts' in two ancient Chinese classic works - Monkey King and Strange
Stories from a Chinese Studio. The origin of the town's extraordinary
reputation can be traced back to the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. - 220 A.D.)
when two official, Yin and Wang, became Taoist (Taoist) recluses here
and eventually Immortals. Later in Tang Dynasty, when combined, their
names mean "King of the Under World".
Thereafter, Mt. Mingshan gained its reputation as the
'City of Ghosts' where the king lived.
Today, the town is thronged with more tourists who come
to visit temples and shrines dedicated to the gods of the underworld.
Landmarks here bore horrific names - Last Glance at Home Tower,
Nothing-to-be-done Bridge and Ghost Torturing Pass - the three
check-ups on dead ghosts who wanted to enter the nether world.
Temple of Heng and Ha
The origin of the two vajras can be traced back to
ancient Indian Buddhism. In one of Chinese classical legendary, they
were transformed into two guardians with supernatural strength that
Guardian Heng could roar or bellow a kind of dazzling light and Han a
kind of yellow wind. A dead who had misbehaved when he was alive would
be jolted down by those light and wind.
Nothing-to-Be-Done Bridge
This three-arch marble bridge is supposed to be the
second inspection. A dead who could stride across it by three steps
was considered as an indeed man while those villains would drop down
into the river and was deprived of choosing new living.
Ghost Torturing Pass
Ghost Torturing Pass is the last to the nether world.
These temples display instruments of torture and horrible demon
images. Two devilkin guarders (Shopkeepers) kept a basin of water into
which customers threw their coins: if they sank they were genuine, but
if they floated the coins were ghost money and unacceptable. Another
passport, for the sum of one dollar, visitors can obtain is a
'Passport to Heaven', stamped by the local magistrate and the abbot.
On the other side of the Bridge, Mt. Shuangguishan
reputed as This world, which is considered a fairyland of tranquility
and harmony with lush greenery. On the fairyland stand some
commemorative buildings such as Confucius Temple, Luming Temple,
Yuming Spring and En'lai Pavilion, consecrated to Zhou En'lai.
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