29 Fengdu Ghost City

The final tour on our Yangtze River cruise was to Fengdu Ghost City.

Fengdu got its name of Ghost City when two imperial officials Yin and Wang came to Ming Mountain to practice Taoism.  Combining their name "Yinwang" it sounds like the word with the meaning "King of Hell".  This sparked the beginning of the site's focus on the "Underworld", which would have been a good name for it if it was a theme park.

Ghosts that are meant to be scary have more of comical look about them

Like all City's we have visited, they all seem to be at the tops of mountains.  So it was another big climb up many steps or for those less inclined there is a cable car that will take you up part of the way.





To reward the walkers there is a path lined with some ghoulish statues which I am sure have a myth or legend behind them.

Much like an amusement park for the dead, rides.... I mean tests have to be passed before passing to the next life.

First they pass the Bridge of Helplessness.  The three arches of the bridge stand side by side, crossing over the middle one you are judged.  The good are allowed to pass while the evil will be pushed into the water below, and like all good rides there is a photo opportunity as you exit.

Like all good rides there are queues

Yay I didn't fall in....

"You can purchase your photo's as you exit the park"

 Test number two, Ghost-Torturing Pass, here you present yourself infront of Yama (King of hell) where you will be judged.

Third test is at the entrance of Tianzi Palace where you have to stand on a rock on one foot for three minutes..  Good people can do ... evil can't and they will be condemned to hell.

 Many of the temples and shrines show sculptures of people being tortured for their sins.