Great Things to Do in Fengdu

An Overview of Fengdu

Fengdu is a functional Chinese city located on the banks of the famed Yangtze River. The city is an impressively modern design with skyscrapers, large parks and great public transportation. There are many great things to do in Fengdu, including tours, restaurants, cultural park visits, nearby national parks and more.

However, what makes Fengdu famous is on the opposite side of the river. Ming Mountain, also known as the site of the Fengdu Ghost City is an Chinese-centric, Buddhist-influenced Afterlife Amuseument Park.

Ming Mountain’s modern tourism features are divided into a “heaven” section above and a “hell” section below. However, this is removed from Christian concepts, so the translation for these zones is more like “Celestial Above” and “Underworld Cycle Below.”

The Ghost City is built with parallel relation to Diyu (an umbrella term for Realm of the Cycling Dead) and Naraka (a temporary but very long period of purgatory where karma imbalances created during a bad life are corrected).

Fengdu is a legitimate spiritual site is referenced heavily in traditional Chinese masterworks like Journey to the West. It is a compelling place to visit for anyone interested in Chinese mythology and folklore. It has elements of Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism.

Getting There to Fengdu

The best way to get to Fengdu is from Chongqing. Fengdu is about 172 km from downtown Chongqing. Visitors can visit the city by taking a cruise down the Yangtze River. Tours can be booked online through the Wechat tickets app or from tourism agencies within Chongqing. The most common cruise ship heading to Fengdu leaves from Chongqing Chaotianmen Port to Fengdu Port, which is a six hour trip with many other scenic stops.

However, it’s usually cheaper to use China’s train system. Visitors can take a train heading to Xi’an and hop off in Fengdu. These tickets can be purchased through Wechat, online Chinese travel sites or at the train station in person.

If travelers have a personal vehicle available, it’s a three hour drive from Chongqing to Fengdu. It is also possible to drive in from the West, from Enshi City in Hubei. However, driving from this direction takes about three-and-a-half hours..

Finally, it is also possible to take a coach from Chongqing Chaotianmen Coach Station to Fengdu New County Coach Station. These buses leave every hour and require a person to transfer to the local Fengdu Bud (No #109) to reach Ming Mountain.

Things to Do in Fengdu

Fengdu Ghost City (Ming Mountain)

Fengdu is most famous for it’s Ghost City on Ming Mountain. This is a large complex of shrines, monasteries, artworks and temples dedicated to versions of the Eastern-cultural afterlife. The mountain can be difficult to climb, but it has a cable car available for visitors who may have trouble walking.

The vast complex is on the opposite side of the Yangtze River, with the main city of Fengdu on the other bank.

Bridge of Troubled Water (Naihe Bridge)

This bridge is located halfway up Ming Mountain. The bridge is a symbolic connection to past, present, hell and the mortal plane. Visitors who are couples traditionally walk over the bridge together, which supposedly allows for happy and peaceful lives with one another.

The bridge is often referenced as a Naihe Bridge, which is the first Test of Death in Chinese folklore. The recently dead would cross the bridge after drinking Mengpo Soup, which would wipe all memories of life. There are also folk tales where evil individuals would slide off the bridge into a pool of blood below to be tortured. There’s a tradition of throwing copper coins, ghost money and stirred rice into the blood pool for hungry, tortured ghosts.

Emperor’s Palace (Tianzi Palace)

The Emperors Palace is a key center in Fengdu Ghost City. It is the largest and best preserved authentic temple on Ming Mountain. The Palace is correlated to the zone where the “King of Hell” had access to the mortal realm.

The temple area has an archway, a walking gate and a series of paths. The gate was a symbolic second test for the recently dead. The deceased would stand on a single stone on one foot as a sign of inner-spiritual-balance.

Beyond the gate, the palace imitates scenes from the Underworld with imaged of gloom, the king of hell, corrupted officials and numerous torture scenes.

Gate of Hell (Guimen Gate)

Fengdu Ghost city is home to another symbolic gate known as the Gate of Hell. It is thought to be a major pathway into the afterlife. The recently dead would be “registered” at the gate before taking a path into a blissful afterlife and rebirth or a difficult penance in the Underworld.

 Last-Glance at Home Tower

This structure was built in 1985. The tower commemorates a zone where spirits consigned to hell could take one last look at their families.

Fengdu Jade Emperor Scenic Spot

This section of the Ghost City is also known as the Paradise Section. The scenery is designed after Taoism Cultural bliss and reward.

The area has over 200 elaborately sculpted statues of god, a series of artworks about immortal culture and several rooms created to replicated a peaceful atmosphere. These include the Jade Emperor Hall, the Great Buddhist’s Hall, Land’s Hall, Domu Hall, Wealth Hall and Prayer Hall.

Shuanggui Mountain (双桂山) or “Luming Mountain”(鹿鸣山)

The entrance to this mountain hike is located in Ming Mountain’s tourism town. The Mountain area is famous for a series of pathways leading to various temples, overlooks and pavilions. The area is somewhat famous for a series of Lantern Shows (Legendary Lantern Show of Shuanggui Mountain) which takes place each year on the third day of the third lunar month.

Features of the mountain include:

• Luming Temple
• Enlai Pavilion
• Huguo Pavilion
• Sugong Memorial Temple
• Confucian Temple in Fengdu

Temple Fair (March 3rd-5th)

Within Fengdu Ghost City, there’s an annual show dedicated to respecting the afterlife. The show includes street performances, dances, fireworks and local activities. The show is annual from March 3rd to March 5th.

Fengdu Chaohua Culture Park

Located within the main city of Fengdu, the Chaohua Culture Park is the central park area for the city. The large green space has several scenic pavilions, groves of trees, activities for children and a direct access to Fengdu’s downtown area with restaurants and cafés.

Nantianhu Lake Scenic Area

Located to the South of Fengdu, this lake area is a relaxing and scenic destination. Many tourists visit while en-route to Fairy Mountain National Forest Park, located slightly further to the south.

Snowy Jade Cave

A massive and long series of caverns famous for it’s delicate formations. Much of the cave which is open to the public is bathed in green lights while other portions of the cave are pure white. This cave is relatively young, with stalactites growing at an extrodinary rate. The rapid growth (at most, 30 millimeters every century) causes unusual karst formations. Sections of the cave have been called stone-haired, shield-walls, coral-creeps and waterfalls.

Read more about great things to do in Fengdu and seeing the world by visiting Leftfade Trails Blog.

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