Magic mountain

The Ghost City in Fengdu is a combination of Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and even Hindu influences. [Photo by Bidisha Bagchi for Shanghai Star]

Out of the cave, we traveled to the famous Ghost City. With a history of more than 2,000 years, the city is a religious and cultural combination of Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and to some extent, even Hinduism. The city was earlier accessible by cable cars. Once the dam was built the ghost city became a separate island and the cable cars that earlier used to carry visitors up to a total height of at least 52 meters became obsolete and now just stand as a reminder to the existence of the old city.

Located on top of the Ming Mountain, the climb up to the city started with beautiful gates and pavilions on the way - almost 200 stairs and actual halls and pavilions come up.

The first stop in the Ghost City is the Heng-Ha Temple-the temple of two gods who guard the gate of Xishi Mountain, promote education and protect the magic weapons. While crossing this temple, visitors are asked to speak out the name of the two gods, very loudly, so they can hear and protect them. After this temple there is an uphill path that goes up to the God of fortune hall that houses the civil and military gods of fortune. The path continues up to the king of medicine halls where the gods for medicine and doctors reside.