6 Most Haunting Places in Shanghai - Scary Before Halloween

Beneath the bright lights of Shanghai's skyscrapers lie many mysterious stories passed down from generation to generation. Let's explore some of the creepy Shanghai spots you might recognize or have visited. Please use your own discretion when reading.

1️⃣🚪Wukang Building (Images 1-2)

Many people may have seen this building frequently in Shanghai travel posts. Its unique European-style design is one reason why many Chinese sisters take photos with it. But did you know that this building holds a chilling story? During the Cultural Revolution, many people jumped from it, leading locals to call it the "springboard." Among them was a famous actress who claims to still smell her perfume through the door of an abandoned room. Others have even reported hearing the sound of it crashing onto the street. After her bedroom window slid open by itself,

📍Location: 1850 Huaihai Rd (M), Xuhui District, Shanghai, China

2️⃣💃 The Paramount (Image 3)

The Paramount was one of the most stylish and fashionable venues in Shanghai in the 1930s. The social elite would frequent it to dance late into the night. Even Charlie Chaplin once danced there. Over time, The Paramount transformed into a dance hall where young women could be paid to dance. The most beautiful of the dancers was Chen Manli. Legend has it that she refused to dance with a foreign soldier, which humiliated him so much that he sent men to murder her on the dance floor. Locals say that on certain nights, Chen Manli's spirit would slowly emerge to dance alone.

📍Location: 218 Yuyuan Rd, Jing'an, Shanghai, China

3️⃣🚇 Caobao Rd. Subway Station (Image 4)

Caobao Rd. Station has an inauspicious location, being located near a morgue. (It's said that the women's restroom was once located next to the hospital's morgue.) Sometimes, a woman's laughter can be heard echoing along the tracks at night.

📍Location: Caobao Rd. Metro Station (Line 1, 12)

4️⃣🐅 Cha House (Image 5)

This was originally the residence of the Qiu brothers, Shanghai's paint industry magnates in the early 20th century. They kept a variety of wild animals in their gardens, including peacocks, Bengal tigers, pigeons, and even crocodiles. However, after the brothers fled the mansion, the animals were eventually abandoned and died. It's said that during renovations in 2009, construction workers encountered unexplained beasts and bite marks, leading many to believe the place was infested with the evil spirits of abandoned animals.

📍Location: 420 Weihai Rd., Jing'an, Shanghai, China

5️⃣🐉 Dragon Pillar (Image 6)

Of the many pillars supporting the elevated structures in Shanghai, the Dragon Pillar on East Yan'an Rd. is the most famous, not just for its design but also for the story behind its construction. It's said that engineers were unable to drill through the soil in the area, despite Shanghai's typically soft soil structure. This led to construction being halted. A Chinese monk explained that the engineers were trying to drill through a dragon vein and suggested decorating the pillar with nine golden dragons. The monks then performed ancient chanting ceremonies at the site for several days before the ground finally gave way. The monk died shortly thereafter. Although some experts have offered scientific explanations, the Dragon Pillar remains one of Shanghai's most famous legends.

📍Location: Intersection of North Chengdu Rd. (成都北路) and Yan'an Rd. (延安路)

6️⃣🎶 Pacific Department Store (Image 7)

The Pacific Department Store in Xu Jiahui was established in 1993. Locals are known for its habit of playing the classic children's song "Bao Bei Dui Bu Qi" (Darling, I'm Sorry) over the speakers all day long, often playing it repeatedly, to the point of annoyance. It's said that the mall was built on the site of an orphanage's graveyard. Nighttime guards would often hear babies crying and laughing even when no one else was inside. A feng shui master advised them to play lullabies day and night to comfort the lingering spirits. The mall closed in 2023.

Where have you been? Surely many of you have taken photos with the Wu Kang Building, right?

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