Jing’an Park Water Spirits

Jing’an Park (静安公园) is located in the bustling Jing’an district of Shanghai and is a hidden gem in the heart of the city. With lush greenery, tranquil ponds and scenic walking paths, Jing’an Park is a popular destination for both locals and tourists alike. In the 19th century, the place was home to a very different type of park. This is because Jing’an Park was known as Bubbling Well Cemetery until the 1950s. During its time as a cemetery, there were more than 5,000 burials and more than 1000 cremations. A lane of trees in the middle of the park is the only remaining feature left from its days as a cemetery. This transition from cemetery to park has disturbed the resting spirits, which has created a malevolent energy. This energy takes the form of what locals call “water spirits.” Legend suggests that when you walk past the ponds at night, these spirits rise from the water and pull you into a watery grave.

Image

from Wikipedia USMC Archives from Quantico, USA, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

“The American Company of the Shanghai Volunteer Corps present arms during the Memorial Day exercises at the Bubbling Wells Cemetery, Shanghai.”

From the Ben H. Fuller Collection (COLL/713), Marine Corps Archives & Special Collections

The Search For Shanghai’s Spooks https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/741289.shtml