Imagine wandering through the bustling streets of China,
where every corner holds a story, some more chilling than others. While the notorious No. 37 Lin Family Mansion in Shanghai sends shivers down the spines of locals,
let's save the tale for another night. Our focus tonight is on another eerie landmark, nestled in the heart of Guangzhou's Liwan District. Welcome to Liwan Plaza,
not just a monumental six-story shopping paradise with over 2,000 shops and surrounded by apartment buildings, but
, according to locals, this is also a place
that is said to host more than just the living. Here, in this bustling hub where life seems to thrive,
a peculiar twist lurks in its very name, displayed in huge signs on the building's front
for all to see. You see, in the specific way that the character
"广" (guǎng) in "荔湾广场" (Liwan Plaza) Plaza is written, it disturbingly mirrors the character for "corpse" (尸). This unfortunate resemblance, however,
isn't just a figment of overactive imagination. In
the fluid dance of "running script" in
Simplified Chinese calligraphy, the strokes of the character "广" (guǎng) is indeed eerily
similar to the character for "corpse" (尸). This led to a nightmarish play on words that sounds like
"Liwan Corpse Plaza". Critics would argue this resemblance is mere coincidence, shaped by the subjective lens of calligraphy where even
a slight curl can tell a different tale. At face value, there's certainly an element of coincidence. However, beneath the bustling li
fe of today's Liwan,
lies a forgotten whisper of its past, one that lives up to its grim nickname. The ground upon which this shopping paradise stands
was once a densely packed slum, shadowed further back in time by
its use as a mass burial ground. This chilling lineage brands "Corpse Plaza"
not just a nickname, but a memorial to a site marred by death,
making its modern-day facade all the more haunting. In Chinese folklore, mass burial grounds are laden with
ominous energy and are often associ
ated with hauntings and misfortunes, similar to how Western
cultures might view historically troubled or haunted lands. These places are thought to disturb
the balance of "Feng Shui". In Chinese beliefs and practices, having "good Feng Shui"
means the location has harmonious flows of energy, and would bring
longevity, health, and prosperity. The disruption of this balance, or having "bad Feng Shui", brings about adverse effects on the living. And the site of Liwan Plaza is marred by
all kinds
of distress and disruptions. During the development of the plaza, to expedite
construction, residents were pressured to relocate, often through illegal means. In August 1993, a mysterious fire broke out,
resulting in 24 deaths, 12 injuries, and over 100 people left homeless. From its past as a mass burial ground,
to the tragic fire that killed 24 people, and then to the continuous reports of people falling from
the building after its completion, it truly became a massive "corpse plaza". The fi
re caught the city's attention,
and to appease public outcry, authorities quickly investigated, pinpointing a suspect
and jailing the developer. The disaster temporarily halted the demolition work. Yet, apart from those who died or were injured in the fire,
the remaining residents began to move out voluntarily, even without being pressured. Why was that? Well, after the fire, eerie stories began to circulate. It was said that after midnight, one could hear
the cries of children, women wailing,
men shouting, and the sound of
elderly people playing mahjong. Normally, such sounds wouldn't be out of place
in a populated area. What was strange, however,
was that anyone trying to trace these sounds would be led to the charred ruins. There, amidst the darkness and the stench of burnt debris, they would hear disembodied crying and talking. Six months later, all remaining residents had moved out,
all on their own. Meanwhile, the developer, still detained in custody,
suddenly passed away from
a heart attack. Liwan Plaza was a government-endorsed project
that turned controversial due to the developer's use of forceful eviction methods. With the developer paying the ultimate price
for his actions, it seemed the matter would have been settled,
and the project needed to continue. After all, there was so much potential for
businesses to thrive and for the city's economics to grow. Plus, there was the support from the central government,
and these all made it too lucrative for the city to
just abandon. Soon, a second developer took over the site. However, construction hadn't even proceeded for a month
before a tragic accident occurred. A scaffold worker fell to his death
due to a snapped safety harness. It wasn't just bad luck for the worker. The new developer was also unlucky, as the worker,
being new, hadn't been insured yet, forcing the developer to compensate out of pocket. But the compensation was deemed insufficient
by the worker's family, who then placed a mourning hall r
ight on the construction
site to exert pressure. The developer had no choice but to pay an additional sum
to placate them. Yet, the misfortune didn't end there. During the Lunar New Year, when most workers had gone home,
leaving only two behind acting as security guards, one elder was bitten by
a stray dog that had entered the site. At the time, with mobile phones not yet widely available,
he couldn't inform the boss. Considering his injury to be rather minor,
he had it bandaged and thought li
ttle of it. As workers returned after the Lunar New Year,
the elder's wound had healed, and he paid it no more attention. However, by the end of the first lunar month,
he suddenly fell ill and passed away within a week. Found dead among the ruins with a bloody face,
it appeared as if he had been bitten by something. There were three theories regarding his death. A dog bite, a human bite, suggesting a madman's act,
and most bizarrely, a "jiang shi" bite, referring to a type of reanimated corpse
i
n Chinese folklore, sustaining themselves by biting and sucking the living force
from their victims, often dressed in official garments from the Qing dynasty. The notion of a "jiang shi", while outlandish,
adds a chilling layer to the mystery. It turned out that during the digging of the building
foundation, they dug up a coffin from the Qing dynasty containing an ancient corpse. Normally, finding ancient tombs on construction sites
requires reporting to the government archaeological departme
nt,
leading to an official excavation. However, this reckless developer saw that the coffin didn't
contain any valuable burial goods, and chose to hide the discovery to avoid delays, and instructed his workers to just burn it instead. When the authorities were tipped off about
the smoke and smell, they were alarmed at the prospect of another fire,
and quickly came to the site to check it out. The developer showered the authorities with
drinks, gifts, and other hospitality in order to placate th
em. He explained that they were
merely burning construction waste. Afterwards, the developer strictly warned the workers
against speaking out, threatening dismissal and forfeiture of six months' wages, so the incident remained a quiet rumor among them. It wasn't until the mysterious death of the
elder security guard that there was wider spread of the "jiang shi" bite speculation. Forensic analysis concluded the elder had lost his life to
rabies, with his facial injuries self-inflicted in the a
gony towards the end of his life. This explanation was widely accepted,
but to those who had been close to the incident and seen the body, it was obvious that this wasn't the case,
as there were no traces of flesh or blood under the security guard's fingernails. To calm public speculation, an official archaeological
expert clarified that an incinerated corpse could not reanimate to bite people,
yet this statement inadvertently suggested the unnerving possibility of unburned corpses reviving. A
fter two deaths under his management and
mishandling of the ancient tomb, the second developer was replaced. The third developer, a man from Hong Kong
who was experienced in such matters, brought with him a master from Hong Kong. Together, they held a ritual before construction resumed,
reselecting an auspicious date. Things went smoothly for a while,
but the smoothness was short-lived. Whereas the previous developer unearthed one coffin,
the new one found seven more, totaling eight when includ
ing the burned one. Consulting the master, who, after examining
the sites of all coffins and performed some calculations, declared this a work of the
"Eight-Coffin Suppression of Evil" technique ("八棺镇邪术"). Hearing this, the developer was petrified,
fearing he had encountered a formidable curse, and sought the master's help in breaking it. The master explained that the plaza
was situated on a dragon vein, a source of prosperity and bustling human activity
since ancient times. Dragons, revered in
Chinese beliefs as
highly intelligent and auspicious beings, symbolize power, strength, and good fortune. These are majestic creatures that also, however, demand
respect, proper interaction, and care, to secure and maintain a harmonious relationship,
underscoring the importance of aligning human endeavors with the natural and spiritual world. Unfortunately, the plaza sat atop eight dragon teeth,
spots of strong negative energy, hence the disasters. To counteract this, a sorcerer long ago had u
sed the
"Eight-Coffin Suppression of Evil" technique, sealing the bodies of eight executed criminals in coffins
to feed the dragon, preventing it from harming the innocent. Upon hearing this, the developer realized that
the area's Feng Shui had been disturbed since the demolition began. No wonder the site was plagued with fatalities. The master was deeply concerned; with the technique disrupted, not only was the dragon
disturbed, but its food source taken away, and the eight malevolent spirits
released. This was quite a dire omen. The developer was terrified. His only recourse was to cling to the master for help,
who admitted his abilities were limited and suggested seeking help from Thailand,
known for its significant Buddhist tradition and skilled practitioners. Eager for a solution, the developer promptly arranged for
the master's journey, but the master had to prepare in Hong Kong first. The master went back to Hong Kong, but never returned. Desperate, the developer also went to
Hong Kong
to seek out the master, only to find that he had passed away in his sleep. The master was rather renowned in his field,
having advised many celebrities on their careers, making him famous in many circles. His death led a lot of people to believe that it was the
developer's fault, that his project had caused a backlash from malevolent
spirits, earning him much disdain. Fearful and frustrated, upon returning to Guangzhou,
the developer cited health issues, and insisted on withdrawing
from the project
and urged the local authorities to find someone else more suitable for the job. Despite the substantial financial loss
from terminating the contract, he was willing to accept all compensation costs. The leadership did not press him, advising rest and
not ruling out future collaborations. After all, someone willing to work for free,
leave midway, and then offer compensation is indeed a rare partner. But the project had to continue. While official statements
did not acknowledge th
e supernatural, the authorities were somewhat aware of
the site's eerie reputation. A rigorous search led to the appointment
of the fourth developer, a former military officer and staunch atheist. He orchestrated a bold move
at the sites of each of the eight coffins. He had people set off lots and lots of fireworks,
known to scare away malevolent spirits, and spread big bags of lime to render the sites,
so that negative energies could not return. This is somewhat like the use of holy water by Ch
ristians
to ward off demonic forces. This act had seemed to cleanse the site,
as no further deaths occurred until the plaza's completion. It soon became one of Guangzhou's most flourishing malls, and basically dispelling all the previous rumors. However, in 2004, the situation changed when
eight individuals took their own lives by jumping from the plaza, reigniting talks of the
"Eight-Coffin Suppression of Evil" technique. Some hoped the quota of eight passings might bring peace,
at least tempo
rarily, while the dragon's appetite was being sated. But, the instances of individuals taking
their own lives continued. On the 1st of May, 2005,
a man passed away after falling from Liwan Plaza. Three years later, on the 4th of March, 2008,
another individual met a similar fate at the plaza. Subsequent years saw several more tragic incidents. On the 5th of November, 2008,
a man fell, and met the same fate at the south gate of Liwan Plaza. On the 19th of July, 2009,
another individual ended thei
r life in a similar way, near the south tower. On the 30th of January, 2010,
a young man leaped from the plaza, succumbing to the fall. Finally, on the 30th of May, 2012, a young woman
tragically jumped from the fourth floor platform of Liwan Plaza, resulting in her immediate passing. These individuals all tragically lost their lives
after falling from the fourth and fifth floors, sadly turning these floors into notorious places. The tragic incidents have profoundly impacted the community,
and
the legacy of the plaza, giving rise to a sombre nickname, reflecting the incidents: the "Flying Immortals from Beyond." Furthermore, many more losses attributed to various other
causes were recorded during this period. At this juncture, I strongly urge everyone to seek help and
support if they're struggling with thoughts of self-harm. The pain and suffering associated with such actions are
profound. However, there have been reports suggesting that some
individuals who jumped may not have ha
rboured a genuine desire to end their lives, but were instead
influenced by mysterious voices. For instance, Mr. Liang, a university student,
survived a fall from Liwan Plaza in 2011, after landing on a cart filled with goods.
While he sustained multiple fractures, his life was spared. Mr. Liang later shared that
he had only visited the plaza to purchase a small gift
for his girlfriend's upcoming birthday. But from the moment he entered the mall,
he felt increasingly agitated and confused. As h
e moved to the third floor, he heard a faint whisper
encouraging him to ascend further. Feeling compelled, as if under a spell, he continued to the
fourth and then the fifth floor, the voice persistently guiding him to
"Go up, over there, step off." Mr. Liang recalled a moment of clarity
on the fifth floor platform, but then felt a sudden force that seemed to
propel him forward, a sensation so real it seemed as if
someone had physically shoved him. In 2014, a post appeared
on a local Guangzhou
forum detailing a chilling experience at Liwan Plaza. The poster, Ms. Xin Luo,
was the owner of a shop in the plaza. She recounted that one early morning,
while the mall was still nearly empty, she went to use the restroom. She was in her stall when she heard
click-clacking footsteps approaching her, and then stopping right in front of her stall. Ms. Luo politely announced that her stall was occupied,
but was only met with silence. Curiosity led her to peek under the stall door,
where she saw fe
et in black shoes and white socks. She told the person that other stalls were empty,
but still no reply came. Feeling scared, Ms. Luo tried to
push away her terror by yelling, "Hey, what's the matter with you?! Speak up! Are you trying to scare me?!" At this point, she heard the restroom door open and the familiar cough of the cleaning lady, Mrs. Tian. She called out, and, relieved at Mrs. Tian's response,
Ms. Luo looked again, but found that the feet had vanished. With Mrs. Tian present, her fe
ar subsiding,
she exited the stall and inquired if anyone had left the restroom,
to which Mrs. Tian shook her head. She then checked the other stalls in the restroom,
but found them all empty. Later, Ms. Luo spoke with many shop owners
and workers in the plaza, but found no one with a similar experience. Convinced she had encountered a ghost,
she investigated the plaza's past incidents and discovered that one of the individuals
who had passed away after jumping in 2004 was wearing black shoes an
d white socks. While not many in the plaza have had
direct ghostly encounters like Ms. Luo, numerous individuals have felt negative energies indirectly, such as hearing strange sounds or
experiencing unseasonable chills. Many business owners tacitly acknowledge these occurrences but continue working in the plaza out of necessity. To seek peace of mind, they often hang Bagua mirrors
and stick talismans at their storefronts and inside their shops to ward off evil spirits. Liwan Plaza's recurring s
upernatural events
have drawn much public attention, inspiring novels, comics, and TV shows based on its lore,
and even prompting some to explore the site in hopes of uncovering the truth behind the legends. Besides curious citizens, Feng Shui experts have
analyzed the plaza's layout as particularly ominous. Its central shopping areas sit in a depression
flanked by taller buildings, with a passageway through the center. This setup created a "shà" ("煞"), a term in Feng Shui
referring to environ
mental conditions or setups that generate harmful energy. This particular "shà" is called the "Heart-Piercing Shà"
("穿心煞"), whereby stale air continues to be circulated within the shopping area depression,
while little fresh air was ever brought in. The effect is akin to being punched in the heart, or having an arrow shot through the heart,
hence the name. The effect was exacerbated by the plaza's glass dome that concentrates the negative energy. Additionally, entering the plaza leads directly
to
escalators descending underground, a design considered inauspicious in traditional Fengshui,
where, in constructions for living people, the first staircases or escalators should ascend,
not descend as they would in a tomb. Why then did fatalities only begin in 2004? Feng Shui specialists believe that the fourth developer's
unconventional methods, using fireworks and spreading lime, actually managed to
suppress the negative energies, stabilizing Liwan Plaza's Feng Shui. However, this balan
ce was disrupted by the construction of
the underground passage on Kanghuang Road
and Minghui Building nearby in late 2002, undoing the suppressive effects of
the fourth developer's methods. Ancient Chinese geomancy dictates that buildings
should be guarded by mythological creatures in all four directions; namely:
the Azure Dragon in the East, the White Tiger in the West, the Vermilion Bird in the South,
and the Black Tortoise and the Snake in the North. In Chinese traditions,
these four Celest
ial Animals in the four directions are believed to bring balance and protect,
anywhere from a house, to a city, to, indeed, a nation. An analogy in Christian traditions could be the symbol of
the Four Evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, often symbolized by:
a Man, a Lion, an Ox, and an Eagle, acting as cardinal protectors and providing guidance. Unfortunately for Liwan Plaza,
the underground passage opening on Kanghuang Road faces Liwan Plaza's south tower's west side, introducing an
"
Open-Mouthed White Tiger Shà" ("白虎开口煞"), one of the most severe geomantic afflictions,
heralding illness, disputes, financial losses, and violent deaths. Additionally, the towering Minghui building to the West,
which is not part of the plaza, is far taller than the old,
lower buildings to the East of the plaza. As we saw earlier,
the White Tiger mythical beast guards the West, while the Azure Dragon guards the East. The Minghui building to the West then becomes a
towering White Tiger looking do
wn and ready to overpower the
weak old Azure Dragon to the East, which are the low buildings to the East of the plaza. This setup, where the White Tiger is
larger than the Azure Dragon, violates another Feng Shui principle, creating a
"Towering Head of the White Tiger Shà" ("白虎探头煞"), and can also bring about financial losses and bloodshed. After two years of accumulating negative energy
from these "shà", the plaza's malevolence was fully unleashed by 2004. Some might wonder why the plaza remains
open
despite years of incidents. Globally, high-rise buildings are
associated with fall accidents. Even in smaller cities, such tragedies occur annually. From a practical perspective, the cost of developing
a shopping mall is enormous, and closing a major complex due to individuals taking their
own lives would be considered irresponsible. Suggesting to shut down Liwan Plaza over ghost stories
is even more implausible. Official actions are unlikely to be taken lightly,
at least not publicly. An
y closure would require a justifiable reason,
such as the Guangzhou Municipal Planning Bureau's proposal in February 2020 to demolish the plaza
for neighborhood improvement, a plan that has since stalled. Some attributed this delay to the COVID-19 pandemic. Others speculate that authorities are cautious about
hastily addressing this problematic site, preferring to deliberate longer
to avoid further complications. In a surprising turn of events in 2023,
Liwan Plaza has seen a renaissance of sorts
, with significant renovations breathing new life
into the once-controversial site. Authorities have taken special care
to update the plaza's signage, moving away from the
ominous "Liwan Corpse Plaza" moniker, signifying a fresh start
and a departure from its eerie past. This revitalization effort not only addresses past concerns,
but also invites locals and visitors alike to rediscover Liwan Plaza,
now a symbol of resilience and transformation. Since its opening in 1996,
Liwan Plaza has had a
significant history, once a shining beacon,
now reborn with a promise for the future. Whether it remains or evolves further,
its status as a widely discussed haunted location has cemented its importance in people's hearts. Decades or even centuries from now,
when people speak of Guangzhou, the mysterious, and now rejuvenated, Liwan Plaza will undoubtedly
be remembered, not just for its shadows, but for its story of renewal. For those intrigued by the blend of modern development
and lingering leg
ends, the renovated Liwan Plaza offers an enticing chapter
in the ever-unfolding story of Guangzhou. Liwan Plaza's mysteries are endless,
and now we want to hear from you! Have you encountered its secrets
or have theories about the strange occurrences? Share your stories and insights in the comments below
and join our community of mystery solvers. Let's uncover the truths behind Liwan Plaza together. If you enjoyed today's program,
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