Day 9 A visit to Fengdu, the Ghost City

After breakfast today, we left the ship to visit the "Ghost City" up the hill. We had to climb lots of steps to get to the beginning of the actual steps because the tram station was under water. I wonder when they plan to replace the station? They've known for quite a while that this would happen as the river rose. We climbed some more and then took an aerial ride to the top of the hill. There, we found a series of temples.

The guide explained a number of Chinese beliefs and superstitions about ghosts and the after-life to us. He also indicated that most of the younger people don't believe these stories, but are agnostics. There were several temples, both Buddhist and Taoist and they showed ideas of what would happen to "bad" people. There were special sections and statues representing various bad behavior, including prostitution, alcoholism, disobedient children, gambling, philandering husbands and wives, etc. I guess people's behavior has remained the same throughout the ages.

There was also a section representing the Day of Judgement, with the Judge reading from a list of people and their sins. It was almost as if they had been reading the Bible and were trying to illustrate the Book of Revelation. At that point, there was an opportunity to buy candles to burn and ask forgiveness, which is a reminder of how many religions attempt to atone for their sins.

I was quite uncomfortable in this place because of all the evil represented, but it was a lesson on the depravity of man and his attempts to satisfy a Holy God.

Back on the boat, Ryan, an assistant river guide, asked me the difference between the Christian religion and other religions. I was able to explain the main difference was that Jesus, the founder of the Christian faith, had been raised from the dead and was alive, while all other religious founders/leaders were dead. Also that Christianity was based upon faith in a living person, not on doing special works to get into heaven. He seemed to understand the difference, and although we weren't able to continue the conversation, I was glad to help answer some of his questions.