In Beijing's Xicheng District, near the ancient White Pagoda Temple, a mysterious eight-story building is notorious among locals as "The Haunted Eight-Story Building," or simply "Ghost Tower." Built-in 1958, this dark edifice towers over the low houses and winding alleys, casting long shadows over the surrounding area. By day, it appears like any other abandoned building, worn by years of neglect. But as the light fades, its eerie presence becomes palpable, and the aura of mystery deepens.
The building's unsettling history is woven into the city's darker memories. During the Cultural Revolution, political prisoners were detained here, many of them meeting tragic fates within its walls. Some were subjected to endless interrogations, others to severe punishments, and many reportedly died here, leaving behind unresolved resentment and a haunting sense of injustice. Locals believe this accumulated grief and anger never genuinely left, lingering in the building's walls, casting it in a chilling gloom. Oddly enough, even on the brightest of days, the building's hallways remain dark, seemingly impervious to sunlight. Residents say that you can see clearly in these narrow corridors only by using a flashlight or other artificial light.
One story, often retold and embellished, speaks of a woman who her husband's mistress framed during the Cultural Revolution. Labeled as an outcast, she was imprisoned here and ultimately met a grisly end by throat-slitting. Since then, it's said that on the anniversary of her death, the entire building dims as if in mourning. Some claim to have heard faint, despairing cries echoing through the empty halls, and each year on this date, thunderstorms and heavy rain seem to descend upon the neighborhood, amplifying the building's already gloomy atmosphere.
This story and many others contributed to the building's notorious reputation, ultimately inspiring the 1989 horror film Lonely Spirit in a Black Building. Based on these disturbing tales, the film allegedly frightened viewers so profoundly that it was eventually banned. Some accounts even claim that a viewer suffered a fatal heart attack in the theater, adding to the film's mystique. Today, the movie is remembered as one of China's first horror films banned by authorities, further fueling the urban legend surrounding the Ghost Tower.
Residents who grew up near the building recount chilling experiences, adding to its mystique. One older man remembers an incident from his childhood involving the Ghost Tower. It was the New Year holiday, and he and a group of neighborhood kids were playing with firecrackers in the nearby alleys when a thin, pale boy approached them. The boy was unusually quiet, simply observing them with wide, unblinking eyes as they set off the firecrackers. Once they'd run out of firecrackers, the boy finally spoke, suggesting they could go to his house to get more. Excited by the idea, the children followed him through the twisting alleys, eventually arriving at the dark and looming Ghost Tower.
The pale boy asked them to wait outside, saying he'd go upstairs to fetch the firecrackers and return. The group waited eagerly at first, but impatience set in as time dragged on and the boy didn't return. They decided to go inside and find him. As they entered, they were struck by the darkness and the chilling air that seemed to settle around them. The entire place was silent, with no sign of life behind the closed doors. They reached an old, creaky elevator and, with a mix of fear and excitement, decided to ride it up to the eighth floor.
When the doors opened, they found themselves in a dimly lit corridor, the walls peeling and the air stale. Several apartment doors were ajar, revealing rooms filled with trash and abandoned belongings. Uneasy, the children decided to return downstairs. But when they got back in the elevator and pressed the button for the first floor, the elevator doors opened again to reveal… the eighth floor. They tried again, but each time, they found themselves back on the eighth floor, as if caught in a ghostly loop, unable to escape.
Panic began to set in, and a few of the children even started to cry. Desperate to leave, they tried the staircase, hurrying down step after step, only to find themselves returning to the same floor over and over. Their hearts raced, and a deep fear took hold until one of the children, out of sheer frustration and desperation, decided to relieve himself on the floor. One by one, the others followed, and miraculously, they found themselves able to leave the building.
Years later, the man who experienced this event as a child recounted the story to a friend. His friend laughed knowingly, explaining an old superstition that "children's urine" could break curses, especially in haunted places. From that day on, the man avoided the Ghost Tower, convinced that its haunted reputation was more than mere rumor.
Despite its terrifying tales, curiosity seekers still come to see the Ghost Tower, hoping for a glimpse into the supernatural. One night, a young man who worked the night shift at a nearby office decided to cut through the alley next to the Ghost Tower as a shortcut home. He had heard the stories but wasn't superstitious and figured he'd save some time. It was around midnight, and as he walked, he noticed the temperature drop sharply near the building, a chill that prickled his skin and sent a shiver down his spine. The night was otherwise quiet, but there was an unusual stillness around the building as though it were watching him.
He glanced up at the windows as he passed and quickly regretted it. The dark, empty windows seemed to gaze back, drawing him in with an almost magnetic pull. Suddenly, the stories he had dismissed seemed too natural, and he felt an overwhelming urge to leave. Whispering a quiet prayer, he quickened, not daring to look back or sideways, fearing he might see something he shouldn't.
After finally reaching a nearby lit area with bustling restaurants and warm lights, he let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. Shaken, he returned home, only to fall sick the next day with a high fever and an intense about of stomach illness. He later told his friends he'd felt an inexplicable chill by the Ghost Tower that night, which lingered even after he was home. They laughed, suggesting he'd just caught a cold or had terrible food, but he remained convinced he had brought something back from the eerie building.
Today, the Ghost Tower remains uninhabited and shrouded in mystery, drawing the occasional passerby or thrill-seeker, but only some people who dare to stay long. It's known as one of Beijing's most haunted places, a structure that holds onto the sorrow and anger of its past, casting an ominous shadow over the neighborhood. And for those who do dare to step inside, the locals have one piece of advice: be careful what you bring back with you because once the Ghost Tower touches you, it may never let go.