Shanghai’s Haunted Train Station [Weird China]
Posted by Justin on November 19th, 2011Chinese native Chunzhenwang reports from Shanghai
I don’t like horror movies or ghost stories. My imagination pictures those things, especially at night, which freak me out. But the curiosity never stops me from listening to them. I want to figure out the reason behind each story. I feel like if I can find the rational side of these stories, I wouldn’t be scared anymore. Against my better judgement, I find myself seeking out ghost stories but very rarely finding the rationale behind them. So every night, I still fight with my imagination.
When you live in Shanghai, the subway will be your first choice for transportation. It’s not expensive and very convenient. But on Line One, there is a Caobao road station, or by its more popular name, “ghost station.”
According to popular legend, the train will suddenly break down at that station, without driver error. When a maintenance trailer pulls the train out of the station, it works again. Other riders have reported the door not opening when in the haunted stop.
But most alarming is the nine deaths at Caobao, all involving unexplainable circumstances.
A few couple years ago, when the subway in Shanghai did not have shielded gates, a passenger waited for the train. All of a sudden, he plunged down into the tracks after inexplicably losing his balance. Unfortunately for him, his train was on time, ending his life. Witnesses say he didn’t fall off the platform, they saw something dragging him.
Just imagine the poor souls that have to work there.
One day, as usual, the staff needed to clean the trash in the track. One worker while cleaning, heard a woman laugh from the deep and dark side of the track. Since the station was closed, no one was supposed to be there.
Other staff report sometimes seeing a girl in red sitting in one of the chairs. Many believe she is the spirit of a young woman who committed suicide a couple of days before in the Caobao station. In the next few days following her death, many staff saw her sitting there every night.
I haven’t been to the Caobao station myself, mostly because I don’t live near that area. But where do these stories come from?
I think the main reason is the location of Caobao. It’s near a local mortuary, and the station’s ladies restroom is specifically close to the mortuary.
I don’t know these stories of the Caobao station is true or not. But I believe at least the inspiration for them couldn’t be totally invented.
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November 24th, 2011 at 3:49 pm
I am exactly the same as you in regards to my mind not letting go of stories I hear/read like this. About a week ago, I read Kris Straub’s Halloween post over on at Chainsawsuit & it’s STILL stuck in my mental craw. *shudder*
http://chainsawsuit.com/2011/10/31/does-anyone-remember-this-kids-show/