Halloween in China: The Hopping Zombies

Zombies in Western films and television series are portrayed as undead creatures that are decaying, filthy, and putrid. And slow walkers. And always grumbling. And the list goes on.

They’re not always called zombies, as we know them. In The Walking Dead, they’re called as “Walkers” because they move so slow; in Game of Thrones, they’re “White Walkers” because they came from the icy wastelands north of the fictional continent Westeros.

But in China, these creatures are, of course, terrifying, but hopping? Jiāngshī (僵尸), as what they’re called, are stiff undead often dressed in traditional Chinese clothing called hànfú (汉服) and have a paper talisman attached onto their foreheads. Jiāngshī literally means “stiff corpse,” due to their appearance and the fact that a dead body becomes stiff once it decays. Because of this, these Chinese ghosts can’t move or bend their limbs.

Spooky jiangshi!

But there’s so many fascinating tales about Chinese zombies, and Chinese ghost stories in general. On Oct 29 (Sunday), our friends from Newman Tours invite everyone to join their public Halloween Ghost Tour, from 7pm to 9pm. It’s more than jiāngshī because the interactive tour will give everyone an insight into Chinese customs about the dead such as ghost weddings and burning money, as well as other local legends.

And if that’s not enough to scare you, the tour also includes an option to join a dinner where you can “invite” the dead to the dinner table. Spooky!

What’s more, Newman Tours also partnered with the International Center for Veterinary Services (ICVS) for this tour, and all proceeds will go to the ICVS Humane Animal Welfare Programmes.

Charity Public Halloween Ghost Tour, Oct 29
All ages. 7-9pm. RMB 260 (adults), RMB 190 (kids under 14). Price Includes two-hour tour with native English speaking guide. Tours must be booked in advance. See this website for starting point and private tour pricing. Newman Tours. (138 1777 0229, info@newmantours.com, www.newmantours.com).

And also, we invite you to our beijingkids 11th Annual Halloween Costume Party, happening at the Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB) on Oct 28-29. Join us for a delightfully ghoulish Halloween extravaganza and expect a mixed bag of tricks and treats that will surely possess you with all of the essential ingredients needed for a frenzied All Hallows’ Eve suitable for the entire family. Space is limited to approximately 2,000 people so reserve your spot today. (5941 0368)