Delve Into the Capital's Haunted Past with Bizarre Beijing

Beijing is somewhat spoiled when it comes to walking tours and cultural activities in the city, with everything from history tours to food tours and fun tours galore. For those interested in the morbid and haunted, there’s a tour group for that, too: Bizarre Beijing.

Offering walks, talks, dinners with tastings and more, the only hard rule with Bizarre Beijing’s activities is they incorporate something ghostly, ghastly, or horrific into the mix. It’s run with love by American expat Jim Nobles, an educator who has called Beijing home for 11 years.

We recently spoke with Nobles to find out more about Bizarre Beijing, how it began, and how things are going for the company.

What was the inspiration for starting Bizarre Beijing and how did it come about? What drew you to the ghostly and ghastly?
I grew up on a steady diet of Aurora monster models and late night scary movies. When I first arrived in Beijing, I was one of the founders of the Beijing Horror Film Society, which screened a different horror movie every Monday night at 69 Café in Nanluoguxiang. I realized every major city in the world does some form of “ghost” or “haunted” tour (Newman Tours was doing a really good and occasional haunted tour near Beihai), and I wanted to do something groundbreaking. Along with the invaluable help of Tario Perez-Vila, I came up with a product that married history with a haunted attraction.

What were some of the first activities you hosted?
The first event we did was a haunted walking tour for the Royal Asiatic Society, Beijing around the old Qing Dynasty execution grounds at Caishikou during the Hungry Ghost Festival (Zhongyuanjie). Since then, we expanded to haunted tours in the Bad Lands, scavenger hunts (Purgatory) near Yonghegong, haunted dinners and wine tastings (Dinner with Spirits), zombie airsoft events (Apocalypse), haunted ebike tours with Our Beijing, corporate team building and private parties. We also do “non-scary” events like our “Dark Side of Beijing” tours that tell the stories without the scares.

What’s your favorite haunted place to visit in Beijing, and when’s the best time for a visit?
While 81 Chaonei is perhaps the most famous haunted house in Beijing, my favorites would probably have to be Caishikou, Traveler Inn Hua Qia (which is haunted by a ghost dubbed the Berserker, read more about it here in story #2) and the Fox Tower. As for the best time to visit these places, it's of course in the evening!

Speaking of haunted places in the capital, just how many haunted places are there to be found here?
Literally hundreds! China has a long history of “ghost culture” dating back to ancestor worshipping days. With Beijing’s past of over two millennia, almost everywhere in the capital has a story to tell.

Got any favorite Beijing-related ghost stories?
Besides the Soul of the Great Bell, about the female ghost at Beijing's Bell Tower, it would have to be the doomed rider aboard the Last Bus to Fragrant Hills.

What upcoming events will Bizarre Beijing be hosting in the coming months? Is there anything new?
We have a haunted walking tour planned for May and zombie airsoft in the late planning stages for June. There are plans for upcoming haunted dinners and scavenger hunts (we have done non-scary family-friendly scavenger hunts over Christmas) and we are tweaking some of our events to include an “alien” theme. We also do custom events and are available for corporate team building.

Turning away from the pursuit of the morbid in Beijing history, what else do you do to keep yourself busy?
Besides my volunteer work, I try to stay busy by attending food events (I’m a member of Chaine des Rotisseurs and Disciples Escoffier, two French food societies), hiking, researching, and scuba diving with the dolphins at Beijing Aquarium. I’m also the co-chair of the American Chamber of Commerce in China SME/Entrepreneurs Committee, a board member of Chifan for Charity and an auditor for the Swiss Club.

Lastly, how can people take part in future Bizarre Beijing events?
For questions or any information, feel free to email: info@bizarrebeijing.com

Bizarre Beijing's next upcoming walk, a Haunted Walking Tour of the Caishikou Execution Grounds, takes place on the evening of Monday, May 20 from 7pm onwards, starting from Xuanwumen Church. Spots are RMB 299/person and can be booked by scanning the QR code in the poster.

READ: Who's Who in the World of Beijing Walking Tours

Images courtesy of Jim Nobles