Urban Legend: The Haunted Giant Hospital at Xinglin – Chaos and Darkness Weave an Eerie Atmosphere

Text and photos byOrange Dog Loves Candy

Hospitals are inevitable stops in the journey of life, birth, aging, sickness, and death, and hospital-related legends are always abundant. In Tainan, there’s an abandoned hospital that netizens claim is Taiwan’s largest haunted house, and it has long been a hotspot for thrill-seekers. When I first thought of visiting, some friends gave me a hard time, saying things like, “Why not go to somewhere sunny and beautiful like Forget-Worry Forest or Lavender Forest?”

But no, I had to head to such a dark place. It wasn’t about seeking thrills or showing off (my cowardice is well attested by my friends Xiao Yong and Xiao Sheng, XD), but rather because I’d heard so many legends and was just too curious. Plus, the three of us happened to be in Tainan that day.

It was a bright, sunny afternoon with blue skies and white clouds. Since I’d arranged to have lunch with Xiao Sheng and Xiao Yong in Tainan, after the meal, I suddenly came up with the idea of checking out [Xinglin Hospital] (sounded almost like a nature walk, XD). This empty building has been abandoned for nearly 20 years, right by the bustling West Gate Road, next to a constantly busy street. Next door is the Cathay Building where I once took classes, and New World Department Store is also nearby. But who would’ve thought that in the middle of this noisy city, there stands such a legendary vacant house?

However, the entrance on the first floor was already locked with iron gates, yet there was an oddly placed rattan chair right at the main door. Passersby would often glance at it inadvertently, adding an indescribable sense of mystery. When we stood inside taking photos, many pedestrians walked by and cast surprised looks our way.

After searching around the hospital, we finally found a half-open iron door entrance on the side. But you had to crouch down to get in, and through the gap, you could see the extremely messy floor. I’d heard there used to be piles of ghost money and talismans all over, but when we visited, they were all gone. Also, the walls in the stairwell seemed to have been recently repainted—could someone be tidying the place up?!

Once inside, we saw the first-floor service desk. To the left were a series of waiting rooms and a pharmacy, with waiting chairs lined up in front.

Further back led to the stairs down to B1, the basement. Going down, you’d see the words “Emergency Exit” written in red at the entrance. Well, it was completely pitch-black inside, so all you could see was the dark entrance. I didn’t have the courage to venture in with just a flashlight, so I decided to limit our exploration to the first to fifth floors for the day. I’d heard there was a pool table and a table where doctors used to play mahjong?

Heading to the right, you’d find a rare atrium design in the current building structure, spanning all five floors. Looking up, you could see all the levels clearly, though the window frames and wooden doors were mostly missing. The floor was also a mess, quite different from what I’d seen in previous videos.

Xinglin Hospital was completed in 1975 (the 64th year of the Republic of China) and was the largest hospital in Tainan at the time. It’s said that it was forced to close in 1991 (the 80th year of the ROC) due to disputes over public labor insurance issues. Of course, some say the main reason was a medical malpractice incident. Rumors abound, but after it shut down, almost all items and documents were left intact inside the hospital. One theory is that the owner didn’t rush to deal with the building, so it’s just been sitting idle. Of course, the real truth is unknown.

Regarding the online legends, one of the first impressions I had was of someone using a telescope to peer into the hospital windows from nearby. They couldn’t believe their eyes when, in the windows of what should’ve been an empty building at night, they spotted a woman with long white hair in a white dress. They rubbed their eyes in disbelief and looked again through the telescope. “To their shock, the woman turned to face them directly and even started smiling coldly!” And so, various ghost stories began to spread. Of course, this is also just an urban legend—the truth is anyone’s guess.

I remember watching a video about Xinglin Hospital where, as the person entered the building, the sound of wind howled. The wooden doors on each of the seven floors kept opening and closing one after another, with constant banging sounds. Vines and small shrubs also crept along the walls of the atrium.

It seems that in recent years, as the place became more famous, it attracted many delinquents and thrill-seekers, leading to damage and destruction. Most of the glass was shattered, and you could hardly take a step without stepping on broken glass!! There were probably also many thieves who came in and stole or dismantled all the valuable metal equipment and window frames.

To prevent people from seeing curtains fluttering with no windows and misinterpreting the scene from the outside, the building owner actually removed all the curtains from the five floors. So basically, from the outside, you can see straight inside. Gazing toward the lively streets and Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, the sunshine poured down generously, yet it seemed completely unrelated to this place. The gloom lingered, doing nothing to diminish the curiosity surrounding its mystery.

More and more legends have emerged, with the tales of the uncle on the fifth floor and the woman in white being the most well-known.

The plaque in the first-floor consultation room was still intact on the doorframe, a sign of how bustling this hospital once was.

Walking into another small room, I saw a very retro rotary dial telephone. It must’ve been disconnected, but if it suddenly rang now, I’d probably be scared to death~

On another desk, there was a résumé with a graduation photo on it. In this kind of atmosphere, that smiling photo looked especially eerie.

Of course, there were also plenty of medicine bottles here, though many had been smashed. It’s said that in one room, there were many preserved organ specimens, but many of them had been broken by intruders, so a faint smell of formalin lingered in the air.

Moving toward the main entrance, you’d find the pharmacy, filled with numerous medicine bottles and syringes.

There were also scattered pills and capsules all over the tables. Some people really do have the guts to touch these things.

Many drawers had been pulled out and thrown onto the floor, with pills and trash strewn everywhere.

The other side was probably the injection room, where you could see unused medicines and intact hospital beds.

They’ve just been quietly preserved here for over twenty years. Though everything was a mess, you could still faintly make out how it used to look.

This stack of business cards was unused by the hospital back in the day, neatly bundled and now covered in dust. I’d originally wanted to find the operating room I’d seen mentioned online, but it seemed to have been stolen and sold off. The surgical lamp was nowhere to be found.

And the elevator was empty too. Were the doors and the elevator car both removed? All I can say is, those thieves were bold.

You’ll see a service counter on almost every floor. The same scene—well, I imagine at night it could easily give you the eerie feeling of being trapped in an endless maze!

By the counters, you can also spot patient records that have been taken out, with rows and rows of indecipherable English words written on them!

There are even newspapers on the floor that are twenty years old, their dates frozen in that one past day!

Walking down those dimly lit corridors, the psychological pressure actually outweighs the eerie atmosphere. After all, when facing a legendary haunted house like this, I’d rather err on the side of caution!

Every time I pass a broken window frame, despite being scared, I can’t help but peek inside the room.

Although the wards have been damaged, the bathrooms inside are still relatively intact.

Incidentally, I also found a Bible near the railing. It looks like it’s been exposed to wind and rain—who could have left it there?

But while looking up information on [Xinglin Hospital], I found a video from CTi News online. It mentioned a shocking blood handprint on the wall, which made me chuckle. It turned out to be something my friend accidentally left behind during a photoshoot. Who would have thought it would inspire so many people to weave elaborate stories around it?

Some rooms seem to have hidden passages, but due to limited time, I didn’t dare push the doors open!

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Another thing that felt quite strange is that there are always birdcages in these rooms. I wonder if they’re props for a bravery challenge—or something else?

The part that frightened me even more was the stairwell. The stairs here allow you to see all the floors directly from the top—those spiraling, winding steps, combined with the mess and darkness, create an indescribably eerie vibe. Whether going up or down, every step felt nerve-wracking!

And this room—probably because of the evening western sun—those warm rays of sunset were the only source of warmth I felt in that whole hour!

When it was finally time to leave, I suddenly had to pee, but I just didn’t have the courage to step into that half-open bathroom door!

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Due to space limitations, I couldn’t share all the photos. Moreover, many of the scenes had already been damaged, so there wasn’t much variety in the images. There wasn’t any particular theme either. Although residents who’ve lived nearby for over ten years unanimously say this place isn’t really haunted, this 20-year-abandoned empty building still holds an air of mystery!