In China, some places are known as zones of death, dwellings of the grim reaper, and have been blacklisted for travel. Most people dare not set foot in them. Below, we bring you China’s 10 most terrifying travel no-go zones. Beware: cherish life and stay far away from these forbidden areas!
Qiangtang No-Man's Land

Qiangtang No-Man's Land is located in northern Nagqu and Ngari prefectures in Tibet, known as the “Third Pole of the Earth” and the “Roof of the Roof of the World.” Very few can enter this “forbidden zone for human life,” and even fewer can explore this “kingdom of wildlife.” If you wish to venture here, all we can say is: be extremely careful.
Beijing’s “Haunted” Ghost Sites

Fans of the movie "The House That Never Dies" will recognize one of Beijing’s most haunted spots — old mansions. Hearing the sounds of traditional instruments at night, mixed with the mournful recitation of poetry by a young woman? Vengeful spirits wandering through the hutongs? It may sound bizarre, but such strange occurrences are frequently reported in many of Beijing’s ancient homes, even in royal palaces like the Forbidden City. While we all advocate materialism, these eerie legends still send chills down our spines.
Ghost Lake, Lake Rakshastal

Lake Rakshastal, known as the Ghost Lake, means “Poisonous Black Lake” in Tibetan. Located in Purang County, Ngari Prefecture, it lies adjacent to the freshwater holy lake Lake Manasarovar. As a slightly saline lake, its waters are undrinkable for both humans and animals — possibly the origin of its ghostly name. But that’s not the scariest part: its topography eerily resembles a flayed human skin, vast, silent, and almost completely uninhabited.
Henan’s Fengmen Haunted Village

Nestled within an unnamed mountain range on the outskirts of Qinyang City, the area features lush, rustic riverbanks. Although there are several villages, nearly all are deserted. YunTai Village still has three households, but Fengmen Village stands eerily alone, with over a hundred buildings in the architectural style of the Ming and Qing dynasties hidden deep in the forest. The village includes a large, imposing residence with a Qing-era grand chair in the living room — more mysterious still, everyone who has sat in that chair has since passed away.
Lop Nur, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

In 1980, renowned Chinese scientist Peng Jiamu went missing during a scientific expedition in Lop Nur. Sixteen years later, explorer Yu Chunshun also perished there, adding to the area’s mysterious and terrifying aura. Endless Gobi Desert, devoid of a single blade of grass or drop of water, sees summer temperatures soaring up to 70°C. In Lop Nur, not a single bird can be seen in the sky, and no flying creature dares to cross — it’s a place seemingly devoid of all life.
Poyang Lake’s “Devil’s Triangle”

From the early 1960s to the late 1980s, over a span of nearly 30 years, more than 200 ships sank and over 1,600 people went missing in this mysterious body of water near Old Master Temple in Poyang Lake, Jiangxi Province. At least 30 survivors were reportedly driven insane. These staggering figures originate from this enigmatic stretch of water. For centuries, it has remained a mystery, with countless ships vanishing without a trace — even vessels weighing over 2,000 tons have sunk here. According to records from the Jiujiang Maritime Department in Jiangxi Province and the local chronicles of Duchang County, on August 3, 1985 alone, 13 ships were lost in a single day, an occurrence rare even in global maritime history. Hence, this area has earned the nickname “China’s Bermuda Triangle.”
Kunlun Mountains’ “Gate to Hell”

Shepherds living in the Kunlun Mountains would rather let their livestock starve to death on the barren Gobi than venture into an ancient, silent valley rich with lush grass — this valley is known as Death Valley, or the Kunlun Mountains’ “Gate to Hell.” The valley is scattered with wolf pelts, bear bones, hunters’ rifles, and lonely graves, creating an ominous and frightening atmosphere of death.
The Serene Wonder of Liupan Mountain

Liupan Mountain National Forest Park is located at the triangular center formed by Xi’an, Yinchuan, and Lanzhou. The Erlong River is the core area of the Liupan Mountain Nature Reserve and boasts the richest diversity of wildlife and plants. With mist drifting, valley winds blowing, and an eerie vibe, encounters with startled roe deer, musk deer, pheasants, and rabbits often leave visitors startled. After 5 p.m., golden leopards are frequently spotted. The Erlong River “Ghost Gate Pass” scenic area is designated for scientific expeditions and is off-limits without professional guides.
Wawu Mountain’s “Soul-Entrapping Swamp” — A Travel Forbidden Zone on the Death Latitude

“Soul-Entrapping Swamp, the strangest of the strange — once you enter, coming back alive isn’t easy.” Due to its eerie and terrifying nature, local authorities had to designate Wawu Mountain’s Soul-Entrapping Swamp as a travel forbidden zone to prevent accidental entry. Also, because it lies on the same latitude as the Bermuda Triangle, domestic geologists and explorers call it the “Bermuda Triangle of the land.” Over the years, the “Wawu Mountain Soul-Entrapping Swamp Phenomenon” has left behind numerous unsolved mysteries.
Wenzhou’s Shangri-La Turns from Enchanted Village to “Ghost” Village

Wenzhou’s Luo...nuo Village, once a picturesque and tranquil place, was known among locals for occasional reports of deaths. However, over the past six decades, 76 people have died in this remote mountain village, nearly half of them suddenly. In the summer of 2008, two consecutive fires destroyed 91 old houses, sparking panic among villagers. The nickname “ghost village” quickly spread, and the deaths in Luo...nuo Village seem to carry an unusually heavy toll.
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