Capital’s “Most Haunted House”? Chaonei No. 81 to Reopen in October After Renovation

▲ “Haunted Building” at Beijing’s Chaonei No. 81 Compound. (Photo / The Beijing News)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

The neglected state of Beijing’s Chaonei No. 81, along with ghost stories, once led to its reputation as “the capital’s most haunted house.” But the two structures on the site were actually built during the Republican era as old training buildings used by the American Catholic Church. Recently, the buildings have been sealed off for renovation work and are expected to reopen to tourists this October.

Local lore claims that the three-story Western-style building was once the site where the concubine of a high-ranking Kuomintang official hanged herself, after which strange occurrences began—including crying sounds and the noise of shattering glass whenever storms hit.Despite earlier media efforts to debunk the ghost stories, the haunting rumors persist, attracting many young adventurers.

Beijing’s The Beijing News once investigated the site and foundlarge areas of peeling wall paint,along with staircases covered in greenery, creating scenes reminiscent of horror films.The wooden stairs creak loudly underfoot,and the walls are covered in graffiti left by visitors. Nevertheless, the security guard insists “there’s really nothing inside,” and officials from the property’s owner, the Catholic Patriotic Committee, have also emphasized that “it’s not a haunted house.”

▲ %急本┏?裘拍诖蠼指1号院“鬼楼”. (Photo / The Beijing News)

Meng Qi, director of the Beijing Catholic Infrastructure Office, pointed out thatthe two buildings were constructed in 1910 as the North China Union Language School, originally used by the American Catholic Church to train missionaries in Chinese language and provide lodging.After 1930, it was renamed the California College and began enrolling students; following the liberation, it served as an office building for the Civil Affairs Bureau; and after 1995, the government returned it to the Catholic Church.

The Beijing Catholic Infrastructure Office applied for renovation approval from cultural heritage and related departments, and scaffolding has now been erected around the building. A staff member explained that the work mainly involves restoring and reinforcing the original structure. “We’re aiming to restore the interior to its original condition with fine renovations, and it should be completed around October.”

%疾014年惊悚电影《京城81号》热映，探访“鬼楼”的人激增. (Photo / Provided by Mingyue Integrated Marketing Studio)

%肌暗谝恍渍?狈?拗校?ぜ票0月再次开放. (Photo / The Beijing News)

Chaonei Street No. 81
Address: No. 81, Chaonei Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing