One scary Chinese story is about the 'Lady in White'. Legend has it that she is a ghost often seen on old bridges or near water. She died a tragic death and haunts those areas. People claim to have seen her figure in white robes, floating in the air, which gives a really spooky feeling.
One Chinese scary story is about the 'Jiangshi'. Jiangshi are reanimated corpses in Chinese folklore. They are said to hop around, wearing traditional Chinese robes, with their arms outstretched. Legend has it that they are created when a person's soul fails to leave the body properly after death. They are often associated with dark and spooky graveyards at night.
There is also the story of the 'Hungry Ghost Festival'. In this story, the gates of the underworld open during a certain time of the year. Ghosts are allowed to roam the mortal world. People are cautious during this time, as it is believed that some vengeful ghosts might cause trouble. For example, they could enter people's dreams or cause small misfortunes around the house.
One famous Chinese ghost story is 'The Lady in the Well'. A young woman was wrongly accused and thrown into a well. Her spirit is said to haunt the area around the well, making strange noises at night and causing unease to those who pass by.
The concept of being tricked or deceived by otherworldly beings is also very frightening. Take Huli Jing as an example. A man might think he has met a beautiful and kind woman, but in fact, she is a fox spirit that will bring him to ruin. The sense of betrayal and the slow realization of the truth can send shivers down one's spine. Moreover, the idea that these spirits can blend into normal life without being noticed at first is quite scary.
They often involve vengeful spirits. For example, ghosts that come back to take revenge on those who wronged them during their lifetimes.
Ghosts are a very common element. Usually, they are the spirits of the dead who have some unfinished business or grudges, like the ghosts in haunted houses. Another common element is the use of superstition. For example, certain times of the year or places are considered more haunted. Black magic or curses also often appear in these stories, which can bring misfortune or death to people.
The story of the Jiangshi is also quite spooky. Jiangshi are hopping corpses. Legend has it that they are reanimated corpses that move by hopping, usually under the control of some dark magic or due to improper burial. They are often shown with their arms outstretched and a blank stare in their eyes, and they will attack the living if they get close enough.
One famous scary Chinese horror story is 'The Ghost Bride'. It's about a young woman who is forced to marry a dead man in the afterlife. The story is filled with elements of the supernatural, like the ghostly groom and the spooky wedding preparations.
The 'Nie Xiaoqian' story is also very famous. Nie Xiaoqian is a beautiful female ghost who falls in love with a mortal man. It combines elements of love, horror and the supernatural. It shows the complex relationship between humans and ghosts in Chinese folklore.
One of the scariest Chinese folk stories is the 'Lady in White'. It's about a female ghost often seen in white robes near rivers or old bridges at night. She is said to be the spirit of a woman who died unjustly, and she lures people, especially men, to their doom.