BEIJING (SCMP): A city government in China will offer a unique immersive experience for visitors to retrace ancient, torturous exile routes, complete with prisoner uniforms and handcuffs, igniting debate on mainland social media.
In December, China’s northeastern Heilongjiang province will launch a tourism project allowing visitors to experience an “exile” to Ningguta, as reported by Jiupai News.
It is hoped that this creative package will significantly boost tourism numbers and revenues.
Mudanjiang city, located in the southeast of Heilongjiang, was home to Ningguta, an ancient military town and one of the most renowned locations for exile.
Historical records indicate that over 1.5 million people were banished to Ningguta for serious crimes during the Qing dynasty (1644-1911).
Many prisoners faced long, gruelling journeys, with many perishing along the way, while survivors were often enslaved by local officials.
Ningguta gained modern notoriety through the hit historical drama Empresses in the Palace, in which Emperor Yongzheng exiles his consort’s family there.
Today, visitors to Heilongjiang’s Jingpo Lake scenic area can don pink or blue prisoner uniforms, complete with wooden collars and shackles, to walk the ancient exile route.
There will also be performers dressed as ancient prison guards, providing an immersive experience that allows tourists to feel the weight of their roles.
Tourists may even bungee jump to simulate the desperation felt by exiles who, in their despair, sometimes chose to leap from cliffs.
The cost and total length of the exile route have not yet been disclosed. Admission to the Jingpo Lake scenic site is 49 yuan (US$7) per person.
Scenic area staff indicated that the experience is expected to begin next month, with the government also planning to add winter sports activities along the exile travel route.
This experience of ancient punishment has garnered significant attention on mainland social media.
One online observer on Weibo expressed anticipation, saying: “I cannot wait to go to Ningguta this winter and do a ‘prisoner’ hike. It sounds very stress-relieving.”
Another echoed that sentiment: “It’s a creative way to promote local history and culture that appeals to young people.”
However, there are differing opinions: “Ningguta was a site of tragedy in ancient China, where many intellectuals and patriots were forcibly exiled. This activity is disrespectful to that painful history.”
Historical records show that the wife and son of the literary figure Jin Shengtan, as well as the father of national hero Zheng Chenggong, were among those exiled to Ningguta.
Many ordinary citizens were also wrongfully persecuted under the feudal regime.
The authorities of ancient China employed several notorious torture methods to punish criminals.
The most infamous was lingchi, or “slow slicing”, a brutal method where flesh was gradually cut from the body in multiple pieces until death ensued.
Another method was the needle insertion punishment, where needles were driven under the fingernails, often inflicted on female prisoners. - South China Morning Post
