Hong Kong haunted houses: online map of who died where is boon for the curious, the ghoulish and bargain hunters alike
A website with an interactive map showing 'haunted' properties where untimely deaths occurred, and the stories behind the deaths, is handy for those in search of a cheap home and who aren't superstitious
If you want to get into the true spirit of Halloween without theme parks, partying or fake blood, log on to property listings website Spacious.hk You may find yourself in spookier territory, especially if you discover you live in a tower block or a flat that's listed as a "haunted house".
Spacious is not the only property website in Hong Kong to list so-called haunted houses, which are buildings where a murder, suicide or other untimely death has occurred. However, it presents them on an interactive map that shows graphically how, because of Hong Kong's crowded, high-rise living conditions, you don't have to go far to come across a building with a dark history.
Click on the website's "haunted" button in the menu bar and hundreds of cartoon ghosts appear in overlapping circles. Hover the cursor over any of the ghoulish icons and a window pops up revealing the building's address and the unfortunate incident that took place inside, often resulting from relationship or money problems, exam failure or other personal loss.
"Former civil servant hanged himself," the pop-up for one Mid-Levels address states. A few blocks away, "an old woman jumped off building due to health problems". Over the water in West Kowloon, "Female victim murdered her ex-husband with multiple knives and jumped off the building", reads another.
Yet while the cartoon ghosts pinpoint tragic incidents, they also represent an opportunity for a bargain property for those who scoff at the idea of malignant spirits.
