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Opinion / From the Press

Dangerous, not 'haunted', house

(China Daily) Updated: 2014-07-29 08:54

A horror film based on an old house in Beijing that hit the screens recently has prompted many people to explore the structure in person. There is nothing wrong in people visiting a "haunted" house to find the "truth", but by doing so they could be taking an unnecessary risk, says an article in Beijing News. Excerpts:

Since the newly released movie is a ghost story based on the house beside the Second Ring Road in Beijing, many people have been visiting it to experience the "eerie" feeling in "reality". The structure, one of the so-called four haunted houses in Beijing, received more than 1,000 visitors over the past weekend.

People are curious about what mysteries this house holds because the movie portrays it as a house haunted by ghosts. The problem is that the film deals with fiction and plays on the imagination and inherent fears of people, but in reality the house could indeed be dangerous because its more than 100 years of existence has left it dilapidated. In fact, the building has not been repaired in a long time and many of its parts could collapse.

In many ways it is more of a dangerous building than a "haunted" house. So, visitors should be aware of the hidden dangers and the potential risk of venturing into such a house. More importantly, those responsible for the upkeep of the house should undertake necessary repairs to make it safe. And if the house is repaired, it can be turned into a real and safe tourist spot.

The opinions expressed on this page do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

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