Top 10 paranormal events in China | 1995 Shanghai Vampire Incident

In the suburbs of Shanghai, there was a legend about a biochemist who had to rely on blood to survive after a failed experiment at a bio-research institute. He committed several crimes, and two police officers were sacrificed in attempts to capture him, both drained of their blood. His last known appearance was in Hongkou Park.

Among the post-1980 generation in Shanghai, many remember that back then, students in their classes would hang crosses, wear garlic, or put on cross pendants as a form of protection. It was said that the biochemist, whose surname was Ling, was a researcher hired by a joint venture between Beijing Yuanyan Pharmaceutical and a foreign-funded company in Shanghai. He had a Ph.D. from Germany and was quite accomplished.

In the second half of 1995, rumors spread that the so-called “vampire” had passed through the Siping Road area and drank a lot of rat blood. Many people speculated that he might not have intended to kill humans.

In the 1990s, Shanghai was shaken by a vampire incident. It was said that the vampire would hide in the dark and attack people, draining them of their blood, causing widespread panic.

There are two main versions of the Shanghai vampire story. One version claims that a biochemist from a suburban bio-research institute had to rely on blood to survive after an experiment went wrong. He committed several crimes, and two police officers were killed while trying to capture him, both drained of their blood. His last appearance was in Hongkou Park. This version seems more plausible.

The other version involves a “blood-sucking old woman” who supposedly targeted girls wearing red clothes. This rumor caused such fear that girls in schools dared not wear red clothes, even removing their red scarves after morning exercises. Timid students would go to the restroom in groups, and the principal held assemblies to debunk the rumors. However, strangely enough, teachers were still assigned to check the restrooms daily, outsiders were not allowed on campus, and students were escorted home by parents or teachers after school. No one was left unattended.

There is also a less credible version that claims the vampires came from Chengdu, which seems to be a connection to the 1995 Chengdu zombie incident.