Practically since the day the place was built back in the 15th century, the Fox Tower and

Old P. King has been rumored to be haunted.

It was originally constructed as a watchtower along the eastern gate to the Imperial City

in 1439, during the Ming Dynasty.

But by the early 20th century the place was rumored to be so haunted by Fox spirits

that it was often left abandoned at night.

As darkness fell the tower would become home to thousands of bats, which night would

spread their wings and envelop the moonlight in a formless shadow.

Down below in the dreary remnants of the once luscious garden, peural dogs fought and howled

as they rooted around for any tiny morsel they could eat.

Food had grown scarce for the scavengers in recent years.

Sometimes if they were lucky they might feast on one of the local ducks that still occasionally

nested in the area.

By the winter of 1937 the garden surrounding the tower was mostly a frost-covered wasteland

of dead grass and weeds, leading to a small ditch along the tower's wall.

Long ago this had been part of the Grand Canal that had brought flour and grain into warehouse

as throughout the area, but no longer.

Today you'll know the city of Peking better as Beijing, with the current name coming into

fashion in the 1980s.

Chances are most of the time when you hear the word Peking being used now or either when

you order a Peking duck at your favorite Chinese restaurant, or go to pet your neighbor's

prized Pekingese dog.

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