Heilongjiang Province in northeastern China will start a “Ningutta Returning Experience” program at Jingpo Lake tourist attraction in December. Ningutta is one of the most famous exile sites in the city of Tuanjiang in the southeast of Heilongjiang in the past.
According to historical records, more than 1.5 million prisoners were deported to Ninguta for serious crimes between 1644 and 1911. Many prisoners were put into hard exile at the time, and many died or survivors were enslaved by local officials.
Many commoners were also known to have been taken unfairly by Ninguta. It is also famous for its notorious torture techniques. These techniques have been reportedly cruel, such as slowly cutting the flesh into several pieces, eventually dying, or placing a needle underneath the fingernails, which were usually inflicted on female prisoners.
It is said that Ningutta recently became a hot topic because of the effect of the Chinese TV drama “The Last 49 Days.” The drama was set during the Qing Dynasty’s Ongjeongje period, when a 16-year-old Han Chinese girl named Gyeon-hwan entered the court as a court lady and defeated the empress to become the queen and gave her the secret battle between the empress and the empress. In the drama, Emperor Ongjeong expelled the empress’ family to Ningutta. This is fictional in terms of direction, but in real history, many people were framed and went back to their country.
Visitors to the Ningutta Returning Experience Program, which will be released soon, will be able to experience life as prisoners wearing pink or blue prison uniforms, wooden necklaces and shackles, and will be able to walk the path of exile in the past. They will also be able to experience “bungee jumping,” which was created to help prisoners feel hopeless. The cost and total length of the experience have yet to be disclosed, but admission to Jingpo Lake is 49 yuan per person. Employees said that they will add winter sports activities along the route.
The news has sparked controversy among Internet users. Some Internet users commented, “I want to go to Ninguta and hike ‘prisoners’ this winter. I think my stress will be completely relieved,” and “It seems to be a good promotional method to promote history and culture to young people.” However, Ninguta is a tragic place where many intellectuals and patriots were forcibly expelled. Some also criticize such things as “disrespectful behavior to painful history.”
SOPHIA KIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
