“Largest Chinese cemetery outside of China?” That’s a claim to fame Bukit Cina holds. This isn’t just any ordinary cemetery. Bukit Cina in Malacca is a hillside steeped in history and legend.
Let me paint a picture. Imagine a sprawling green hill, a peaceful contrast to the busy city. This is Bukit Cina. It covers 250,000 square meters. It encompasses three hills. Bukit Tinggi, Bukit Gedong and Bukit Tempurong comprise it. Over 12,000 graves mark this landscape. Some date back centuries.
The story of Bukit Cina is intertwined with a Chinese princess. Hang Li Po was sent to marry the Sultan of Malacca, Mansur Shah, in the 15th century. The Sultan gifted her this hill as their residence. The princess and her 500-person entourage shaped the hill’s culture. It became overwhelmingly Chinese.
Centuries later, the Dutch officially designated Bukit Cina as a Chinese cemetery in 1685. However, graves existed here long before. The oldest grave dates back to 1612. Members of Hang Li Po’s party were buried here. A warrior who died in conflict also rests here. Thousands of Chinese who died in Malaysia joined them over time.
Bukit Cina faced threat in the 20th century. Local government planned to develop housing and commercial property here in 1984. Chinese Malaysians rallied to protect their ancestral history. They succeeded in preserving the cemetery.
Today, Bukit Cina is a public park. Its paths are popular for walks. Joggers frequent it too. You can find a Chinese World War II memorial here. Temples and wells built by Sultan Mansur Shah also stand here.
One notable well is the Hang Li Po Well. It was built for the princess. It became a public well. People now treat it as a wishing well. Legend says drinking from it guarantees a return to Melaka. This was important for a city with a maritime economy.
The Poh San Teng Temple sits at the foot of the hill. It was built in 1795. It provided a place for prayers sheltered from the weather.
Bukit Cina offers scenic views. You can see the Straits of Malacca in the distance. You can also see inland rural settings. This historical site gives insight into Malacca’s Chinese past. It remains a significant part of Malacca today. A walk here is a journey through time.