Name(English): Hong Kong Cemetery
Name(Chinese): 香港墳場
Category: Historical
Address(English): 6 Shiu Fai Terrace, Wan Chai
Address(Chinese): 灣仔肇輝臺6號
Address Google Map Link: https://goo.gl/maps/jwZJhFe6X3wGPs9R9
Address longitude and latitude: 22.270910886465117, 114.17964755840528
Nearest MTR Station: Wanchai MTR station Exit A2
Nearest MTR Station Google Map Link: https://goo.gl/maps/mXhU6qxdne2Zu2CT8
Nearest MTR Station longitude and latitude: 22.27756189684413, 114.17315132747677
How far from the nearest MTR Station: 16 mins walk from Wanchai MTR station Exit A2
Opening Hours:
MON 07:00 – 18:00
TUE 07:00 – 18:00
WED 07:00 – 18:00
THUR 07:00 – 18:00
FRI 07:00 – 18:00
SAT 07:00 – 18:00
SUN 07:00 – 18:00
Recommended Time to Visit: 10:00-17:00
Accessibility Note: Need to walk up some stairs
Built in 1845, Hong Kong Cemetery is the oldest Western cemetery in the city. Formerly known as the Protestant Cemetery or the Colonial Cemetery, Hong Hong Cemetery is situated in Happy Valley, just opposite the racecourse. Happy Valley was originally filled with rice paddies, and strange as it may seem now, was considered too far from town to be needed as land for the city’s expansion.
Around 7000 tombstones cover the area in a series of terraces going up the slope, making for quite a picturesque stroll. The graves are diverse in shape and style, telling the story of Hong Kong’s multicultural history. There is a military section which holds about 150 military graves and monuments from World War I and II. Etchings on the stones reveal that those who died from WWI were mostly British naval officers, as can be seen by the naval anchor logos engravings. Graves from WWII mark the resting places of British battalions sent to aid Hong Kong during the Japanese invasion. Wealthy civilians are also buried in Hong Kong Cemetery, most notably Sir Robert Ho Tung (1862-1956), a powerful tycoon and philanthropist of the city, in which many parks and schools are named after him. There is no lack of colourful political characters as well, for example Sir Kai Ho (1959-1914), a prominent surgeon and barrister who founded Hong Kong’s first medical college and was believed to have been the first Chinese man to marry an Englishwoman in a racist, colonial Hong Kong. There is also Yeung Ku Wan (1861-1901), a Chinese revolutionary who, with Dr Sun Yat Sen, planned to overthrow the Qing dynasty to ultimately set up the Republic of China in the early 20th century. Hong Kong Cemetery is full of stories and mysterious tidbits engraved into the fading stones. Be sure to take a stroll up the slope and explore all corners of the terraces.
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