Overview


GRAVES & MONUMENTS

Most of the area is of course occupied by graves of both Hong Kong residents and visitors, of a wide variety of designs, depending on the religion, nationality, as well as the age of the deceased person. There are many religious symbols on the stones, as well as sad lines of poetry. One section of the area is for military graves of men and women who died in Hong Kong while serving in the British Forces, they all have simple similar white gravestones.

Many fine large monuments commemorate the heroic deaths of military personnel while fighting battles, disasters at sea and other tragedies. 

WILD LIFE

Because the cemetery is so quiet and is little used, it has attracted many different birds and other animals that are not normally seen in Hong Kong. For example, there are 26 species of butterflies that have been spotted, over 20 species of wild birds, also fireflies, bats, moths and lizards (including the rare water dragon)

TREES & PLANTS 

The cemetery has a wide diversity of trees, most of which a large and mature varieties of local trees,  but there are some rare specimens that were introduced by families and friends who planted them near to the graves of their loved ones as a memorial.

CHAPEL

The attractive small chapel near the entrance is the 'Chapel of the Resurrection' and  believed to be the oldest western building in the whole of Hong Kong; built in 1845 by the Hong Kong Public Works Department, who based its design on similar Victorian cemetery 'chapels of rest' in England.  Its purpose was to hold a solemn religious service for friends and relatives before the coffin is finally placed in the grave in the grounds outside.

FOUNTAIN

This old cast-iron fountain was installed before 1910 and is a Victorian design of an angel, which originally sprayed water into the pond below. It is hoped that the fountain and pond can be restored to its former condition in the future, when it will present a very picturesque scene.

MONUMENTS

Of course, most of the area is occupied by graves of different kinds of Hong Kong residents and visitors, and they are of a wide variety of designs, depending on the religion, nationality, as well as the age of the deceased person. There are many religious symbols on the stones, as well as sad lines of poetry. One section of the area is for military graves of men and women who died in Hong Kong while serving in the British Forces, they all have simple similar white gravestones.