Chinese Cemetery
Chinese Cemetery
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- V.Mapa • 1 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
144 reviews
Excellent
45
Very good
54
Average
36
Poor
5
Terrible
4
mingfatsai
Grand Island, NE4,446 contributions
Jun 2023
This place is worth a visit for its uniqueness. Many wealthy and perhaps not so wealthy Chinese did not have a place to bury their beloved as they did not belong to the Catholic Church. So they created their own cemetery in a very Chinese sort of way, and soon it became a matter of outdoing your friends in terms of building a more elaborate monument to honor your no--longer-living ancestors. You could call this a form of ancestor worship, but it’s likely just as much about making a statement. Many of the monuments are actually more like homes and have toilets, sinks and places where you can rest. You can’t enter these buildings but with permission, you can drive around and see a cemetery that may not exist anywhere else on this planet. How’s that for unique?
Written July 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NinoLeeZhongPing
Makati, Philippines405 contributions
Nov 2021
Usually filled up during All Souls Day. Visited recently and it was all peaceful and quiet, the only people were the guards at the gate and caretakers. It was so peaceful. Visited the newly refurbished temple at its original site. Crisscrossed to find the tomb of Mr. Ma Mon Luk. Better time to visit as there are few people about.
Written December 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Douglas B
Ornex, France288 contributions
The Chinese Cemetary in Manila is worth a visit for those who struggle to find something to do in the city. Most Memorial Parks (cemeteries) in Manila are havens of greenery in the concrete jungle (and well worth their own visit). The Chinese Cemetery, administered by the local Philippines Chinese Chamber of Commerce, is like a small suburb all of its own, mostly built up with mausoleums right up to the road with some small lawns here and there. It is possible to get a caretaker give you a guided walking tour which can take 1-2 hours. Have a cap and some sunscreen. Not much for children to do other than run down the streets and alleys but older ones might find it interesting.
Originally established when the Chinese were prohibited from using the Catholic cemeteries, it is now the place where the wealthier Chinese families may have their loved ones interred (or ashes stored) - provided they can keep up the payments. Plots only become available when someone can no longer meet the asking fee and has the remains removed. Yes, the guide books are correct that there are mausoleums with a/c, toilets, showers, even two stories - for use by the family members when they visit, not for the dear departed ones. It is useful to pay for a guide to find the more 'famous' tombs, like those with stainless steel or bronze resting places. One can only spy through windows into some mausoleums while others are more open to both eye and elements. There is plenty of architecture to admire and Chinese Filipino culture to learn about (tombs may be of Buddhist, Catholic, or Protestant families) and a good place to get away from the crowds and cars of Manila for a while - although one can see the shanty-town shacks piling up against the cemetery walls. What must they think - the dead are living in houses better than they have and better than most Filipinos can aspire to?!
Originally established when the Chinese were prohibited from using the Catholic cemeteries, it is now the place where the wealthier Chinese families may have their loved ones interred (or ashes stored) - provided they can keep up the payments. Plots only become available when someone can no longer meet the asking fee and has the remains removed. Yes, the guide books are correct that there are mausoleums with a/c, toilets, showers, even two stories - for use by the family members when they visit, not for the dear departed ones. It is useful to pay for a guide to find the more 'famous' tombs, like those with stainless steel or bronze resting places. One can only spy through windows into some mausoleums while others are more open to both eye and elements. There is plenty of architecture to admire and Chinese Filipino culture to learn about (tombs may be of Buddhist, Catholic, or Protestant families) and a good place to get away from the crowds and cars of Manila for a while - although one can see the shanty-town shacks piling up against the cemetery walls. What must they think - the dead are living in houses better than they have and better than most Filipinos can aspire to?!
Written April 10, 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aussiebazz
Melbourne, Australia288 contributions
Oct 2016 • Friends
This is the most over the top cemetery I have ever see. The wealth here for the dead is a joke. They have people living here to clean and look after the dead. You can get a train there.from the central station it's 7 station away. It's call R.papa station.you will need a few hours. There are company that do walking tours or you can walk around your self. But this is a must it's unbelievable to see. Take a hat and water with u. The day we went. It was hot . this is free
Written October 31, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GwapoKev
Kingston-upon-Hull, UK342 contributions
Feb 2011 • Solo
when i had a tour around here i thought my tour guide
had taken me to a small Chinese town but he told me it was a cemetery i could not believe what i was seeing....will Not spoil it for you but pls go and see the this place for yourself/s to understand why this happened to me
had taken me to a small Chinese town but he told me it was a cemetery i could not believe what i was seeing....will Not spoil it for you but pls go and see the this place for yourself/s to understand why this happened to me
Written January 12, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
claky
Perth, Australia152 contributions
Apr 2016 • Friends
We took a taxi to the Chinese cemetery and walked around for about 30 minutes. This places is something else. Huge wide streets with street signs and crematoriums that look like huge houses with toilets and washrooms inside. Not a soul in sight! I called this the suburb of the dead. A truly spooky experience. I felt like I was in the twilight zone walking around a well structured nieghbourhood that was deserted. The only people we saw were a couple of people selling drinks. We visited during a week day so perhaps on a weekend you would not have the same experience. So glad we visited. A truly unique experience.
Written May 8, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Luv2TravelFarNWide
Atenas, Costa Rica1,384 contributions
Feb 2016 • Couples
Opened in 1879 for Chinese who were not allowed into the Catholic cemetery, this cemetery is very interesting to walk through. Many of the structures are large enough to have furniture, running water, and air conditioners!
The various architectural styles were fascinating - some even have stained glass windows. Most however look more Chinese in style.
Definitely worth at least 30 minutes of your time to enjoy a leisurely stroll through some very interesting history.
The various architectural styles were fascinating - some even have stained glass windows. Most however look more Chinese in style.
Definitely worth at least 30 minutes of your time to enjoy a leisurely stroll through some very interesting history.
Written March 9, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah C
Dallas, TX587 contributions
Jan 2013 • Couples
Took the metro to arrive but once you get off there are no signs so ask people "Chinese?" and they"ll point the way, otherwise there were a few folks waiting outside the exit wondering if you want a tour guide or a tricycle ride. Takes about 15 mins to walk to the south entrance (FREE). Once there we started thinking about getting a guide and one approached but he wouldn't take less that 500 pesos so we walked around ourselves. We went right but I'd recommend going left and into the temple first. If the office is open, they'll give you a map and tell you which tombs shouldn't be missed. We walked around and really enjoyed ourselves. It was a little strange to see what looked like people living in the cemetery with their tv's, couches, makeshift kitchens and dogs. The office said they would come to relax for the day but they seemed a little too established for me to think they were here for the day.
Written January 21, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelingCat22
Tucson, AZ2,364 contributions
Feb 2019 • Family
Manila is very congested and often overlooked by travelers. My top choices to appreciate this city are: Ayala, Intramuros, and the Chinese cemetery. They convey what is really unique about Manila. The American cemetery is nice and moving but somehow similar to Arlington, while this cemetery is really incredible. All kinds of architecture (classical Chinese a minority) to build mausoleums that look like real houses with dining room, bathroom, etc. so that the family can gather more easily around the ancestors. One had visits often enough that a dog was guarding it!
Written February 16, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WonderingTroubadour
Australian Capital Territory, Australia401 contributions
Nov 2018 • Solo
Located a short walk away from the Abad Santos LRT station, the Chinese Cemetery is a great way to spend 3 hours looking at amazing architecture. Wondering through the Chinese Cemetery takes you on a journey through the immigration of Chinese citizens living in Manila. There are tour guides, but a simple stroll through the cemetery will educate anyone about this burial ground.
Written November 16, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Are there any tour guide other than Old Manila Walks?
Written November 12, 2016
When you get there. There are sometimes people want to be your guide. Or you can walk around your self. And sometimes there are bikes you can hire to. But the day we went we just walk around for a few hours. If it's hot take a hat.
Written November 13, 2016
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