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Bukit Cina

Bukit Cina (meaning "China hill") is an historical hillside in the Malaysian state of Malacca near its capital town which is also called Malacca.

In the middle of the 15th century the Chinese Ming emperor’s daughter, Hang Li Po, was sent in marriage to the sultan of Malacca, Sultan Mansor Shah, to seal relations between the two countries. She brought with her a vast retinue (500 sons of ministers including a few hundred handmaidens). Bukit Cina, a gift from the sultan, was established as their residence.

Hang Li Po’s Well, which is next to the Sam Po Kong Temple in the nearby town of Malacca, was constructed by Hang Li Po's followers for her personal use but was also a prime source of water for much of the town. It was also a prime target for opposition forces, which either poisoned it or tried to hold it for their own use. It was reputed never to have dried up even during droughts. Today, the well has acquired the reputation of a wishing well and it is believed that anyone who throws a coin into the well will return to Malacca.

Bukit Cina and two adjoining hills today form a Chinese graveyard covering over 25 hectares. With over 12,000 graves, some of which date back to the Ming Dynasty, it is said to be the largest Chinese graveyard outside China.


Last updated: 02-08-2005 07:54:26
Last updated: 05-03-2005 02:30:17