Bukit China

Bukit China

Introduction

Bukit China, also known as "Sam Po Kong Hill" or "China Hill," is a historic site in Malacca. In 1409, the Chinese emperor betrothed Princess Hang Li Po to the Sultan of Malacca, Sultan Mansur Shah. The princess was accompanied by 500 maidservants, whom the Sultan settled on Bukit China. When the Portuguese captured Malacca, they built a temple and a small chapel at the hilltop. However, both structures were destroyed during the Dutch invasion in 1629. At the foot of Bukit China lies the Sam Po Kong Temple, built to commemorate Admiral Zheng He’s visit to Malacca. The temple features traditional Chinese architectural elements, including red walls with glazed tiles, colorful upturned eaves adorned with carvings of dragons playing with pearls, and a statue of Admiral Zheng He inside. Southwest of the hill lies the Sam Poh Foot Taoist Temple, built by the Sultan for the princess. Beside the temple is Hang Li Po’s Well, which never dried up despite numerous severe droughts that plagued Malacca over the centuries. Bukit China also houses the largest Chinese cemetery outside of China, spanning 25 hectares with 12,000 graves, most of which date back to the Ming Dynasty.

 Malacca, Malaysia