Old San Francisco Overseas Chinese Mass Grave

Old San Francisco Overseas Chinese Mass Grave

The Old San Francisco Overseas Chinese Mass Grave is a protected cultural heritage site of Guangzhou.

The Old San Francisco Overseas Chinese Mass Grave dates back to 1887 and is located at No. 62 Hengzhi Gang Road, Yuexiu District, within the Guangzhou Chest Hospital. In a quiet corner of the hospital grounds lies a serene, centuries-old tomb that houses the remains of 924 early Chinese immigrants to the United States, commonly known as the “Old San Francisco Overseas Chinese Mass Grave.” This weathered tomb, after long years of obscurity, has once again drawn attention in modern times. In today’s prosperous China, people are beginning to learn about, explore, commemorate, and pay tribute to the overseas Chinese ancestors who endured hardships over a century ago in the United States. More than a hundred years ago, along the coasts of Guangdong and Fujian, there was a group of nameless, suffering pioneers who were sold as “coolie” laborers to the United States to build the Pacific Railway or to mine for gold in the West. These ancestors were forced to leave their homeland, cross the ocean, and struggle to make a living in places like San Francisco, only to die tragically in a foreign land. To help more people understand this heartbreaking and bitter history, and to ensure future generations remember the tragic fate of people who were oppressed and enslaved when the nation was weak, the “Old San Francisco Overseas Chinese Mass Grave” has been designated as a municipal-level cultural heritage site by Guangzhou City.

In July 1999, it was listed as part of the fifth batch of Guangzhou Municipal Cultural Heritage Protection Units by the Guangzhou Municipal People's Government.

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Guangzhou Municipal Cultural Heritage Protection Units