Tomb of Loo Luen Yip

Tomb of Loo Luen Yip

The Tomb of Loo Luen Yip is a cultural relic protection unit of Guangdong Province.

The Tomb of Loo Luen Yip is located on Qinglong Hill behind the Shuangxi Villa on Baiyun Mountain in Guangzhou. It serves as the joint burial site for Loo Luen Yip and his wives and concubines. Although the tomb was built in 1927, it was constructed entirely in granite in the architectural style of Qing Dynasty tombs. It is a "cross-handled" tomb, consisting of a grave mound, wing walls, terrace, and protective earth mound. Built along the mountain slope, the tomb boasts an imposing presence.

Although the tomb was built in 1927, it was constructed entirely in granite in the architectural style of Qing Dynasty tombs. It is a "cross-handled" tomb, consisting of a grave mound, wing walls, terrace, and protective earth mound. Built along the mountain slope, the tomb boasts an imposing presence.

The tombstone inscription reads: “Joint Tomb of Loo Luen Yip, the 21st Generation Gentleman Granted the Title of Imperial Advisor, and Madam Chen, His Wife.” Stone tablets stand on both sides of the wing walls. One tablet reads: “Tomb of Madam Guo, Madam Zhang, and Madam Huang, Concubines of the 21st Generation of the Loo Family,” while the left tablet reads: “Tomb of Madam Au and Madam Chen, Concubines of the 21st Generation of the Loo Family.”

The Republican-era Tomb of Loo Luen Yip faces southeast and is situated northwest. It is constructed from granite and is a "cross-handled" tomb. It includes a grave mound, wing walls, terrace, and protective earth mound. The total length from front to back is 30.6 meters, the front width is 15.8 meters, and the site covers an area of approximately 483.5 square meters.

The tomb is built along the mountain slope and has an imposing presence. In front of the grave mound are three terraced platforms, flanked by ornamental columns, flagpole stands, stone lions, stone sheep, stone horses, stone statues of civil and military officials, and drum-shaped stones. The railing pillars are also carved with Lingnan fruits such as starfruit, pomelo, pomegranate, and Buddha’s hand. The grave mound is surrounded by a semi-circular granite wall, at the highest point of which is carved a design of clouds and a rising moon, beneath which stands a bluestone tablet from Lianzhou. The inscription on the tablet reads: “Joint Tomb of Loo Luen Yip, the 21st Generation Gentleman Granted the Title of Imperial Advisor, and Madam Chen, His Wife.” In front of the tablet is an offering table. The wing walls are divided into two levels, made of granite walls. The first level of the wing walls features plaques on both sides with inscribed tablets: the right tablet reads “Tomb of Madam Guo, Madam Zhang, and Madam Huang, Concubines of the 21st Generation of the Loo Family,” and the left tablet reads “Tomb of Madam Au and Madam Chen, Concubines of the 21st Generation of the Loo Family.” The second level of the wing walls has one tablet on each side, inscribed with texts written by Wang Zhaoyong for Loo Luen Yip. Behind the grave mound, four levels of protective earth mounds follow the contour of the mountain. Each level features carvings of clouds and a rising moon, and the highest level has a central tablet inscribed “Dragon God of Lu Mountain’s Earth.” To its left stands a “Heavenly Decree Tablet,” and to its right is a “Charity and Generosity” tablet, inscribed in October 1915 by Li Yuanhong.

In November 2008, it was announced as part of the fifth batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Guangdong Province.

Loo Luen Yip (1878–1927) was a wealthy businessman, philanthropist, and educator in Macau during the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican period. He held the official title of Imperial Advisor in the Qing Dynasty and was originally from Lubian Village, Chao Lian Township, Xinhui, Guangdong. His father, Loo Kau (given name Wah Shiu), settled in Macau from the countryside and gradually became a magnate in Macau’s entertainment industry. There is even a street in Macau named Loo Kau Street because all the properties along it were owned by Loo Kau. After his father's death, Loo Luen Yip, as the eldest son, inherited the family business. In addition to running the entertainment industry, he expanded into commerce and gained a reputation that surpassed that of his predecessors. From childhood, Loo Luen Yip studied under the scholar Pan Yantong of Nanhai, and was deeply committed to... More details about Loo Luen Yip++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Guangdong Province