Hong Kong Cemetery

It may be an odd and slightly morbid place to review, but the Happy Valley Cemeteries are a fascinating and tranquil place to visit. Founded around the 1840’s, the cemeteries are steeped in history. Many of the stories around them can be found online, but you may also choose to take a tour from many of the reputable companies in HK, as their condensed history is a lot more easy to take in.
The cemeteries themselves include the Jewish Cemetery, Hindu Cemetery, Parsee Cemetery, St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery and the Muslim Cemetery, as well as the Hong Kong Cemetery, which is mainly military. As the last resting places of many British, Irish, Macanese and Portuguese, as well as many Chinese and local Hong Kong, the diversity of headstones and names make the cemeteries a fascinatingly eclectic place to wander around.
The Hong Kong Cemetery is particularly interesting, as it is primarily a military burial site from WW1 and WW2, but also includes many civilian graves. There is even a designated section for a Japanese followers of Shinto. This cemetery is also used in a number of films and TV shows.
Across at St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery, there are still a number of «frequently» used sites, especially the burial walls where urns are placed. As such, please be mindful as a visitor that many still come here to pay their respects.
Personally, I find the whole area to be very comforting and peaceful. With the diversity and beauty of the craftsmanship on the headstones and burial plots, it is a wonderful place to take photographs. I find some of the most fascinating places are where the groundskeepers work, and discard the flowers and ornaments left by visitors. But again, please remember to be respectful as these are all still «working» cemeteries.