Asia is home to interesting cemeteries with burial sites ranging from coffins hanging on cliffs to elaborate mausoleums with kitchens and bathrooms. Come “virtually explore” these 10 sites to learn more about the religious and cultural perspectives various Asian nations have on life and death.
#1 Cemetery of Confucius at Qufu, China – 10 Interesting Cemeteries in Asia
The Cemetery of Confucius in Qufu, China is the largest and oldest continuously used family cemetery in the world. It was founded more than 2,500 years ago. This massive cemetery holds over 100,000 descendants of Confucius within a 452-acre (183-hectare) forest.
The Cemetery of Confucius is often called an open-air museum because of the thousands of statues that exhibit China’s history, culture, and funeral customs through the ages. The cemetery also doubles as a natural botanical garden with more than 100,000 ancient trees and plants. Some of the ancient trees were planted as early as 2,400 years ago.
Confucius’ own tomb is surprisingly humble. It is a simple grass-covered mound with a stone stele, surrounded by his son and grandson in a symbolic “carrying son, holding grandson” arrangement.
As part of the “Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu,” it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
#2 An Bang Cemetery at Hue, Vietnam – 10 Interesting Cemeteries in Asia
An Bang Cemetery in Hue, Vietnam features massive, incredibly elaborate, and colorful tombs that often resemble palaces or temples that blend Buddhist, Christian, and Taoist influences. The cemetery spans 618 acres (250 hectares) and is located next to a beautiful, often vacant sandy beach.
Instead of simple graves or headstones, the cemetery is filled with thousands of massive, multi-story mausoleums that are sometimes 2–3 stories tall. They resemble colorful houses, palaces, or miniature temples. It looks like a literal city for the dead, earning it the nickname of “City of Ghosts”.
These elaborate structures have intricate mosaics, tiled roofs, gold accents, sculptures of dragons, phoenixes, peacocks, and lions. Some even have bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens, giving the cemetery the illusion of a sprawling, vibrant “city” where the deceased “live” in luxury.
Vietnamese people in this area hold a deep cultural belief that extravagantly honoring ancestors in the afterlife brings prosperity and good fortune to living family members. The story behind this opulence ties to the village’s history. After Vietnam’s reunification in 1975, many residents emigrated to Europe or the US and sent the money they earned back to their families.
This influx of wealth turned An Bang into one of Vietnam’s richest villages. This is evident in both the grand houses and these lavish tombs, costing tens of thousands of dollars. This contrasts sharply with the poverty that is common throughout the rest of the country.
#3 South Park Street Cemetery in Kolkata, India – 10 Interesting Cemeteries in Asia
Established in 1767 by the East India Company, South Park Street Cemetery in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), India, is also known as The Great Christian Burial Ground. It was officially closed in 1790, though burials continued until 1830. As one of the earliest non-church cemeteries in the world, it was created to replace overcrowded churchyards and was located outside the city to avoid health risks.
Spanning about 8 acres and enclosed by a high brick wall, South Park Street Cemetery contains over 1,600 graves and elaborate monuments like obelisks, pyramids, cenotaphs, and mausoleums. Styles often blend colonial, Mughal, and Hindu influences.
The cemetery was mainly for the East India Company officers, other European visitors, and their family members. Many of these travelers died at an early age due to the excessive heat and infectious diseases like cholera, malaria, flu, and smallpox. Few lived past their 50s.
It is now a protected heritage site managed by the Christian Burial Board, Kolkata, offering a serene, tree-shaded glimpse into colonial history amid the bustling city.
#4 Hanging Coffins at Segada, Philippines – 10 Interesting Cemeteries in Asia
Sagada, Philippines is home to a “cemetery in the air”.
Located in the Mountain Province, the Hanging Coffins at Sagada, Philippines follow an ancient Igorot tradition that involves hanging coffins on limestone cliffs to protect them from animals and keep them above ground.
The coffins are usually built by the individuals who will occupy them. Once they have been laid to rest in the coffin, it is either stacked in a cave or suspended from the face of a cliff. The indigenous people believe that hanging the coffins from the cliffs brings the deceased closer to the afterlife.
This gravity-defying funerary practice is not exclusive to the Philippines. Hanging coffins are also used in China and Indonesia. Learn more HERE.
#5 Makli Necropolis near Thatta, Pakistan – 10 Interesting Cemeteries in Asia
The Makli Necropolis near Thatta, Pakistan is one of the world’s largest cemeteries. It covers 2,470 acres (1,000 hectares) with an estimated 500,000 to 1 million graves.
It served as the primary burial ground for Thatta—once a thriving Islamic cultural and trade center and capital of lower Sindh—from the 14th to the 18th centuries, under the Samma, Arghun, Tarkhan, and Mughal dynasties.
The gravesites range from simple platforms and single tombs to elaborate brick-and-stone mausoleums, some lavishly decorated with intricate carvings, glazed blue tiles, and calligraphy. They are an architectural fusion of local Islamic, Sindhi, Persian, Mughal, and Gujarati Hindu influences.
After Sufi saint Shaikh Jamali was buried there in the 14th century, the Makli Necropolis became a popular place to be buried, attracting royalty and elites who wanted to be interred nearby.
In 1981, the cemetery became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site faces conservation challenges due to weathering, vandalism, and neglect, but it still remains a striking testament to history.
#6 Manila Chinese Cemetery in Manila, Philippines – 10 Interesting Cemeteries in Asia
The Manila Chinese Cemetery, in Manila, Philippines, was established in the mid-19th century as a burial ground for members of the Chinese community who were denied interment in Catholic cemeteries during Spanish colonial rule. Spanning about 130 acres (54 hectares), it reflects the wealth and status of Manila’s Chinese-Filipino families.
Nicknamed “Little Beverly Hills,” this historical site features elaborate, mansion-like mausoleums. Many are multi-story structures resembling houses or villas, complete with air conditioning, electricity, kitchens, bathrooms, gardens, and even private caretakers in some cases. Some of these grand tombs are larger than apartments.
Each year on Tomb-Sweeping Day (also known as the Qingming Festival), the Manila Chinese Cemetery is bustling with families worshiping, making offerings, and cleaning graves. Click HERE to learn more about the customs of Tomb-Sweeping Day in a popular BillionGraves blog post.
#7 Japanese Cemetery Park in Hougang, Singapore – 10 Interesting Cemeteries in Asia
Established in 1891, the Japanese Cemetery Park in Hougang, Singapore is the largest Japanese cemetery in Southeast Asia.
The cemetery has a complex history. It was established, with British colonial approval, on land that was donated by Japanese rubber plantation owners to serve as a burial ground for destitute young women who were karayuki-san (Japanese women who worked as prostitutes overseas). Later, it became the resting place for Japanese merchants, civilians, soldiers, and victims of World War II.
In Japan, Buddhist memorial services are held on specific, traditional dates to offer prayers for the deceased. Major services occur on the 7th, 49th, and 100th days after death. Anniversaries are also observed with graveside services on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 13th, 33rd, and 50th years, though exact years may vary.
The cemetery is now a peaceful memorial park managed by the Japanese Association of Singapore. It has about 910 well-maintained graves, a small prayer hall, and beautiful floral arches covered in vibrant pink bougainvillea blooms.
#8 Noratus Cemetery in Gegharkunik Province, Armenia – 10 Interesting Cemeteries in Asia
Noratus Cemetery is an ancient burial site in Gegharkunik Province, Armenia. It is best known as the world’s largest surviving collection of khachkars. The word “khach” means a cross, and “kar” means a stone. A khachkar is an Armenian gravestone featuring a central cross surrounded by detailed carvings such as rosettes, solar symbols, grapes, pomegranates, leaves, and figures.
Noratus Cemetery has more than 1,000 of these intricately carved upright stone slabs, spread across 17 acres (7 hectares). Some date back to the 9th–10th centuries but most are from the 13th–17th centuries,
Khachkars were created to honor the dead, commemorate victories, recognize the construction of a church, or protect against disasters. Khachkar carving is recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. Each khachkar is unique, blending Christian faith with ancient Armenian traditions.
There is an interesting legend about Noratus Cemetery. It is said that when Tamerlane, a Turco-Mongol conqueror, invaded the Caucasus region in the 14th century, the inhabitants of Noratus village placed helmets on the gravestones and leaned swords against them. Seeing broad-shouldered “soldiers” from afar, Tamerlane’s army retreated.
Understanding Khachkar Symbols
Cross: A cross represents Christ’s sacrifice, resurrection, and victory over death. It can also symbolize Christianity triumphing over paganism.
Rosette or solar disc: This wheel-like circle symbolizes the sun, eternity, life, light, and divine energy.
Armenian eternity symbol: An interlocking chain, rope, or knot pattern represents endless life, continuity, and the immortality of the soul.
Plants and flowers: Grapes, vines, pomegranates, leaves, fennel pods, and other vegetation symbolize fertility, resurrection, new life, abundance, and paradise.
Human figures: Saints, angels, or figures from Biblical scenes symbolize the soul’s path to heaven. Some figures depict everyday life, such as wedding scenes or agricultural activities, to personalize the memorial.
Animals: Birds symbolize the Holy Spirit, immortality, or the soul ascending to heaven. Playful creatures in vineyard scenes represent the joys of paradise. Lions, bulls, and eagles represent strength, protection, or the battle of good over evil.
#9 Okunoin Cemetery in Japan – 10 Interesting Cemeteries in Asia
Okunoin Cemetery on Mount Koya, Japan on Mount Kōya in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, is one of the country’s most sacred sites. It’s Japan’s largest cemetery, stretching about 1.2 miles (2 km) through an ancient cedar forest with over 200,000 tombstones and memorials.
The cemetery path begins at a bridge that is a symbolic gateway between worlds. It then winds through towering, moss-covered cedar trees, some of which are more than 1,000 years old.
The path is lined with stone lanterns and ends at Tōrō-dō Hall with thousands of eternally lit lanterns and the mausoleum of Kūkai, founder of Shingon Buddhism. The misty, serene forest, especially at dawn, dusk, or night, gives the cemetery an almost otherworldly feeling.
According to legend, Kūkai didn’t die but entered eternal meditation inside his mausoleum in 835 AD, awaiting the future Buddha while still offering salvation to followers. This makes Okunoin a major pilgrimage spot, where people come to be close to him for spiritual blessings.
Okunion is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the headquarters of Shingon Buddhism, founded about 816 AD. There are old traditional graves for historical figures like feudal lords, samurai, and monks. There are also quirky, modern gravestones for corporate employees shaped like giant rockets or coffee cups.
Some of the monuments at Okunoin Cemetery are Jizō statues. Jizō is the Buddhist guardian of children, especially those who died young, miscarried, or were stillborn. Parents and visitors dress the statues in red bibs and hats to show love and gratitude, and to ask for protection for their children in the afterlife. Red is believed to ward off evil, demons, and illness, adding extra safeguarding power.
#10 Jungle Cemetery of the Indigenous Jarai People at Ratanakiri, Cambodia – 10 Interesting Cemeteries in Asia
Throughout most of Cambodia, it is commonly believed that the souls of the deceased will be trapped in the world of the living until they are cremated. But the Indigenous Jarai People in Ratanakiri, Cambodia believe in burying their deceased loved ones. Jarai cemeteries are often located in the jungle, just outside of villages.
Following an interment, small wooden huts are built to shelter the gravesites. The deceased’s personal possessions and offerings are placed in the huts to appease the spirits. Family members take part in ongoing rituals to honor the dead and to ensure their spirits won’t disturb the living.
When the family has saved enough money to buy a buffalo, there is a final ceremony, during which the buffalo is sacrificed. If the family is wealthy, they may sacrifice 10 – 15 buffalo, plus cows and pigs. Then the entire village feasts together for up to 3 days.
Finally, wooden statues are carved and placed at each of the four corners of the hut as guardians. Some statues represent specific mourners or relatives. Others represent significant events in the deceased’s life, such as their occupation. Some statues are small; others are 3 times the size of a man.
When the ceremonies are finished, the graves are abandoned. No one visits them. The jungle grows quickly, termites devour the wooden statues, the huts decay, and nature reclaims the land. The spirit is considered to be at peace.
Learning about interesting cemeteries from unique places around the world is fun. It gets even more fun and interesting when the cemeteries are the final resting places of your own ancestors.
Find Your Ancestors’ Gravestones
Would you like to find your ancestor’s gravestones? Whether you are visiting a cemetery in person or doing research from home, BillionGraves is a great resource. Click HERE to learn more about how to find your ancestors’ gravestones when you are at a cemetery. Click HERE to learn how to research from home.
Take Gravestone Photos
If you take pictures of the gravestones in your area and I take pictures of the gravestones in my area, we’ll all be able to find our ancestors!
Please consider documenting your local cemeteries and/or taking photos when you are on vacation. Learn how and watch a video HERE.
Happy Cemetery Hopping!
Cathy Wallace
10 Interesting Cemeteries in Asia
