If you are a frequent traveller on SMRT’s East-West line, you might have noticed a peculiar patch of land between Buona Vista Station and Commonwealth Station and wondered what it was. Why on earth were there a series of tombs right in the middle of a HDB estate? Well, wonder no more, for we are here to solve this mystery for you!
The Yin Fo Fui Kun cemetery stands on this piece of land, which belongs to Ying Fo Fui Kun (应和会馆), a Singapore Hakka clan association established in 1822. The purpose of the clan, founded by Liu Runde (刘润德), was to unite the Hakka people which came from 5 different Guangdong provinces in China. In 1887, the clan bought over 100 hectares of land from the British government. The area was used as a burial ground to meet the increasing demands of the clan members from Jiaying prefecture in Guangdong. The Ying Fo Fui Kun Memorial was built, and an ancestral hall was built next to it, which was called the Shuang Long Shan Wu Shu Ancestrall Hall (Twin Dragon Halls).
Covering a vast piece of land at one point, the cemetery has since been reduced drastically. Back in 1968, the Singapore government needed the land for urban development, which resulted in a massive reduction of burial grounds left for the clan. Only 1.89 hectares of land with a 99-year lease remained under the clan, with the rest being returned to the state.
The cemetery is now located smack in the centre of the Commonwealth estate, just a stone throw’s away from the residential HDB blocks and the bustling enclave of Holland Village. This is a huge contrast from the other cemeteries, such as Bukit Brown Cemetery, which we visited recently, and the Lim Chu Kang cemeteries.
A stone lion carving with auspicious red letters. The carving on the large grave in the background indicates that the cemetery is for Hakka people reigning from the 5 different Guangdong provinces in Jiaying prefecture.
The cemetery is also used as a shortcut for the Commonwealth residents, such as this woman who cuts through the cemetery while walking from Commonwealth MRT Station to her home. Some of you might be deterred by the fact that walking through a cemetery is extremely scary, but such concerns are non-existent among the residents.
One of the residents staying in the block adjacent to the cemetery said that the place is extremely clean and peaceful, hence the concerns and worries posed by other people are unfounded.
An aerial view of the cemetery surrounded by HDB blocks and office buildings in Commonwealth.
Having braved the onslaught of urban development back in the sixties, this historical little piece of heritage has survived the passing of time and is now a quaint, peaceful spot. However, in recent years, this plot of land is being considered for a fresh wave of urban redevelopment by the government.
We will never know when this place will succumb to new development plans, so do visit this place if you can.
Although not anywhere near a popular attraction in Singapore, the Yin Fo Fui Kun Cemetery is an intriguing and unusual place for people who are interested to see another side of Singapore’s heritage and its where previous generations of Hakka people were honoured. After all, where else can you get to view this one of a kind scenery, with so many tombstones nestled among HDB flats?
Address: 9 Commonwealth Lane S149551
Opening Hours: 8.00AM-5.00PM
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