The Chinese Cemetery is a rare, tangible link with Nanaimo's Chinese heritage. The Chinese, almost wholly single men, came to Nanaimo as early as the 1860's to work in the mines or to open businesses.

Perceived as unfair competition because of their willingness to work for lower wages than white employees, the Chinese were the source of much labor conflict during the 19th century. Initially, the Chinese settled in what is now downtown Nanaimo but in the 1880's they were removed, by the coal company, to the outskirts of town in an effort to reduce tensions. By 1908, the new Chinatown, one of the largest in North America at the time, was establised near the western edge of the city. This last Chinatown was destroyed by fire in 1960, although much of its population had already dispersed.

Because there is so little other tangible evidence left of the Nanaimo's Chinese heritage, the Chinese Cemetery is especially significant.

It was built in 1924 and was taken care of by the Chinese community in Nanaimo area (from Chemainus to Qualicum Beach).

In the 1970's it was refurbished by the Nanaimo's Chinese Canadian community and donated to the City of Nanaimo who now operates the cemetery. It is no longer exclusively a Chinese cemetery, but the name has been kept. There are now many people of European descent in the cemetery.

Many of the headstones are in Chinese inscriptions; this along with the painted entry gates, pagoda, altar and shrine it retains the distint Chinese character. There are no upright-markers at this cemetery; they are all flat.

Because I can only read English I have included all headstones that are written in English. But there are many more in Chinese which I may include one day if I locate a list of all headstones information written in English as well or if I see a relative and they give me the information.

An interesting note: Because the cemetery was located in a secluded area on top of a hill hidden from the Caucasian people (at the time), it is now in a very prominent location that no one misses as they drive on Townsite Road. It also has one of the best views in Nanaimo for a cemetery.