Historic Cemetery in Havana arranged exclusively for the Chinese

Cemeterio Chino — Havana’s Hidden Heritage
Discovered near Colon Cemetery, Vedado, Havana

On my journey through Havana in an old 1950’s Buick Super, I stopped near the iconic Colon Cemetery and discovered a smaller, lesser-known site — the Cemeterio Chino, founded in 1893. This intimate cemetery holds the remains of several generations of Chinese settlers in Cuba and is a must-visit for anyone exploring Havana’s rich cultural tapestry.

A little-known fact: the first Chinese arrived in Cuba in the mid-1800s, brought over to work on sugar plantations under harsh conditions akin to slavery. The earliest freed Chinese settlers began cultivating small plots of land around Havana, contributing to the city’s growth. They are also credited with introducing Cuba’s very first mango trees.