Sam Po Kong Temple - Dedication to Cheng Ho

Admiral Cheng Ho

Sam Po Kong – at the foot of Bukit Cina – 1795
Dedicated to Admiral Cheng Ho

Cheng Ho first expedition begin 1405 to 1407.

In total Cheng Ho had made 7 voyages and all the time he stopped at Melaka.

Bukit China [China Hill] is one of the biggest Chinese graveyard outside China. ( Number of tombs known is about 12,500 tombs) Step down from the hill is Sam Po Kong temple, which built at 1795 and dedicated to Admiral Cheng Ho, the first ambassador of China who visiting Malacca. The name of 'Sam Po Kong' taken from a fish's name that saved his ship from sinking.

Beside the temple is the a well known as Hang Li Po well -dedicated to the legendary Princess Hang Li Po, of the Ming dynasty sent to marry the Sultan of Melaka.

Along with her is 500 servants. With the cross marriage the culture of Baba and Nyonya existed and begin.

Then Hang Li Poh's well is a poisonous well which used by local towards Portuguese during the war in Malacca. This well made for Princess Hang Li Poh who married to one of the prince from Malacca Sultan .

Princess Hang Li Po use to have her bucket-bath in this well.

With the marraige it seal up a diplomatic relation between China and Melaka- a relation Melaka sought after to ward off the Siamese threat.

This age old well is also known as Perigi Raja or King's well. It was built in 1459 and is said to be the oldest well in Melaka. It is believe that the well never dried up even during the great droughts and became the city's only source of water then.The well was built under the royal command of Sultan Mansur Syah for Princess Hang Li Poh; the Chinese princess who married the sultan. It is is located at the foot of Bukit Cina - a chinese settlement area which is a gift from the sultan to Princess Hang Li Poh and her entourage from China.

Upon conquering Melaka in 1511, the Portuguese gain total control of the well. In retaliation, the Javanese filled the well with poison and many who drank from it died of the plague. According to the Portuguese historian, Diogo de Couto, many Portuguese soldiers died from drinking the water from the well.

Under the Dutch rule, in 1677 the Dutch enclosed the well with solid brickwalls as what it is today in a bid to maintain their rights to it and preventing the well from being poisoned again. The well was later turned into a wishing well, which it has remained until today. It is said that whoever throws coins into the well or drink its water will return to Melaka time and again.