Qing Ming

Qing Ming at SMCT

We welcome community members to honour and celebrate their loved ones before, during or after the Qing Ming week. We provide traffic management on weekends to assist community members.

Please find temporary updates to our usual services listed on our location and services pages. If you have any questions, please contact us.

Ash waste disposal

As part of our safety practice, please do not place your burning ashes into our general waste bins. You are welcome to prepare and bring your own burning bin, paper offerings and other Qing Ming offerings when you visit us. We understand the cultural importance of burning bins and continually seek ways to reflect and improve our services to best support the needs of our diverse community members.

Frequently asked questions

Tomb Sweeping Activities 扫墓活动

Qing Ming is of great importance to Australia's Springvale Botanical Cemetery, where people come to sweep tombs and to worship and remember their ancestors. Every year, Springvale Botanical Cemetery will hold various memorial ceremonies to promote and encourage the diversity of the Australian Chinese community.

澳大利亚Springvale长青墓园对清明节十分重视，人们在这里扫墓祭祀、缅怀祖先。Springvale长青墓园每年会举行各类缅怀纪念仪式，促进并鼓励澳大利亚华人社区的多元化。

During Qing Ming in previous years, the community will not only commemorate and show respect to ancestors by visiting their graves, offering food, tea or wine, burning incense, burning or offering joss paper (representing money) but also by sweeping the tombs, removing weeds, and adding fresh soil to the graves. Willow branches, flowers, or plastic plants may also be inserted on the tomb.

往年清明期间，人们除了会给来到亲人的墓碑前纪念先祖，还会通过除草扫墓、戴柳插柳、献花添土以及供奉茶、酒、食物等祭物、烧纸钱香烛等仪式来祭祀。

In fact, not only Chinese culture, but also other traditional cultures around the world have the custom of praying for the safety of deceased loved ones and hoping to receive blessings for the family. However, the custom has been greatly simplified in modern times, especially in Australia, because many Chinese immigrants often do not know whether these traditional customs can be implemented in Australia.

其实不只是华人文化，世界各地的传统文化都有为逝去的亲人祈祷平安，并希望获得对家人的祝福的习俗。进入当代社会后，许多习俗被极大的简化，尤其在澳大利亚，因为我们很多华裔的移民很多时候并不知道我们的传统习俗究竟能不能在澳洲操作执行。

In Springvale Botanical Cemetery, you are encouraged and supported to practice these important rituals as we acknowledge and respect these cultural differences.

Springvale长青墓园重视并尊重各种不同的文化习俗，并大力支持我们广大的华人群体可以毫无忧虑的重新拾起这些重要的民俗文化并将其在澳洲发扬光大。

Springvale Botanical Cemetery welcomes you to pay your respects and honour your loved ones.

长青墓园欢迎您前来缅怀追思，祭祀亲人。

About Springvale Botanical Cemetery Springvale 长青墓园

The award-winning Springvale Botanical Cemetery is located in Melbourne’s Southeast. Boasting luscious green, calm surroundings, Springvale Botanical Cemetery offers a reflective space to honour and respect souls who have passed.

Springvale长青墓园坐落于墨尔本东南区，这里绿树成荫，风水考究，环境优美，是缅怀逝者，祭奠生命的首选地。

This world-class cemetery is made up of 169 hectares of landscaped gardens and features three beautiful locations for rest that have been designed with the Chinese community in mind.

Springvale长青墓园的景观花园占地总面积达169公顷，并根据华人文化特色，精心设计打造三座环境优雅、祥和的高档陵园。

Song He Yuan is a picturesque Chinese garden setting designed under Feng Shui principles. With blossoms, grassy hills and botanicals, it is a contemplative place to reflect and remember loved ones.

松鹤园以传统中式庭园风格为主，和风静雅，风水考究。鲜花锦簇、小丘绿草，是回忆过去，纪念亲人的私密空间。

New Song He Yuan provides a prestigious resting place, characterised by architecturally-inspired design and contemporary cultural references.

松鹤新园贵气散发，建筑设计极具现代感，气势恢宏，反映当代文化特色。

Lotus Garden is a place of calm contemplation, where prestigious monumental graves are seamlessly complemented by a backdrop of vibrant green. With lush grass and tranquil water, this beautiful, exclusive setting is suitable for those wishing to rest close to nature.

莲花园静谧和谐，是沉思独处的秘境。墓碑与大自然融为一体，藏身葱郁的绿草和平静的小溪之间，适合喜欢在大自然休憩安息的人士。

Find out more about Song He Yuan, New Song He Yuan and Lotus garden here.External site

欲了解松鹤园、松鹤新园、莲花园的详情，请点击这里External site。

Flower delivery service

Our dedicated florist can deliver fresh floral tributes to graves and memorials at SMCT cemeteries for no additional cost. To arrange this, please call (03) 8523 1690 or order online with a minimum spend of $40 and at least 48 hours’ notice.

Locations include Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Bunurong Memorial Park, Dandenong Community Cemetery, St Kilda Cemetery, Cheltenham Memorial Park and Melbourne General Cemetery.

Enquiries and orders

Please note: Floral arrangements require 48 hours’ notice for preparation. For urgent requests, please call us directly on (03) 8523 1690.