LING YA Historic Park/華和並列的苓雅古蹟公園
At the intersection of Chung Cheng Rd., Fu Te Rd., Fu An Rd., and Cheng Yen Rd. lies Ling Ya Historic Park, a rectangular ground bearing witness to early Taiwan history. With efforts of the city government, it was finally inaugurated on June 2. The park is unique in that it harbors the tomb of Chen Chung-ho, who made his family the most prestigious clan in Kaohsiung.
Chen Chung-ho is the grandfather of former Kaohsiung speaker Chen Tien-mao. Born into a poor family, Chen Chung-ho started to work for "Shun Ho Hang," then Taiwan's sugar business giant, when he was 16. His work was highly acclaimed by his boss Chen Fu-chien, who paid for his schooling and put him in charge of the operations in Japan.He left Shun Ho Hang to establish "Ho Hsing Hang" after Chen Fu-chien passed away. He showed no intention to defy Japan when Taiwan fell into its hands. He was licensed for selling sugar and salt, from which he earned a fortune to turn the Chens into the wealthiest family in Kaohsiung. His decedents still have a lot of clout in Kaohsiung, including former Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-chuan and former Kaohsiung speaker Chen Tien-mao.
The traditional Chinese tomb, as large as a hill, covers an area of 12, 595 square meters, marking the past glory of the family. Although it has shown signs of wear, the fine stones and sophisticated carvings still manifest the remarkable success of the house and the beauty of traditional Chinese tomb.The architecture is tinged with Japanese touches, as shown by a pair of Japanese lanterns given as gifts by Japanese, which recount stories of the old days.
位於高雄市中正路上，距離大統百貨約莫10分鐘路程，由中正路、福德路、福安路、正言路所組成的四角形公園，是高雄市最具傳奇、歷史性的「苓雅古蹟公園」。
這個歷經十餘年，經由地方人士反覆討論是否該開闢的公園，在市政府審慎規劃、排除萬難下，於6月2日正式落成啟用。這個公園之所以受人矚目，在於其內部擁有一個三級古蹟─高雄市第一大家族陳家陳中和的墓園；唯其遺骸已經遷移。
陳中和是前高雄市議長陳田錨的祖父，也是陳家的開山始祖，出身貧寒，16歲進入在今日苓雅區的台灣頭號糖商「順和行」工作，老闆陳福謙對其相當激賞，不但供其讀書，也讓其負責日本事業，奠定其未來基礎。
陳福謙死後，陳中和離開「順和行」自立門戶「和興行」，販賣南台灣有名的糖到日本，也與日本建立良好關係，在日本登陸台灣時，陳中和代表南台灣士紳，向日軍表示沒有反抗之意，從此與台北的辜顯榮，成為日治時代與日本政府關係最好的商人，也因此取得日本政府同意將糖、鹽交其販售，使陳家成為高雄首富，這份優勢延續到第二代、第三代，第二代陳啟川擔任過高雄市長，第三代陳田錨更是「四連霸」的議長，也使陳家被封為高雄第一大家族。
也因此，從這座墳墓，可以看到當時陳家在高雄「獨霸一方」的偉業，1.2595公頃的墓地，大得像座小山，內部傳統中式墓園該有的棺壙、墓龜、墓碑、墓埕、墓手，后土、土地神、半月池也是應有盡有。雖然有些物品因為時代的久遠有所損毀，但不管所使用的上等石材：泉州青石、綠色青斗石，或是從其精細的雕工，都可看出陳家財力之富庶及傳統中國墓園建築之美。
由於陳中和發跡於日治時期，因此在墓園中，除了傳統的中國建築外，還可看到日式風格，例如前埕的一對日式燈籠，就是由日人所贈，華和並列的風格，更可看出歷史的時代性，還有當中複雜曲折的故事。