In 1610, the Ming authorities confiscated the property of a eunuch named Yang, who was condemned to death, and offered it to the Jesuits to provide them with a burial place and a stable dwelling. Since they had well served the emperor, he wanted them to have a place where they could pray for the life and health of himself and his mother, and for the peace and prosperity of the kingdom.
Many of those who now rest in Zhalan worked at the inner imperial court and were responsible for various duties. Some were involved in technical profession, as producing the astrological almanac and surveying and mapping the country, while others held high government positions.
In the following years, the site was enlarged. After the suppression of the Society of Jesus, the site was passed to the Vincentians, to the Russian Archimandrite of the Orthodox Mission and then again to the Catholic Church. 
In 1900, Zhalan cemetery was destroyed in Box movement. Then eight countries army intruded into Beijing. Chinese government had to sign an agreement with them. According to the agreement the cemetery was rebuilt. The tombstones of Matteo Ricci, Adam Schall, Ferdinand Verbiest were set up, and other missionaries tombstones were put in the wall of a new church next to the cemetery.    
During the second half of the 19th century several benefaction projects started. A small orphanage for boys was established, as well as a pharmacy, training centers, a parish school and a seminary. The cemetery was expanded and it accepted also laid people. 
After 1949 these properties were gradually turned over to the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association. On the one hand the Municipal Party Committee of Beijing Communist Party was looking for a location for a new Party school in 1954. It is also called Beijing Administrative College. In the other hand it was not quite suitable that a cemetery was so close to the downtown area. So the cemetery was moved to northwest in Beijing, called Xibeiwang. About 800 graves were moved there. However the government decided to keep the tombstones of Matteo Ricci, Adam Schall and Ferdinand Verbiest in their original place, as these three Jesuits made a great contribution to cultural exchange between China and the West.
During the Cultural Revolution, some students came to the campus and wanted to destroy Matteo Riccis graveyard. No one could stop them at that time. A staff member of the college gave them a suggestion of digging a hole on the ground and buried the tombstones. The students agreed and did it. So the graveyard was gone but the tombstones were protected. In 1974, the church was demolished. The tombstones in the wall of the church were everywhere in the campus.  
Since the end of 1978, Chinese government was changing the policy gradually. The top Chinese leaders including Mr. Deng Xiaoping signed a document to restore the old cemetery. First the three tombstones of Matteo, Adam and Verbiest were set up again. Then in 1984 the other missionaries tombstones were gathered and set up in a larger yard on the campus also. Zhalan was added to the list of cultural relic protection units of Beijing. Now there are 63 tombstones（including 14 for Chinese）in the campus of Beijing Administrative College. Many foreign scholars, professors, tourists, Catholic and Fathers, even some top leaders visited here. The old cemetery is given rebirth and becomes a window of cultural exchange between China and Western world.