Explore a different destination Penang Chinese Temples

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Tokong Cina Pulau Pinang


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Penang Chinese Temples are some of the most elaborate and ornate in Malaysia, due partly to the sheer number of Chinese inhabitants in the community, and also to the prosperity of the Chinese especially from the second half of 19th century until the Second World War, when most of the Chinese temples of Penang were built.

The earliest of the Chinese temples is Kong Hock Keong, better known as Kuan Yin Teng, or in English, the Temple of the Goddess of Mercy. Initially built by early immigrants to venerate Ma Chor Po, also called Matsu, the patron deity of seafarers, over time the temple became better associated with the Kuan Yin, or Goddess of Mercy. Its formal name of Kong Hock Keong came about because it is the temple built by those the Hokkien and the Cantonese dialect groups in Penang.

In addition to the Temple of the Goddess of Mercy, other noted Chinese temples in Penang include the Kek Lok Si Temple in Ayer Itam, the Tanjong Tokong Tua Pek Kong Temple, which is the most famous of all the Tua Pek Kong temples in Penang, and the Sam Poh Footprint Temple in Batu Maung venerating the footprint of Admiral Zheng He. Not to be left out, the Thai and Burmese communities also built temples in Penang. But while many of the Chinese temples are Taoist by nature, and used for the worship of Taoist deities or deitified personalities, the Thai and Burmese temples are chiefly Buddhist temples, albeit with local elements incorporated into them.

On this page we view the Chinese temples in Penang. The majority are those located on Penang Island, although a few Chinese temples on the mainland is also included, as well as the Thai and Buddhist temples.

Chinese Temples in Penang

Air Itam Tua Pek Kong Temple
Tua Pek Kong Temple at Air Itam Village


Bat Cave Temple
Tua Pek Kong Temple at the foot of Penang Hill


Cantonese Tua Pek Kong Temple
King Street


Batu Maung Bottle Temple
Cheng Choo Tze Temple


Cheng Kon Sze Temple
Cheng Ji Chan, Temple of 1002 Steps


Chooi Bee Keong Temple
Tanjong Tokong


Chor Soo Kong Temple
Batu Maung


Chung Keng Kwee Ancestral Temple
Church Street


Geok San Soo Temple
Tanjung Bungah


Golden Mountain Tua Pek Kong Temple
Tanjung Bungah


Han Jiang Teochew Ancestral Temple
Chulia Street


Hean Tean Seang Temple
Xuan Wu Chinese Temple, Balik Pulau


Heong Sun See Temple
Tanjong Tokong


Hock Teik Cheng Sin
@ Hokkien Tua Pek Kong Temple,
Armenian Street


Hock Teik Soo Temple
Mak Mandin


Hong Hock See Temple
Jalan Perak


Hong Sun Seah Temple
Green Lane


Hsieh Thien Kong Temple
Jalan Jelutong


Hwa Yen Si Temple
Jalan Dato Keramat


Jade Emperor's Pavilion
Air Itam


Jelutong Tai Tay Yah Temple
Taman Jelutong


Kek Lok Si
@ Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas,
Air Itam


Kuan Yin See
@ Temple of the Goddess of Mercy,
Jalan Burma


Kuan Yin Teng
@ Temple of the Goddess of Mercy,
Pitt Street / Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling


Nan Tien Gong Temple
Bukit Gambier


Nine Emperor Gods Temple of Butterworth
@ Tow Boo Kong Temple
Jalan Raja Uda, Butterworth


Nine Emperor Gods Temple of Penang
@ Toe Boe Keong Kew Ong Tai Tay Temple
Macallum Street Ghaut, Penang


Pearl Hill Tua Pek Kong Temple
Tanjung Bungah


Perak Road Tua Pek Kong Temple


Poh Oo Toong Temple
Burmah Road


Pulau Tikus Tua Pek Kong Temple
Burmah Road


Relau Tua Pek Kong Temple
Guang Yu Ci, Relau


Sam Poh Footprint Temple
Batu Maung


San Huah Tang Temple
Burmah Road


Seng Ong Beow
Bridge Street


Snake Temple
Sungai Keluang, Bayan Lepas


Sun Qiang Temple
Harbour Trade Centre


Tanjong Tokong Tua Pek Kong Temple
Tanjong Tokong


Teong Leng Keong Temple
Lebuhraya Jelutong


Thean Hock Keong
Bagan Ajam, Butterworth


Yuen Yin Kong Temple
Cantonment Road

Elements of Chinese Temple Architecture

Door Gods

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Local Tours in Penang

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