Golden Mountain Tua Pek Kong Temple is a small shrine on the hill in Tanjung Bungah. The official name of this temple is Hock Teik See. In Hokkien, it is known as the Kim Suah Tua Pek Kong. This particular Tua Pek Kong Temple is noted - and has appeared in the New Straits Times, among others - for attracting snakes to it, especially during the birthday of Tua Pek Kong, which usually falls around 7 May.
The snakes that appear at the Golden Mountain Tua Pek Kong are pit vipers, similar to those seen at the famous Snake Temple of Sungai Kluang. I heard about this temple, and immediately paid it a visit. Unfortunately there were no snakes during my visit. According to Mr Oon Peng Chai, the 85-year-old caretaker, the snakes have not been seen for quite some time, owing probably to the construction of high-rise condominiums going on within the vicinity of the temple.
The Golden Mountain Tua Pek Kong Temple is believed to have been built around 1950, and Mr Oon has been the caretaker since then. Now that he is old and frail, there are volunteers who come up to bring him food and to see to his well-being.
Getting there
The Golden Mountain Tua Pek Kong Temple is not easily accessible, unless you come by car. It is blocked by a construction site at the moment, meaning you have to park your car in the midst of all the construction material and hike up to the temple.
Visiting Penang
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Golden Mountain Tua Pek Kong Temple
Location Map
Kim Suah Tua Pek Kong Temple (14 September 2008)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
The Tua Pek Kong image in the temple (14 September 2008)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Photo on the wall showing the presence of pit vipers at
the Tua Pek Kong image (14 September 2008)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Grave of the person who donated the site for the temple (14 September 2008)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Mr Oon Peng Chai, caretaker of the temple (14 September 2008)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
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