Relau Tua Pek Kong Temple (14 January 2006)
Location Map to Relau Tua Pek Kong Temple
Incense burner at the Relau Tua Pek Kong (14 January 2006)
Relau Tua Pek Kong Temple
Relau Tua Pek Kong Temple, or by its formal name Guang Yu Ci, is the principal Chinese Taoist temple in the village of Relau. This is the village temple for the local Taoists. It was first built in 1896 through the donation collected by Hokkien and Hakka benefactors in Penang and Perak. The temple is erected for the worship of Tua Pek Kong, literally Great Grand Uncle, the 18th century Hakka scholar by the name Zhang Li, who is worshipped locally as the god of prosperity.
Over the years, the appearance of Relau has transformed, from an essentially rural village to a suburb of the Penang metropolitan area. The temple and its immediate houses are now surrounded by high rise apartments. The temple itself has also been given a total makeover, and no longer resembling the small shed that it once was.
Getting there
It is best to explore this by car or hired car, as the Relau Tua Pek Kong temple is not a major sight, and hence you would not be spending more than 20 minutes here. If you are taking the bus, from the Weld Quay Bus Terminal, take Rapid Penang Bus 301. Seek help from locals to press the bell for you or to find out when you have arrived in Relau. From the Relau main road, walk a short distance down a little lane to reach the Tua Pek Kong temple (You can try saying in a mixture of Malay and Hokkien: Manakah Tua Pek Kong arm?).
What to see and do
The Relau Tua Pek Kong Temple is not a major tourist sight. It is more than likely to be frequented by worshippers and devotees. Nevertheless, wander around the temple and admire the Hokkien temple architecture.
Stretching your budget in Penang
If you are a prudent traveller, you can spend less than $20 per day in Penang, including your accommodation! Here's some useful tips for budget travellers to Penang, to help you manage your budget and have a great time.
Penang Tour Guides
If you're on a shoestring budget, you can explore Penang using the travel articles in Penang Travel Tips. You may print them out for your own personal non-commercial use. However, nothing compares to having a professional tour guide to show you around. If you need a tour guide, contact me and I'll arrange one for you, according to your schedule and interest. If I happen to be free, I would gladly show you around too. Just write to me at:
Finding Budget Accommodation in Penang
If you're coming to Penang on a budget, you'd be pleased to know that there's quite a number of places in George Town as well as in Batu Ferringhi that offers good clean accommodation without costing you an arm and a let. If I am allowed to be biased, I would recommend Hotel Mingood, which happens to belong to a friend of mine. If it is occupied, there are plenty of other places that cost less than US$12.00 per night. Here are some suggestions:
Hutton Lodge, from US$8.25
Baba Guesthouse, from US$7.57
E.T. Budget Guesthouse, from US$6.05
YMCA Penang, from US$6.53
Ali's Ferringhi Guest House, from US$9.63
Despite the best intentions to provide you information that is as accurate as possible, do be aware that prices may have changed and exchange rates fluctuated since I wrote this. So please personally and carefully screen through the available accommodation before making your booking, to avoid any disappointments.
Relau Tua Pek Kong Temple Photo Gallery
View of the Relau Tua Pek Kong Temple during Chinese New Year (14 January 2006)
|
|
