Part of Singapore’s allure is that you can experience the rich heritage and culture of diverse communities that call the ‘Lion City’ their home. As the nation’s oldest Chinese temple, Thian Hock Keng is one place you should add to your itinerary and here’s more on what you should know.
Image by Jean Michel from Pixabay
An Easy-to-Access Site
You will find this temple on Telok Ayer Street in Chinatown, just a short stroll from hotels like Mercure ICON Singapore City Centre. If you are hopping on the MRT, Telok Ayer Station is super close too. This attraction is open from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm so you can easily work it into your itinerary. Remember to also dress modestly covering bare shoulders and knees.
A Rich History
Thian Hock Keng, which translates to “Temple of Heavenly Happiness”, was completed in 1840 and dedicated to Mazu, the Chinese Sea Goddess. What’s interesting is that, back then, the nearby street actually faced the sea, where early Chinese immigrants gave thanks for their safe journey. The temple’s role in welcoming newcomers to Singapore makes it both spiritually and historically meaningful even today as travellers arrive from around the world.
Notable Features
Get ready to be wowed by the temple’s traditional southern Fujian architecture featuring intricate craftwork. On your visit to this site from nearby 4-star hotels in Singapore, you will come across ornate dragon-topped roofs, carvings of phoenixes, stone and wood carvings and statues of various deities. Since this site blends Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Ancestral Worship, it also hosts different events and festivals worth experiencing too.
5 Fun Facts to Know
Here are some interesting facts which are worth knowing for your visit though you never know, they may help you one day at a pub quiz night!
- Five types of fruits are commonly offered: apples, pineapple, oranges, bananas, and pears symbolising the five elements.
- The temple was built entirely without nails… talk about solid construction!
- Traditional Hokkien puppet shows are still performed here.
- Instead of Door Gods, the central doors are guarded by eunuchs, honouring Mazu, a female deity.
- You can spot bat carvings and even live bats. Yes, they still hang around, literally!
