A Photo Tour of Thean Hou Temple, Kuala Lumpur

Thean Hou temple is a popular tourist attraction and is located at 65, Persiaran Endah, Taman Persiaran Desa, 50460 Kuala Lumpur. Also known as the Temple of the Goddess of Heaven, it is one of the oldest and largest temples in Southeast Asia. Built by the Hainanese community in 1987 and completed on 3 September 1989 at a cost of RM7 million, it is the property of the Selangor and Federal Territory Hainan Association. Situated on Robson Hill, the temple overlooks Jalan Syed Putra and offers panoramic views of Kuala Lumpur. For many years, I didn't visit this temple but this year is different - I want to visit this place again because it is one of my favorite photography venues in the past and the past always brings me beautiful memories. I used to pose for photographs there many years ago and and decided to do the same again this Chinese New Year.

Thean Hou Temple with its beautiful roofing art and red pillars symbolizing prosperity and good fortune

Walking to the temple can be very tiring (something I would never do) even though the students staying nearby do not mind going up the steep hill to pose for photos because this place is indeed a popular photography venue. If you are a tourist, the easiest way to get there is to take a train to NU Sentral, Bangsar LRT, or Mid Valley KTM and from there, you can easily book a Grab Car at RM5. However, if you enjoy walking for fitness and sight-seeing, you can always take a monorail to the Tun Sambanthan Station and from there you can take a half-an-hour walk to the temple. You will see an overhead bridge outside the station - just cross the bridge and walk straight towards the PJ (Petaling Jaya) direction. When you arrive at the foot of Robson Hill, just go up the hill and you will see the temple.

Beautfiful Chinese New Year decorations.

Thean Hou Temple with its magnificent lanterns during the Chinese New Year 2020 (Year of the Rat) season

The best time to visit Thean Hou Temple is during the Chinese New Year season as it is vividly decorated with countless beautiful red lanterns. When these lanterns are lighted at night, they create an incredible sight that could amaze you by its beauty. On other days, the six-tiered temple with its magnificent architecture combining the elements of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism is still worth visiting. Hundreds of tourists flock to the temple every day to take photos of its marvelous architectural designs. In actual fact, the panoramic views of Kuala Lumpur alone are sufficient to make this venue worth visiting. If you find the place too crowded during Chinese festivals such as Chinese New Year, Wesak Day, and Mid Autumn Festival, you can always go to the backyard to find some peace. I always prefer the backyard because I can take beautiful scenery photos without having to compete with others for good backgrounds for my photos.

The ground floor of the temple

Those who wish to buy souvenirs can go to the ground floor of the Temple as there are many souvenir stalls there. There is also a food court at the ground floor. Thean Hou temple is open seven days a week from 8.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m and entry is free. If you want to avoid the crowd, do arrive there early.

The statue of Kuan Yin at the right of the prayer hall in the temple

A larger statue of Kuan Yin at the entrance outside the temple

The statue of Yue Lao

The 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac in the temple's garden.

The dragon is the most prominent zodiac sign

To avoid the crowds, you can go to the backyard to relax and take some amazing photos

At the backyard - a peaceful place surrounded by greenery

A panoramic view of Kuala Lumpur from the temple