Thian Hock Keng – Oldest Chinese Temple in Singapore

Thian Hock Keng 天福宫 was built in 1840 along Telok Ayer Street, a bustling meeting point among min (闽) businessmen and an important congregation point for Hokkiens. Upon the completion of Thian Hock Keng, southbound immigrants who had just landed or northbound immigrants heading back to China would always stop by the temple facing the waterfront to pray for calm waves and safe journey. The construction of Thian Hock Keng signified the transformation of an immigrant society to one that planted its roots. The temple, hailed to be the biggest building islandwide then, took many years of sweat and toil and heavy financial commitments to complete. It was also deemed to be the religious centre for the Chinese community at that time. Today, although Thian Hock Keng is a primarily a min 闽 temple, its worshippers are not limited to min descendants. It as transcended dialect boundaries and worshippers are from all walks of life. Thian Hock Keng is a rare temple that encompasses Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism. In addition to its main deity, Goddess of the Seas – Ma Zu (妈祖), other deities include the Goddess of Mercy – Guan Yin (观音) and Confucius – Kong Zi (孔子). Over the years, it has continued to attract devotees of different dialect groups and is especially crowded during birthday celebrations of deities. How to Get to Thian Hock Keng Temple Singapore Address: 158 Telok Ayer Street Singapore 068613 Bus: 57, 131, 167, 186, 400, 402, 533, 534, 535, 536, 549, 560, 564, 700, 761, 970 Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer MRT Opening Hours: 7.30am – 5.30pm Admission: FREE #thingstodo#familytravel