Guan Yin Temple, Kuala Lumpur
Built in the 19th century by early Chinese and Cantonese settlers, the Kuan Yin Temple is the first temple to be constructed in Georgetown, Penang. Originally called the Kong Hock Keong temple or the Cantonese-Hokkien Temple, the Temple was the hub for not only religious functions but also social gathering and merriment.
The Temple was built in honor of Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy. With thousand eyes and a thousand hands, she is said to keep a close eye on all her devotees and worshipers. As legend has it, Kuan Yin was a devout Buddhist who was on her way to Nirvana, or salvation. However, Kuan Yin chose to stay back on earth and help her fellowmen and others who were striving for Nirvana. Hence, her great sacrifice and her humble soul made her the patron of the immigrants who had stepped into foreign land.
The Temple also honors Ma Chor Poh, the patron saint of the seafarers. Almost every Chinatown across the globe has Ma Chor Poh鈥檚 statue in their temple. Ma Chor Poh is greatly respected and honored by most Chinese who have settled elsewhere. This being mainly due to the fact that they travel terrible voyages by sea to foriegn land for better prospects.
The Temple was built in honor of Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy. With thousand eyes and a thousand hands, she is said to keep a close eye on all her devotees and worshipers. As legend has it, Kuan Yin was a devout Buddhist who was on her way to Nirvana, or salvation. However, Kuan Yin chose to stay back on earth and help her fellowmen and others who were striving for Nirvana. Hence, her great sacrifice and her humble soul made her the patron of the immigrants who had stepped into foreign land.
The Temple also honors Ma Chor Poh, the patron saint of the seafarers. Almost every Chinatown across the globe has Ma Chor Poh鈥檚 statue in their temple. Ma Chor Poh is greatly respected and honored by most Chinese who have settled elsewhere. This being mainly due to the fact that they travel terrible voyages by sea to foriegn land for better prospects.
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Guan Yin Temple on Map
Sight Name: Guan Yin Temple
Sight Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (See walking tours in Kuala Lumpur)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (See walking tours in Kuala Lumpur)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Create Your Own Walk in Kuala Lumpur
Creating your own self-guided walk in Kuala Lumpur is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Kuala Lumpur Introduction Walking Tour
Kuala Lumpur, meaning "muddy confluence" in Malay, refers to the city's birthplace at the junction of the Gombak and Klang rivers. Although some Chinese workers were involved in tin mining in the area in the 1840s, it wasn't until 1857 that a town was established here.
Two men in particular have been credited for making outsized contributions to the development of Kuala... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
Two men in particular have been credited for making outsized contributions to the development of Kuala... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
Historical Religious Buildings
Just as the whole of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur is a culturally diverse and tolerant city where all of the world鈥檚 major religions coexist in perfect harmony. Back in the 1800s-early 1900s, along with the large influx of laborers and merchants of different backgrounds, brought in by the British colonization, came the unique sets of faiths and religious systems: Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism,... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
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Shopping is one of the top activities for those visiting Kuala Lumpur. In this vibrant city there鈥檚 something for every taste and budget, from high-end boutiques offering designer labels to the lively street markets drawing crowds with artsy finds and cheap reproductions, where cheap doesn鈥檛 necessarily mean a less enjoyable experience.
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
With a shopping scene as comprehensive as that of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
Historical Buildings Walking Tour
A colorful blend of colonial influences, Asian traditions and Malay Islamic inspirations, the historical architecture of Kuala Lumpur is a well known attraction in its own right. Being relatively young a city, most of Kuala Lumpur's buildings date back to the late 19th - early 20th centuries, reflecting Mughal, Tudor, Neo-Gothic or Grecian-Spanish styles. Most of these have been adapted to... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
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