Johor Old Chinese Temple
Johor Old Chinese Temple
4
7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Monday
7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday
7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday
7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
150 reviews
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41
Very good
52
Average
51
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4
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Valter M
Milan, Italy3,672 contributions
May 2024 • Solo
The Johor Bahru Old Chinese Temple is one of the most well-known tourist places in the Malaysian city. the temple is an important spiritual center for the local Chinese community. The temple was built in 1870 and represents an example of traditional Chinese architecture. Its facade is richly decorated with sculptures and bright colors, while the interiors are adorned with statues of Chinese deities. Visitors can explore the temple and admire the many sculptures and artworks inside. Among the main attractions are the main altar dedicated to Cheng Ho, a famous Chinese explorer, and the Medicine Buddha Altar. The temple is also famous for its annual festivals, during which cultural performances, processions and religious rituals are held. Among the most important festivals is Chinese New Year, during which the temple is beautifully decorated and there is a festive atmosphere. The Johor Bahru Old Chinese Temple presents a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in Chinese culture and discover the history of Johor Bahru.
Written May 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John Bentley R
32 contributions
Apr 2017 • Family
This temple is 170 years old years with the brick and mortar structured rebuilt in the 1950s. It is still a functioning temple that has no guide and with info written on the wall on the temple located at the rear of the temple. You have to explore the whole temple to get the idea of the temple. A great place to be but sadly no info regarding the temple as the temple caretakers do not speak English. You have read the info written on the wall on the temple located at the rear of the temple.
Written July 1, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cornishcay
4 contributions
Feb 2013 • Family
To the local Johorean, we seldom visit this over 100 years temple on normal day. It is at its most interesting state on 2 occasions - 1) the night before 1st day of Chinese New Year and 2) 20th to 23rd of Chinese New Year period.
1) We visit this temple on the night before 1st day of CNY after our reunion dinner to pray for good blessings for the coming year. It is packed to its brim with fireworks display, lion and dragon dances etc.
2) 20th to 23rd day of CNY period, there are 4 days of special event. The god in this temple will go out for a parade! 1st day, it will be invited out to another temple. 2nd & 3rd day, one full day for people to pray in that other temple and prepare for the biggest parade of the Johor night. 3rd night is the night of the parade! Just find a spot along the route and you see the most fascinating street performances, including lion and dragon dances, balancing of 4metres tall flags etc. One of the famous performance is glow-in-the-dark dragon dances! And the most important of all performances and most popular is the parade of the god in the wooden carrier. People are always squeezing to carry the wooden carrier. However, only special designated group of people belonging to the clan or association in their t-shirt are official carriers. Every so often, they will swing the wooden carrier from side to side, rocking it!
When i was younger, I join this parade every year. For a few years, i dressed up as chinese fairy and stood on the parade lorry to distribute sweets! Those years were fun. One year i was dressed up as chinese butterfly fairy. To wear that costume, we had to pray and ask for permission. Seems very serious. Thanks to my daddy who held positions in one of the clan (Heng Ann Association) that gave me these special chances to have fun and beautiful memories!
Hope you can join the parade one day too. There is no booking of seats and no seatings for that matter. Just a random congregation of crowds along the roads, just the original way of doing it.
To know more, you can google johor temple chingay or festival parade etc. Have fun!!
1) We visit this temple on the night before 1st day of CNY after our reunion dinner to pray for good blessings for the coming year. It is packed to its brim with fireworks display, lion and dragon dances etc.
2) 20th to 23rd day of CNY period, there are 4 days of special event. The god in this temple will go out for a parade! 1st day, it will be invited out to another temple. 2nd & 3rd day, one full day for people to pray in that other temple and prepare for the biggest parade of the Johor night. 3rd night is the night of the parade! Just find a spot along the route and you see the most fascinating street performances, including lion and dragon dances, balancing of 4metres tall flags etc. One of the famous performance is glow-in-the-dark dragon dances! And the most important of all performances and most popular is the parade of the god in the wooden carrier. People are always squeezing to carry the wooden carrier. However, only special designated group of people belonging to the clan or association in their t-shirt are official carriers. Every so often, they will swing the wooden carrier from side to side, rocking it!
When i was younger, I join this parade every year. For a few years, i dressed up as chinese fairy and stood on the parade lorry to distribute sweets! Those years were fun. One year i was dressed up as chinese butterfly fairy. To wear that costume, we had to pray and ask for permission. Seems very serious. Thanks to my daddy who held positions in one of the clan (Heng Ann Association) that gave me these special chances to have fun and beautiful memories!
Hope you can join the parade one day too. There is no booking of seats and no seatings for that matter. Just a random congregation of crowds along the roads, just the original way of doing it.
To know more, you can google johor temple chingay or festival parade etc. Have fun!!
Written March 18, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BettyandLingShing
Malaysia637 contributions
Old Chinese Temple is really old, aged 130, built by some Chinese leaders. Now, the unique part of the temple is the oddness of the temple in the middle of the most developed area in Johor Bahru. The temple is really easy to access- Located in Trus Road, less than 5 minutes walk from City Square.
The temple is small, with a small museum inside. You can take a few minutes stop over the temple to take a look on the place of praying for chinese people in JB for more than 130 years. For more information about my trip in Johor Bahru, please visit my blog at:
http://bettyandlingshing.blogspot.com/2010/09/johor-bharu.html
The temple is small, with a small museum inside. You can take a few minutes stop over the temple to take a look on the place of praying for chinese people in JB for more than 130 years. For more information about my trip in Johor Bahru, please visit my blog at:
http://bettyandlingshing.blogspot.com/2010/09/johor-bharu.html
Written October 21, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SOH KIEN PENG
Singapore, Singapore9,591 contributions
Jul 2023 • Solo
This temple was founded by Tan Hiok Nee, a wealthy and influential Teochew businessman in Singapore and Johor during the 19th century. Jalan Tan Hiok Nee which was a road located within walking distance from the temple was named after him.
The temple is one of the oldest structure in Johor Bahru and become a unifying symbol among the 5 Chinese ethnic groups, namely, the Hokkein, the Cantonese, the Teochew, Hakka and Hainanese. The 5 deities in the temple are representative of each of the 5 ethnic groups:
Yuan Tian Shang Di (元天上帝) (大老爷)
Hong Xian Da Di (洪仙大帝) (洪仙公)
Gan Tian Da Di (感天大帝)
Hua Guang Da Di (华光大帝)
Zhao Da Yuan Shuai (赵大元帅)
Tan Hiok Nee was able to command the respect of the other ethnic groups because he was able to gain the favor of the Johor Sultan who appointed him as Major China of Johor, the highest ranking Chinese official in his government.
Unlike the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British who came to colonalise Malaya, the Chinese like Hiok Nee amassed wealth through sheer diligence and entrepreurship and had no political ambition. They chose to live harmoniously with the local Malay rulers and help to create a peaceful and conducive business environment by unifying the Chinese ethnic groups .
The prosperity of today Johor Bahru is due to the solid foundation laid down by these pioneers and the harmonious relationship enjoy by all the races. The Temple continues to be a living symbol of the mission of the Chinese entrepreneurs in Johor Bahru.
The temple is one of the oldest structure in Johor Bahru and become a unifying symbol among the 5 Chinese ethnic groups, namely, the Hokkein, the Cantonese, the Teochew, Hakka and Hainanese. The 5 deities in the temple are representative of each of the 5 ethnic groups:
Yuan Tian Shang Di (元天上帝) (大老爷)
Hong Xian Da Di (洪仙大帝) (洪仙公)
Gan Tian Da Di (感天大帝)
Hua Guang Da Di (华光大帝)
Zhao Da Yuan Shuai (赵大元帅)
Tan Hiok Nee was able to command the respect of the other ethnic groups because he was able to gain the favor of the Johor Sultan who appointed him as Major China of Johor, the highest ranking Chinese official in his government.
Unlike the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British who came to colonalise Malaya, the Chinese like Hiok Nee amassed wealth through sheer diligence and entrepreurship and had no political ambition. They chose to live harmoniously with the local Malay rulers and help to create a peaceful and conducive business environment by unifying the Chinese ethnic groups .
The prosperity of today Johor Bahru is due to the solid foundation laid down by these pioneers and the harmonious relationship enjoy by all the races. The Temple continues to be a living symbol of the mission of the Chinese entrepreneurs in Johor Bahru.
Written July 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Phi Somchai
Bangkok, Thailand3,727 contributions
Mar 2020 • Family
This is one of the oldest Chinese temple in JB. Lots of history. Still very well maintained. Rather small, but worth a short visit if you are in the vicinity.
Written June 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
J Lee
Friedrichshafen, Germany203 contributions
Jul 2019
We were there and bit disappointed. Is really not much to see unless you are a believer and like to pray there.
Written August 11, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jack101213
Johor Bahru, Malaysia663 contributions
Feb 2014 • Solo
The temple is more than 130 years old. On the 20th day of the Lunar New Year, the deities representing the main 5 Chinese dialects of Johor Bahru will be moved from this temple to the Tiong Hua hill where they will reside temporary before returning to the temple on the 22nd day of the Lunar New Year. The main procession around the city of Johor Bahru will be on the 21st night and the deities will be accompanied by dragon and lion dance troupes, floats and Chinese cultural groups. Recently foreign cultural troupes were invited to take part as it has become an international event and it is the biggest Chinese religious event outside of China. This procession is an annual affair held without fail dating back to more than 100 years except during World War 2 when the Imperial Japanese Army occupied what was then Malaya. This event had been awarded the Heritage Status of Malaysia by the government and attracts many foreign visitors and locals to view the procession.
Written February 18, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KYinSEAsia
34 contributions
Oct 2011 • Friends
The Old Johor temple is a nice place to begin to get a bit of understanding of the various Chinese communities in Malaysia. The temple is open to visitors and you are allowed to take photos. On the right side is a small walk-through museum explaining some of the history of the Chinese settling in Johor and some info about the temple itself.
One reminder: it is a working temple where people go to pray, so dress and behavior should be respectful.
One reminder: it is a working temple where people go to pray, so dress and behavior should be respectful.
Written November 20, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ricky R
Singapore69 contributions
Feb 2018 • Solo
The temple community is doing their best to furnish the surrounding. This temple is one of the oldest structures in Johor Bahru. The temple is a place of worship and a symbol of unity among Five Chinese Dialect Groups which are "Teochew", "Hokkien", "Cantonese", "Hakka" and "Hainan". Most worth to visit every year in the first lunar month of 20-23rd, the Temple organises its annual Chingay known as the Parade of Deities. Is more rowdy and atmospheric the tradition.
Written October 9, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello,
We booked the hotel room on 10/22,we would like to know any bus shuttle we can take from DMK airport to your hotel?
Thanks,
Written January 19, 2015
What is DMK? Never hear such airport in Johore. Is it a private airport??
Written January 20, 2015
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