Hong San See Temple
A hillside Hokkien temple in River Valley whose restoration won a UNESCO conservation award in 2010.
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Hong San See was built between 1908 and 1913 by the Lam Ann Hokkien community on a hillside site, dedicated to Guang Ze Zun Wang, and the granite, timber and roof ceramics were brought from Fujian with the craftsmen. A restoration completed in 2009 stripped back later accretions and repaired the original work with the same techniques, and it received an award of excellence from UNESCO's Asia-Pacific conservation programme in 2010.
What you actually see
- The Fujian craftsmanship - granite columns, carved timber and ceramic roof figures.
- The hillside setting - the temple raised above the street on its terrace.
- The 2009 restoration - conservation work recognised by UNESCO in 2010.
- The roof ridges - cut-and-paste ceramic scenes along the eaves.
When to go
Year round; the temple keeps daily hours. Mornings are quietest. The deity's birthday brings the main celebration.
Honest expectations
The temple is small and takes half an hour. It is surrounded by high-rise development with no setting left. The UNESCO award was for the conservation work, not a heritage listing.
Nearby
Sri Thendayuthapani is nearby, and Clarke Quay is east.
What to pack for Hong San See Temple
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.