Hong San See Temple

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.

Background

Neo Jin Quee, an early pioneer from Nan An County, founded the first temple to Guang Ze Zun Wang at Mount Wallich, Tanjong Pagar, in 1836. In 1907 that land was taken for the reclamation of Telok Ayer Bay, and the trustees used the $50,000 compensation to buy a site on Mohamed Sultan Road, held on a 999-year lease. The present temple was finished in 1913 at a cost of $56,000. From its small hill it once looked over the sea. National monument status followed on 10 November 1978. From 1915 two of its halls served as classrooms for the Nan Ming School, which closed in 1925.

Source: Wikipedia, "Hong San See"

What to look for

• 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.

What to expect

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.

Key facts