Thean Hou Temple
Thean Hou Temple / 乐圣岭天后宫
A six-storey Chinese temple built in 1989 by a Hainanese community association and dedicated to Mazu. Its red lanterns, glazed tiles and hilltop views make it Kuala Lumpur's most photogenic Chinese temple.
Thean Hou Temple stands on the summit of Bukit Lee Sun, a hill on the southern outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. Built between 1981 and 1989 by the Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Hainan Association, it is one of the largest Mazu temples in Southeast Asia, blending Chinese temple architecture with Buddhist and Taoist elements. The temple has six levels. The main hall enshrines Tian Hou (Mazu), flanked by Guanyin and Shui Wei Sheng Niang. In front, a large terrace hangs hundreds of red lanterns, which multiply during Chinese New Year and look spectacular when lit at night. The eaves, dragon pillars, glazed tiles and painted decorations are exquisite, and from the terrace you can see the city skyline. The lower levels house a vegetarian restaurant, a marriage registry (a popular place for Chinese couples to register their weddings), a Chinese medicinal herb garden and a garden of zodiac statues. Visitors can also draw fortune sticks and have their fortunes told. Admission is free. Suggested timing: arrive around 6 p.m. to see the sunset, the lanterns lighting up and the city at night. Allow about 1 hour. Lantern decorations are at their finest from the week before Chinese New Year through the Lantern Festival, which is also the busiest time for photographers. Getting there: there is no rail link. Take a Grab from KL Sentral, about 10 minutes (RM10 to 15), or walk up from KTM Mid Valley station, about 20 minutes uphill on a steep slope. The temple can be combined with the nearby Mid Valley Megamall or with Brickfields Little India next to KL Sentral, home to one of Malaysia's largest wet markets. Note: remove shoes inside the hall, dress appropriately and keep voices down. The terrace is exposed to the midday sun, and parking is tight on lantern-season evenings.
Opening hours
08:00–22:00
Nearby sights
- Brickfields Little India
- National Museum of Malaysia
- Kuala Lumpur Old Railway Station
- Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia
- National Mosque of Malaysia
- Kuala Lumpur Bird Park
- Perdana Botanical Garden
- Kwai Chai Hong