Gates of Eng Choon Association
Walking further along Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, one cannot miss the impressive entrance of the Eng Choon Association. The Chinese normally have clan associations where the member all come from the same clan/family/surname/province. This harks back to the days back in China where entire kingdoms are built from the same family. In this case Eng Choon is a place in Fujian province in China. Fujian, is a major source of Chinese immigrants, not only in Melaka, but practically all the countries of Southeast Asia.
Entrance of the Eng Choon Association
I seem to have the misfortune of visiting interesting places when they are closed to the public. The Eng Choon Association was likewise beyond my reach. So I can only admire it from the outside. While the place seems to have been heavily renovated and it might have lost its air of authenticity, the very impressive results can still be forgiven. The gate is decorated with images from Chinese lore. It is guarded by two lions in front. The gate itself is labeled auspicious greetings painted in gold. The pillars outside the gate are also quite impressive with two intericately carved dragons coiling around the pillars. I seriously doubt any of these are still authentic, but at this point, I don’t really care, I like what I see.
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