Locals Paying Respect to the Goddess of Mercy at the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple
Given the long history of Chinese settlers here in Melaka, it would not come as a surprise to know that Melaka’s and Malaysia’s oldest Chinese temple is in Chinatown. The temple here is a structure built fro the year 1646 and it is yet another temple dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy Guanyin. It is probably one of the moe well known temples in Melaka too, and it shows. The temple compared to the other temples here in Melaka, is richly decorated.
Outside the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple
As a result of its fame, it is also very well maintained. It doesn’t look a bit centuries old. Unlike the Xianglin Temple, the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple is well visited, not just by tourists, but the locals, giving visitors a glimpse of what still goes on behind all the noise about being a UNESCO World Heritage site. There is real life going on here, unlike some of the more touristy places I have been to.
Impressive Interiors of the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple
I was quite impressed by the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple especially with its ornate interiors. However, compared to the temples I have been to in China, the Cheng Hoon Teng temple is nothing compared to them. At least in Malaysia it is the top Chinese temple. Regardless, the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple stands proud as on of the cornerstones the made Melaka a UNESCO World Heritage site.
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