Glodok (Jakarta Chinatown), Jakarta | Things to Do

Chinatown, Jakarta Overview

Glodok is Jakarta's Chinatown, housing the remnants of the past Chinese settlements. It is mainly famous for its market. From old and beautiful Chinese temples like the famous Da Shi Miao, kuan yin, jin de Yuan(Jakarta's oldest Chinese temple), and Vihara Dharma Bhakti to stores selling showpieces and electronic equipment, Chinatown has a lot to explore.

The market is generally busy with locals buying stuff for their daily use and travelers strolling around the souvenir shops and traditional Chinese shops. Chinatown of Jakarta also has malls, restaurants, and vendors selling everything from vegetables to seafood, Chinese pottery and hawkers cooking some tasty and authentic Chinese street food.

1. Dharma Bhakti Temple

Dharma Bhakti Temple, originally completed in 1650, is the oldest Chinese temple in Jakarta’s Chinatown, Glodok. It is locally called Kim Tek Le in Hokkien or Jin De Yuan in Mandarin. The centra (Read More)l deity of this shrine is Guan Yin or Kwan Im, the Boddhisattva associated with mercy and compassion. The sanctum sanctorum of the Goddess is decked with dozens of bronze statues and red-colored burning candles that set a spiritual aura.
Timings : Daily: 05:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Entry Fee : Free

Things to Do

Glodok market is also called the electronic trading area of Jakarta and is one of the best places to buy mobile phones and laptops because of the wide array of shops.

The numerous Chinese food stalls in the area are also remarkable. There are noodle stalls serving good veg and chicken noodles, fried rice, preserved food like pickles, flavoured snow ice, mochi, doughnut, dumplings and barbeque fish, pork and chicken.

There are places selling some effective Chinese medicines and herbs to heal various medical conditions. There are shops to buy clothes and accessories.

Places to See

There are Chinese temple with amazing spiritual energy in Glodok which are worth a visit. Jin De Yuan is the oldest Chinese temple in Jakarta so it must be visited.

Pancoran is their small shopping centre. There are gold stores and small food stores selling snacks on the first floor. There is a Chinese massage centre on the second floor. Pancoran also has a food court. Harco Glodok is the biggest electronic market here and it lies near Pancoran.

There is a complex called Glodok Jaya for buying mechanical tools and spare parts of electronics and automobiles.