Johor Bahru Old Chinese Temple, Johor Bahru

Johor Bahru Old Temple, Johor Bahru Overview

Johor Bahru Old Chinese Temple is one of the oldest temples in Johor, located along Jalan Trus. Also known as the Old Temple, it functions as the worship place of 5 Chinese clans- Hakka, Cantonese, Teochew, Hokkien and Hainan.

Earlier, these clans were rivals over land control issues. When Tian Hiok Nee, a Chinese religious leader, managed to bring about peace between them, he founded the Johor Bahru Old Chinese Temple. Hence, the temple is symbolic of peace and unity.

A highlighting feature of the temple is the Tien Gong incense pot placed at the entrance. The mini cultural centre located in the premise has historical relics on display.

Architecture of Johor Bahru Old Chinese Temple

With authentic Chinese architecture and design, the temple has a red-and-white exterior and 3 praying halls.
You'll find a large number of bells hanging outside which are contributed by devotees.
This classic building makes for a rich background for pictures.
The noteworthy antiques in the temple are the century-old bronze bell, the plaque and the grand Tien Gong incense pot.
Since the temple was revamped in 1995, the original masonry of this small temple has not been preserved.

How to Reach The Old Temple of Johor

The temple is located at a 10-minute walking distance from JB Immigration Checkpoint and is a 5-minute walk away from the City Square Mall. It's recommended that you don't take a taxi here due to heavy traffic in downtown Johor Bahru.

The Chingay Parade

Johor Bahru Old Chinese Temple organises an annual parade called the Chingay Parade in the first lunar month every year on a grand scale. It takes place in February and attracts a crowd of over 3 million people participating in it.

Also known as 'Parade of Deities', the procession of the 5 deities worshipped in the temple is carried out through the city along with the devotees. With beats of drums and other traditional musical instruments, the parade is indeed a colourful celebration of religion. A lion dance performance is another activity organised in the parade. The celebration lasts for a period of 4 days.