Singapore's Hong San See Temple

Singapore's Hong San See Temple

Hong San See Temple is a Chinese temple in Singapore, built between 1908 and 1913 by Hokkien immigrants from Nan’an, Fujian. The construction materials were also imported from China. The temple was built on a small hill, and in the past, visitors could see the sea in the distance from within the temple grounds.

Hong San See was gazetted as a national monument in 1978. It once served as a school, providing education to children from nearby villages, but had to close after ten years due to financial difficulties. More regrettably, the temple is now surrounded by high-rise buildings, and the sea view is no longer visible. Hong San See is dedicated to the worship of the deity of fortune, Guangze Zunwang, and follows the traditional architectural style of southern Chinese palaces. Its main hall and porch are resplendent, and the exquisite Chinese wood carvings inside shimmer with a unique brilliance under the light, complementing the grandeur of the porch. The four coiled-dragon granite pillars and the two pearl-inlaid dragons along the roof ridge are considered the temple’s treasured highlights.

Hong San See is a serene, elegant, and exquisitely crafted century-old temple. Since 2005, on New Year’s Eve, the temple has remained illuminated throughout the night and opened its doors to the public for prayers, as people seek blessings for favorable weather, peace and prosperity in the country, and good health for their families in the coming year.

Hong San See

Must-visit reason: One of Singapore’s most renowned Chinese temples