Hong San See Temple; Singapore

Built between 1903 and 1913, for the Hokkien people settling in Singapore from Nan'an City Fujian Province, China. The temple is dedicated to the God of Fortune, Guang Ze Zun (廣澤尊王 or 郭聖王 or 聖王公). The Hong San See Temple (鳳山寺 Fèng Shān Sì; "Temple on Phoenix Hill") once had a view of the sea, but with high rise buildings now surrounding the temple, it no longer sees the sea. But the grandure of the temple still remains. The temple received the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation in 2010.

To enter the temple, you first have to first climb a flight of stairs, a reminder that the temple is still on high ground. The temple is designed and built in tradiational southern Chinese style. The temple is covered in a harmonious combination of phoenixes, dragons, peonies and magpies, siginifiying happiness.

The entrance of the temple faces the South, the direction where the most and best amount of Qi (氣) comes from. And the back of the temple faces North. This orientation, assures that the temple has good/beneficial Feng Shui energy flowing through it, renewing all those who come to visit and/or worship at the temple.

The entrance of the temple has 3 doors. There is a proper way for people to enter and exit the temple. The Dragon Door on the right, is the one you should enter through. While the Tiger Door on the left, is the one you should exit the temple from. The Center Door is usually kept closed, this door is reserved for the gods, spirits and deities to use.

Enter through the right; Exit through the left

Before you enter you are like an ordinary carp

Once you leave, you have become a majestic dragon

The Temple also has altars for other Deities/Gods as well:

• Kuan Yin (觀音菩薩), the Goddess/Bodhisattva of Mercy
• Cheng Huang Ye (城隍爷), City God
• Xuan Wu/Xuan Tian Shang Di (玄武/玄天上帝), Black or Dark or Mysterious Warrior/Mysterious Heavenly Upper Emperor

The main altar; Guang Ze Zun is behind the glass

Kuan Yin

City God

Xuan Tian Shang Di

The temple is definitely beautiful. The climb up the flight of stairs prepares you to humble yourself before seeing and entering the temple. The temple with its intricate cravings, panels and statues, is a piece of art in its own right, as well as a glimpse into the culture, heritage and history of the Hokkiens in Singapore.

The Hong San See Temple is located at:

#29 Mohamed Sultan Rd, Singapore 238973

Operating Hours: 7am-6pm

Here's a map to get a better sense of the temple's location



Directions (via Bus):

*the purple star is the location of the temple

From Somerset MRT Station:

Walk to Orchard Plaza Bus Stop

Take Bus 143 (towards Jurong East Temp Int)

Alight after 2 stops; Opp Shell HSE

Walk to Hong San See Temple (about a 7 minute walk)

From Dhoby Gaut MRT Station:

Walk to YMCA Bus Stop

Take Bus 139 (towards Bukit Merah Int)

Alight after 2 stops; UE Sq

Walk to Hong San See Temple (about a 3 minute walk)

From Clarke Quay MRT Station:

Walk to Clarke Quay Stn Bus Stop

Take Bus 54 (towards Bishan Int)

Alight after 3 stops; UE Sq

Walk to Hong San See Temple (about a 3 minute walk)