Thean Hou Temple in Kuala Lumpur

Thean Hou Temple is the most beautiful Chinese temple I’ve ever seen and it’s one of my favorite places in Kuala Lumpur. I was lucky to visit at the end of Lunar New Year celebrations, which was an extra special time to be there. The lovely temple is a must-see in Kuala Lumpur and it’s so beautiful that it deserves its own post. And it’s free to visit!

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THEAN HOU TEMPLE

Thean Hou Temple is an ornate and picturesque 6-tiered Chinese temple blends Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism.

It was built by Kuala Lumpur’s Hainanese community, who were traditionally fishermen from the island of Hainan in China. The temple is dedicated to Thean Hou (Tian Hou), the Heavenly Mother, who protects the fishermen when they’re at sea.

Thean Hou Temple Kuala Lumpur

The temple is located on a hill, so it also has a great view of Kuala Lumpur.

The view of Kuala Lumpur from Thean Hou Temple

HOW TO GET THERE

The temple is located near Little India (Brickfields) and the easiest way to get there is via a cheap Grab (Southeast Asian Uber).

For more beautiful temples in Kuala Lumpur, see THE 3 MOST BEAUTIFUL AND MUST-SEE TEMPLES IN KUALA LUMPUR.

WHEN TO GO

The hours differ each day, but the temple opens very early in the morning and closes at midnight most days.

Visit shortly before sunset so you can see the temple during the day, at sunset, and then after dark with all the pretty red lanterns lit up.

thean hou temple kuala lumpur

WHAT TO WEAR

There isn’t a modest dress code at the temple (or at any Chinese temples in Malaysia, in my experience). I was wearing shorts and a tank top, as were many others, but there weren’t any coverings to borrow, yet this was not a problem at all.