Thean Hock Keong Temple, Bagan Ajam

Thean Hock Keong, Bagan Ajam (11 December 2017)

The Thean Hock Keong Temple (GPS: 5.44463, 100.38066) in Bagan Ajam is one of the oldest temples in Butterworth, Penang. It was founded in the Year of the Dog, 1888. A prominent Penangite Khoo Thean Teik was a major benefactor who contributed to the construction. The present Thean Hock Keong Temple was completed on January 3, 1997. The exterior is of ornately carved granite. There are two pavilions in the raised front court.

The patron deity at the Thean Hock Keong is Kwan Kong. Like many Taoist deities, Kwan Kong, whose name is Guan Yu (162-219), was a deified military general under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period. The historical account of Guan Yu's life has since been mixed with legend and fiction, passed down the generations as folklore, and was depicted in the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Kwan Kong is usually portrayed as a red-faced warrior with a long black beard. While his beard was mentioned in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, his red face was most likely derived from Chinese opera, where red faces represent loyalty and righteousness. He is usually shown holding a Kwan Dao, a pole weapon that is often used in wushu. The creation of Kwan Dao is attributed to Kwan Kong.

Thean Hock Keong, Bagan Ajam (11 December 2017)

How to go to Thean Hock Keong Temple

The Thean Hock Keong Temple is located along Jalan Pantai Bersin in Bagan Ajam, a short distance from the sea at Jalan Pantai Bersih. At the junction between Jalan Teluk Air Tawar, Jalan Sungai Puyu and the Butterworth Outer Right Road (BORR), proceed north into Jalan Teluk Air Tawar, and take the first turning on the left. The Thean Hock Keong Temple is a short distance down the road, on the right side of the road.

Thean Hock Keong Temple is on the map of Jalan Pantai Bersih

Thean Hock Keong Temple is on the Map of Bagan Ajam, Butterworth

Thean Hock Keong Temple (15 August 2015)

The main entrance of Thean Hock Keong Temple (15 August 2015)

View of the front façade of Thean Hock Keong Temple (15 August 2015)

The prayer hall of Thean Hock Keong Temple (15 August 2015)

Statuettes of deities at Thean Hock Keong Temple (15 August 2015)

One of the two pavilions of Thean Hock Keong Temple (15 April 2006)

Thean Hock Keong Temple, front façade (15 April 2006)

Thean Hock Keong Temple, ceremonial drum (15 April 2006)

Thean Hock Keong Temple, ink painting (15 April 2006)

Thean Hock Keong Temple, main altar (15 April 2006)

Devotee worshipping at Thean Hock Keong Temple (15 April 2006)

List of Chinese Temples in Penang and Chinese Temples in Malaysia

Private Guided Tours of Penang

If you are seeking private guided tours of Penang, message Penang Tour Guides at penangtourguides@gmail.com and enquire with them.

Buy, rent or sell properties in Penang

Do you have a property for sale or to rent out? Are you looking to buy or rent a property? Get in touch with me. WhatsApp me (Timothy Tye) at 012 429 9844, and I will assign one of my property agents to serve you. I will choose the agent for you, according to your property needs. So when you message me, provide me some details of what you need, whether to sell, to buy, to rent or to rent out, and what type of property, is it condo, apartment, house, shop, office or land.

Latest updates on Penang Travel Tips

Map of Roads in Penang

Looking for information on Penang? Use this Map of Roads in Penang to zoom in on information about Penang, brought to you road by road.

About this website

Dear visitor, thank you so much for reading this page. My name is Timothy Tye and my hobby is to find out about places, write about them and share the information with you on this website. I have been writing this site since 5 January 2003. Originally (from 2003 until 2009, the site was called AsiaExplorers. I changed the name to Penang Travel Tips in 2009, even though I describe more than just Penang but everywhere I go (I often need to tell people that "Penang Travel Tips" is not just information about Penang, but information written in Penang), especially places in Malaysia and Singapore, and in all the years since 2003, I have described over 20,000 places.

While I try my best to provide you information as accurate as I can get it to be, I do apologize for any errors and for outdated information which I am unaware. Nevertheless, I hope that what I have described here will be useful to you.

Terms & Condition of Use | Privacy Policy