Hong San See is a Chinese temple located along Mohamed Sultan Road in Singapore.
The temple, whose name means, “Temple on Phoenix Hill”, is dedicated to the God of Fortune, known as Guang Ze Zun Wang.
Hong San See, UNESCO Chinese Temple, Address & Hours, Singapore
Although there are no longer sea views seen from the temple due to obstruction from tall buildings, it’s worth visiting for its intricate details and vibrant traditional Asian architecture. Visitors will need to climb a long flight of steps, but it’s worth it once you see the stunning temple.
Hong San See is a perfect example of the traditional southern Chinese style temple. Its features include walled enclosures, axial planning, a beam-frame structure, and courtyards. Everything was built with exceptional workmanship; evident in the fact that the roof was installed without the use of nails.
Other incredible highlights of the temple include the striking granite columns which have been carved with phoenixes, dragons, magpies, and peonies. The ‘chien nien’ ornaments and the plaster relief on the roof and eaves are also worth seeing – especially the prancing dragons.
Hong San See was listed as a National Monument in 1978. It still remains in superb condition thanks to several renovations from 2006 through 2010. Craftsmen and technical consultants were even flown over from China to ensure utmost care and quality during the renovations.
It’s also worth noting that it’s the first Singapore landmark that ever won an Award of Excellence during the 2010 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation.
Do You Have a Question to Ask?