Sze Ya Temple, Kuala Lumpur
One of the most fascinating temples in Kuala Lumpur is the Sze Ya Temple. Located in China Town, this Taoist Temple is one of the city’s heritage sites. Cramped in the narrowest streets, the positioning and design of the Temple is in accordance to Feng Shui.
The Sze Ya Temple is one of the few structures that commemorate one of the founding fathers of Kuala Lumpur. Built by Kapitan Yap Ah Loy in 1864, the building hasn’t changed much from the day it was constructed. With elaborate roof ridges, and ornate interiors, the temple is a reflection of the old Chinese style of architecture. The Temple pays tribute to the deity Sin Sze Ya and Si Sze Ya, who are considered as the guardians of the immigrant Chinese miners.
It is believed that the entire burden of constructing this beautiful temple was taken over by Loy and to honor that, a statue of the Kapitan still stands to the left of the main altar.
The Sze Ya Temple is one of the oldest Taoist Temples in Kuala Lumpur and has witnessed most of the city's history.
The Sze Ya Temple is one of the few structures that commemorate one of the founding fathers of Kuala Lumpur. Built by Kapitan Yap Ah Loy in 1864, the building hasn’t changed much from the day it was constructed. With elaborate roof ridges, and ornate interiors, the temple is a reflection of the old Chinese style of architecture. The Temple pays tribute to the deity Sin Sze Ya and Si Sze Ya, who are considered as the guardians of the immigrant Chinese miners.
It is believed that the entire burden of constructing this beautiful temple was taken over by Loy and to honor that, a statue of the Kapitan still stands to the left of the main altar.
The Sze Ya Temple is one of the oldest Taoist Temples in Kuala Lumpur and has witnessed most of the city's history.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Kuala Lumpur. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Sze Ya Temple on Map
Sight Name: Sze Ya Temple
Sight Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (See walking tours in Kuala Lumpur)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (See walking tours in Kuala Lumpur)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Create Your Own Walk in Kuala Lumpur
Creating your own self-guided walk in Kuala Lumpur is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Kuala Lumpur Shopping Tour
Shopping is one of the top activities for those visiting Kuala Lumpur. In this vibrant city there’s something for every taste and budget, from high-end boutiques offering designer labels to the lively street markets drawing crowds with artsy finds and cheap reproductions, where cheap doesn’t necessarily mean a less enjoyable experience.
With a shopping scene as comprehensive as that of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
With a shopping scene as comprehensive as that of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
Historical Buildings Walking Tour
A city where even the buildings speak more than one language: look closely, and you’ll see it. Domes shaped by Islamic tradition, arches inspired by Mughal design, and symmetry rooted in European planning all stand side by side.
Kuala Lumpur’s historic buildings reflect the layered story of a city that grew from a rough tin-mining settlement into Malaysia’s capital. Founded in the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Kuala Lumpur’s historic buildings reflect the layered story of a city that grew from a rough tin-mining settlement into Malaysia’s capital. Founded in the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Historical Religious Buildings
Just as the whole of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur is a culturally diverse and tolerant city where all of the world’s major religions coexist in perfect harmony. Back in the 1800s-early 1900s, along with the large influx of laborers and merchants of different backgrounds, brought in by the British colonization, came the unique sets of faiths and religious systems: Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism,... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Kuala Lumpur Introduction Walking Tour
Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, began as a modest frontier settlement shaped by geography and opportunity. Its name comes from the Malay words kuala and lumpur, together translating to “muddy confluence”, a reference to its location at the meeting point of the Klang and Gombak rivers.
The city’s origins date to the 1850s, when Chinese miners arrived in the area to exploit rich tin... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
The city’s origins date to the 1850s, when Chinese miners arrived in the area to exploit rich tin... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
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"Malaysia, Truly Asia" is what you hear en route to Malaysia. Indeed, there's practically every bit of Asia to be found here, as the country's population is made up primarily of three groups: Malay, Chinese and Indians. Quite expectedly, the diversity of Malaysian handcrafts is...