As some of you already know, we visited Sibu from January 5th to January 9th, 2024. From this brief visit, we have written two articles thus far. You can read them here: Pasar Sentral Sibu and Pesta Orang Kampung.
The article you’re reading right now will be the last instalment of articles about Sibu from this visit. Of course, we’ll revisit Sibu soon and write more about this place.
We visited Eng Ann Tua Pek Kong Temple following our visit to Pasar Sentral Sibu. The temple was conveniently located nearby, so we decided to walk there. We took some pictures outside the temple, including the garden. The garden was clean and beautiful.
Established in the 1890s, Eng Ann Tua Pek Kong Temple in Sibu has stood as the oldest and best-preserved Chinese temple in the area for over a century.
Originally built of wood, the temple underwent a rebuild in 1897 using materials imported from China, including the statue of Lord Tua Pek Kong. Now the temple proudly reflects the beauty of classic Taoist architecture.
According to an interview with the temple committee secretary, published on Borneo Post Online, a fire swept through Sibu town in March 1928. Miraculously, the temple remained untouched, which many townsfolk considered a miracle.
And during the Japanese occupation in 1942, the town suffered again when the Allied Forces bombed it three years later. The temple was heavily damaged, but the deity inside was not harmed. After the war, the temple was rebuilt with wood, and in 1957, it was reconstructed using concrete.
Over time, the temple was repaired and renovated to restore it to its current condition. In 1987, the rear section of the temple was demolished and replaced by a seven-story pagoda for the worship of the Goddess of Mercy. The pagoda has gained recognition as one of the most beautifully proportioned outside of Mainland China.
It was a nice experience. It was peaceful, and the views from the top of the pagoda were breathtaking. The staff at the temple were friendly too. One of the women at the temple insisted that we go up and take more pictures from up there.
The temple and its surrounding grounds are open to the public free of charge. Visit Pasar Sentral Sibu while you’re in the area. Pictures taken on Monday, January 8, 2024, at approximately 10:30 AM. See more pictures on our Instagram and Facebook.
References:
Tua Pek Kong Temple & Goddess of Mercy Pagoda. (2018, October 18). Visit Sarawak 2022 #BounceBackBetter. https://chinese.sarawaktourism.com/attraction/tua-pek-kong-temple-goddess-of-mercy-pagoda/
Tua Pek Kong Temple very much a tourism icon. (2013, December 3). Borneo Post Online. https://www.theborneopost.com/2013/12/04/tua-pek-kong-temple-very-much-a-tourism-icon/
Sibu Tua Pek Kong Temple | Goddess of Mercy Pagoda : Visit Sibu | Sibu Malaysia. (n.d.). https://www.visitsibu.com/tua-pek-kong-temple/
PressReader.com – digital newspaper & magazine subscriptions. (2024, June 4). PressReader. https://www.pressreader.com/malaysia/the-borneo-post/20180226/281745564875669
