Guan Yu's blade
Touched by visitors for luck.
Chainwit. — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Marcin Konsek — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Daibo Taku — CC BY 3.0 · Alexey Komarov — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Foryou42686 — CC0
One of the oldest Chinese temples in Kuala Lumpur, founded by the Cantonese Kwong Siew Association in 1887 or 1888 on Jalan Tun H.S. Lee, one of the city's oldest streets, a few steps from the Hindu Sri Maha Mariamman Temple. The temple is dedicated to Guan Yu, a general of China's Three Kingdoms era who became a symbol of loyalty and justice to the Chinese. It is known for Guan Yu's long bronze blade, a broad-bladed polearm weighing about fifty-nine kilograms, which worshippers believe brings blessings when touched or lifted. The building is in the southern Chinese style, with red walls and a roof crowned by colourful ceramic figures, and in its courtyard stand a large incense burner and a furnace for paper offerings. Entry is free; it is a working place of worship, so keep your voice down. A short visit is enough on a Chinatown walk, with Petaling Street, Kwai Chai Hong and the Hindu temple next door.
Touched by visitors for luck.
A roof of ceramic figures.
Beside the Hindu temple.
Jalan Tun H.S. Lee, Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown
Petaling Street (Chinatown)A street under a long green canopy, lined with stalls of bags, watches, clothes 1 minute walk4.0
Sri Maha Mariamman TempleA twenty-two-metre gateway tower covered in hundreds of painted carved figures r1 minute walk4.5
Central Market (Pasar Seni)A pale-blue Art Deco building from 1937 that was once the city's fish and vegeta3 minutes walk4.5
Kwai Chai HongA small back lane behind the shophouses of Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown, neglected f4 minutes walk
Sultan Abdul Samad Jamek MosqueThis is where Kuala Lumpur was born. At exactly this spot the Klang and Gombak r7 minutes walk4.5A long bronze blade attributed to Guan Yu that weighs about fifty-nine kilograms; worshippers believe touching it or trying to lift it brings luck and protection.