Cave murals
Colourful paintings of Chinese legends.
User: (WT-shared) Shoestring at wts wikivoyage — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Steven Tung — CC BY-SA 3.0
A large cave temple inside a limestone hill about one hundred and twenty metres high north of Ipoh, built by Chinese immigrants in 1926. Inside are more than forty Buddhist statues, among them a huge seated figure close to twelve metres tall, and the cave walls are covered in colourful paintings of legends and tales from Chinese tradition. What sets it apart is the long stairway climbing from inside the cave to the top of the hill, hundreds of steps among the rocks, ending in a wide view over Ipoh and the green limestone hills around it. Part of the ceiling at the back collapsed in 2009 and has since been repaired, and the temple remains open to visitors. Entry is free; it is a place of worship, so dress modestly. It is visited in daytime, and the climb to the top needs reasonable fitness and water, ideally in the morning before the heat. If you do not want to climb, the lower section with its statues and paintings takes half an hour. For lovers of views the summit is worth the effort; wear comfortable shoes, as the stairs are steep in places.
Colourful paintings of Chinese legends.
Close to twelve metres tall.
Ipoh and the limestone hills from above.
North of Ipoh, about 6 km from the city centre
Moderate: hundreds of steps, some steep, about half an hour up. It does not suit anyone who struggles with stairs; the lower section alone is a worthwhile visit.