Kek Lok Si Temple Founded — 1891

In 1891, Abbot Beow Lean of the Goddess of Mercy Temple in George Town journeyed up the hillside at Air Itam and laid the foundation stone for what would become the largest Buddhist temple complex in Malaysia. Construction on Kek Lok Si — 'Temple of Supreme Bliss' — proceeded in stages over the following decades. The pagoda, a blend of Chinese, Thai, and Burmese architectural styles, was completed in 1930. The bronze statue of Kuan Yin (the Goddess of Mercy), rising 30 metres on a hilltop octagonal pagoda, was added in 2002. Today the temple complex covers over 12,000 square metres of hillside in Air Itam, drawing pilgrims from across Southeast Asia. During Chinese New Year the temple illuminates with 10,000 lights, creating one of Malaysia's most spectacular celebrations. The founding in 1891 marked the coming-of-age of Penang's Hokkien Buddhist community and their ambition to build a permanent spiritual home on the island.