Thian Hock Keng Temple

The oldest Chinese temple in Singapore, built by the Hokkien community, dating back to 1821, although the structure was thoroughly refurbished in 2000. Look out for the "swallowtail roof", a distinctive feature of traditional Hokkien architecture. The brightly colored, elaborate facade was constructed with ironwork from Scotland, tiles from England and the Netherlands, and dragon-ornamented granite pillars from China. It was built without the use of a single nail, instead relying on an interlocking system of wooden brackets, a technique dating back to ancient China. Be sure to look up and admire intricate wood carvings that make up the brackets and the top of the support pillars. Look out for the figurine of an Indian labourer buttressing one of the roof beams, a homage to the Tamil Muslim labourers who took part in the temple's construction. The temple's main claim to fame is the presence of a plaque inscribed with the Chinese characters " " (lit. Gentle Waves over the South Seas), which was presented to the temple by Emperor Guangxu of China in 1907, making it one of only two temples in Singapore bestowed with this honour.

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