Hean Boo Thean Floating Temple, Penang

Hean Boo Thean, the Kuan Yin "floating temple", stands on piles over the sea at the end of Yeoh Jetty on Weld Quay, a few minutes' walk south of Chew Jetty in George Town. With its red and gold roofs, dragon pillars and lanterns reflected in the water, it is one of the most photographed sights on the waterfront, especially at dusk. The temple is dedicated to Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy, in her form as the South Sea Bodhisattva, and is a working place of worship for the jetty communities as well as a stop on many heritage walks.

This guide covers the temple's history, what to see on its two decks, opening hours (checked October 2026), how to get there and tips for visiting and photography.

History of Hean Boo Thean Temple

The clan jetties

The temple belongs to the world of the Clan Jetties, the Chinese stilt villages built out over the water along Weld Quay. The shoreline here was created by land reclamation in 1882, and the jetty settlements grew up gradually between the 1880s and the 1960s, each originally dominated by a single clan from Fujian, China. Seven jetties survive today: Ong, Lim, Chew, Tan, Lee, Mixed Clan and Yeoh. Yeoh Jetty, at the southern end, was home to members of the Yeoh clan from Xiayangcun in Haicheng, Fujian; it was damaged during the Japanese invasion in 1941, and later reclamation left much of it on dry land. When George Town became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, the jetties were included in the protected area.

From a shrine on stilts to a two-storey temple

Hean Boo Thean (玄母殿 in Chinese) began in 1972 as a modest shrine on stilts over the sea. Because it stood in the water, it was often flooded at high tide. In May 2011 work began on rebuilding and enlarging it, and the new temple was completed in November 2012 at a cost of about RM1.5 million, with the floor area increased to about 12,000 square feet. The rebuilt temple was officially opened on 2 December 2012 by the then Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng. The dragon pillars were made by artisans from China.

What to See at Hean Boo Thean

Lower deck

• Dragon Gate Archway and Calm Weather Archway: the temple is entered through a pair of archways, an outer Dragon Gate Archway with glass panels and an inner Calm Weather Archway, a fitting name for a temple standing over the sea.
• The lotus mural: a large lotus mural marks the centre of the lower deck.
• The central sanctuary: finished in sculpted granite, with four dragon pillars carved in relief and an altar to the Jade Emperor.
• The two pavilions: the Kin Remembrance Pavilion on the seaward side and the Mercy and Compassion Pavilion on the landward side flank the sanctuary.

Upper deck

• The Shrine of the Goddess of Mercy: the main shrine holds the statue of the South Sea Bodhisattva Kuan Yin.
• The 24 Tales of Filial Piety: figurines along the approach to the shrine illustrate this classic set of Chinese stories about devotion to parents.
• The views: from the upper deck you look out across the North Channel to the mainland and back along the stilt houses of the clan jetties.

Festival day

The main festival of the temple is the feast of the South Sea Kuan Yin on the 19th day of the ninth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, when the temple is busy with worshippers and offerings.

Exploring the Clan Jetties Around the Temple

Most visitors reach Hean Boo Thean as part of a walk along the clan jetties, and it is worth giving them some time. Chew Jetty, the largest and most visited, is a few minutes north: its long plank walkway is lined with wooden stilt houses, small shops and snack stalls, and it holds the best-known celebration of the Jade Emperor's birthday on the ninth day of Chinese New Year. Tan Jetty and Lee Jetty lie close by and usually see fewer visitors, which makes them a calmer place to see everyday life over the water.

Not every jetty survived: two of them, Koay and Peng Aun, have been demolished. The UNESCO listing of George Town in 2008 gave the remaining seven protection, but it also brought large numbers of tourists, so please be considerate: walk quietly, buy something from the residents' stalls if you can, and avoid the jetties late at night.

Hean Boo Thean Opening Hours and Entry

• Hours: daily 9 am to 6 pm.
• Entry: free.
• Time needed: 15 to 30 minutes, or an hour or more if you combine it with a walk along the clan jetties.
• Contact: 011-1080 6362.

How to Get to Hean Boo Thean Floating Temple

• On foot: walk south along Weld Quay (Pengkalan Weld) from the ferry terminal and Chew Jetty; the temple is just beyond Yeoh Jetty, in the Merdeka Village area. From Chew Jetty it is only a couple of minutes.
• Bus: the free CAT shuttle and Rapid Penang buses run along Weld Quay, and the Weld Quay jetty bus terminal by the ferry terminal is a short walk north.
• Grab or taxi: ask for "Hean Boo Thean Kuan Yin Temple, Pengkalan Weld".
• Car: roadside parking along Weld Quay is limited, especially at weekends.

Tips for Visiting

• Come at dusk: the temple's lights come on and reflect in the water of the North Channel, which is the classic photograph. Chew Jetty, Tan Jetty and Yeoh Jetty all give good views of the temple from the water's edge.
• Late afternoon is cooler than midday, as the waterfront has little shade.
• Dress respectfully and keep your voice down in the shrines; ask before photographing worshippers.
• The clan jetties are people's homes. Keep to the walkways, avoid peering into houses and respect any signs asking visitors to keep out.
• Combine the visit with Chew Jetty, the Penang Ferry Museum at the ferry terminal and the heritage streets around Lebuh Armenian.

Hean Boo Thean Floating Temple Location

Photos

Hean Boo Thean Floating Temple FAQ

Sources

• Hean Boo Thean Temple, Timothy Tye (Penang Travel Tips)
• Kuan Yin Floating Temple (Hean Boo Thean), Time Out Penang
• Clan Jetties, Wikipedia