Chan She Shu Yuen Clan House

The basics

Designed as a mechanism for people with the surname Chan, Tan, or Chen to support each other after migrating to Kuala Lumpur, today, the temple is a regular stop on Malaysia city center tours by day and by night. Most travelers visit on a walking tour along Petaling Street, often pairing it with the lively Petaling Street Market, the Hindu Sri Mahamariamman Temple, and the Chinese Sin Sze Si Ya Temple, all nearby. There’s no charge to enter the temple.

Things to know before you go

• The Chan She Shu Yuen Clan House and temple will be a must for anyone with the surname Chan, Tan, or Chen and interested in culture vultures and photographers.

• There’s no strict dress code for visiting Chinese temples, but if you’re wearing short shorts or spaghetti straps, admire it from a distance rather than going in.

• The sidewalk outside the temple is flat, and you can get a reasonable view of the roof and the altar without ascending the low steps.

How to get there

The Chan She Shu Yuen Clan House and temple sit on Petaling Street in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown, a few minutes walk south of Petaling Street Market. It’s less than a 10-minute walk from Pasar Seni MRT station (Kajang Line) or about 15 minutes from the Hang Tuah monorail station.

When to get there

The temple and heritage gallery are open daily from 10am–5pm. They’re rarely busy and not really weather-dependent, so you can stop by any time.

The best Chinese temples in Kuala Lumpur

Three cultures—Indian, Chinese, and Malay—have shaped Kuala Lumpur, and you can see all their influences in the city’s Chinatown, not least at the Hindu Sri Mahamariamman Temple. For more of a Chinese feel, head to the colorful cement-built Guandi Temple and the Sin Sze Si Ya Temple, one of Kuala Lumpur’s oldest temples: both are a few minutes walk from the Chan She Shu Yuen Clan House and temple. Outside Chinatown, don’t miss the Thean Hou Temple, a 6-tiered modern temple with sweeping skyline views.