The temple are established by early Hainanese settlers in a small structure to worship their sea deity of Shui Wei Sheng Niang which is said found in a junk which was shipwrecked in Terengganu.[4] Apart from another temple in the Chinese settlement, the temple served as a focal point for their fishermen and their families who lived along the banks of the Terengganu River.[1] It also become forerunner of the Hainanese Association (Qiongzhou Huiguan).[4] The temple building was then constructed in 1895 for both devotees and the association.[4] Most of its structure were constructed with materials brought in from China with the building are completed the following year.[1]
In 2003, the temple land was nearly acquire by the state government of Terengganu under the administration of Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) for waterfront beautification project but was reversed following huge protest from the local residents.[5][6]
Features
The temple feature three altars in its main hall with two ancestral tablets dedicated to wandering souls and 108 brave villagers who lost their lives during a war since time immemorial.[1] The statues of Mazu and Shui Wei Sheng Niang occupies the central altar while in the right is devoted to Guan Yu and Fude Zhengshen.[1][6]
^"Kampong China [China Town]"(PDF). Tourism Terengganu. p. 12, 13/52. Archived from the original(PDF) on 18 March 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2019. It is also home to two grand temple or toapekongs, the Ho Ann Kiong and the Tien Hou Kong.
^"ChinaTown". Tourism Terengganu. Archived from the original on 18 March 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
