White and gold Ban Po Thar pagoda above orange temple roofs, framed by a red lantern and festive lights

Religious site · Air Itam, Penang

Kek Lok Si Temple

Hillside Buddhist temple complex in Air Itam, crowned by a seven-storey pagoda and a bronze Kuan Yin

Ambient sound · similar settingBuddhist temple bell tolling at Chōmei-ji

Photo: Geraldine Ng (@ger_aldinee) / Unsplash

Discover Kek Lok Si Temple

Kek Lok Si, Hokkien for Temple of Heavenly Bliss, climbs a hillside above Air Itam in a series of halls, terraces, gardens and shrines. Its best-known landmark is the seven-storey Ban Po Thar, or Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas, whose design layers Chinese, Thai and Burmese styles from base to crown.

Higher still, a towering bronze statue of Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy, stands beneath an ornate pavilion and looks out over George Town. The complex is an active place of worship with resident monks and nuns, but visitors of all faiths are welcome to wander its courtyards, ponds and viewpoints, especially in the weeks after Chinese New Year when thousands of lights transform the hill.

Don’t miss

01Ban Po Thar, the seven-storey Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas
02Bronze Kuan Yin statue of about 30 metres under a tiered pavilion
03Liberation Pond with turtles, plus fish ponds and gardens
04Inclined lifts linking the lower temple with the Kuan Yin terrace
05Views over Air Itam and George Town from the upper terraces

History & culture

The story of Kek Lok Si Temple

The temple was founded by the Venerable Beow Lean, an abbot from Fujian who had been chief monk at George Town's Goddess of Mercy Temple, with funding from Penang's Chinese community. Construction began in the 1890s and the first temple buildings were completed in the early 1900s; expansion has continued ever since.

The Ban Po Thar pagoda, about 30 metres high, was completed in 1930. King Rama VI of Siam laid its foundation stone, which is why it is also known as the Rama VI Pagoda. A 30.2-metre bronze statue of Kuan Yin was completed in 2002 to replace an earlier statue, and the multi-tiered pavilion that shelters it, supported by bronze columns, was completed in 2009.

Local life & traditions

Kek Lok Si blends Mahayana Buddhism with Taoist and Chinese folk practice, and for many Penang Chinese families it is the centre of New Year visits, merit-making and prayers for relatives. Devotees buy roof tiles inscribed with names to support construction, release turtles into the Liberation Pond and make offerings before the many altars, while vegetarian food served in the complex reflects Buddhist practice.

Things to do

Experience it like a local

Climb through the main halls to the pagoda and, if open, ascend it for views and a close look at its changing architectural styles. Take the inclined lift up to the Kuan Yin terrace, where the scale of the statue and pavilion is best appreciated, and return through the gardens and turtle pond.

If you visit in the month after Chinese New Year, stay until dusk to see the lanterns and lights switched on across the hillside. At other times, early mornings are calm and you may hear monks chanting.

When to go

The temple can be visited year-round. The most famous time is the period after Chinese New Year (usually late January or February), when the complex is illuminated each evening for about a month; expect large crowds and traffic then. For a quieter visit, come on a weekday morning, and in the hot, humid months bring water for the climb between terraces.

Plan your visit

Travel tips

Wear modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees; it is an active place of worship.
Buy a return ticket for the inclined lift so you do not end up exiting the wrong way on foot.
Be respectful with cameras during prayers and avoid photographing monks without asking.
The walk from Air Itam involves many steps through souvenir arcades; wear comfortable shoes.
Opening hours and lift fees change, so confirm them locally before you go, especially around festivals.

General guidance from our specialists, not official information.

Around Kek Lok Si Temple: food, markets & places to stay

Air Itam town at the foot of the hill has markets, coffee shops and stalls serving Penang dishes, and the area is well known for asam laksa. Penang Hill's Lower Station is only a few minutes away by road, so the two are easily combined in one day. Rapid Penang buses connect Air Itam with George Town, roughly half an hour away depending on traffic.

Kek Lok Si Temple & what’s nearby

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Viewpoint

Air Itam, Penang · 2.7 km away

Kek Lok Si Temple in pictures

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Sources & verification

This guide was researched from the sources below and reviewed by our team on 27 October 2026. Facts under “Verified information” link to the page they were checked on; travel tips are general guidance. Photos are credited on each image. The ambient recording’s author and licence are shown in the sound player.

Kek Lok Si — Wikipedia
Kek Lok Si Temple — Penang Travel Tips (Timothy Tye)
Kek Lok Si Temple — Malaysia Traveller

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