Travel & Living

If you wish to view and experience a magnificent and charming temple, no need to go abroad. Just come to Tuban, East Java where the Kwan Sing Bio Temple resides. The Kwan Sing Bio Temple was built in 1928 and covers an area of 4 hectares. It is the largest Buddhist temple in Southeast Asia.

Various events are often held at the Shrine of Kwan Sing, such as Kwan Ping Hut thay Tjoe (Lunar Go Gwee 13), the birthday of Kwan Sing Tee Koen (Lunar Lak
Gwee 24, and Boo-Tho/Tjio-Ko (Lunar Jit Gwee 22).

Many other attractions are also frequently held, such as the lion dance performances.There are many interesting aspects regarding the Kwan Sing Bio Temple. One interesting aspect is that it is the only temple in Indonesia that overlooks the view of the sea. The location inside the temple that overlooks the sea is believed to be the best place of worship to pray. With that said, anyone who requests to see the temple will be granted to do so.

Another interesting aspect is that the Kwan Sing Bio Temple is the only temple in Indonesia that uses crabs as a symbol at its entrance. This is a unique difference because temples in Indonesia usually use a dragon, which symbolizes strength and power, as a symbol at all its entrances. Tuban is located 90 kilometers west of the East Java capital of Surabaya and it is relatively easy to find the temple, since it is located on the main road. Semarang
and Surabaya main roads cross paths with almost all-urban transportation.

According to a recent article from the website, www.kelenteng.com, on Monday the 9th of January 2012, the number of tourists who visited the region, were not only from Indonesia, but also from Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore. The purpose of their arrivals were all different. Some came to worship, some came to ask for health and luck, and some just simply want to check out the scenery and the temple’s surroundings. For those of you who want to spend the night in or around the temple, there is no need to worry. The temple provides a place for visitors to sleep for free and is able to accommodate thousands of visitors, meaning there will always be a vacancy. With this being the biggest temple in Southeast Asia, you also do not need to worry about food because the temple also provides free meals for visitors. Doesn’t it sound intriguing?

Just like all the other temples in the world, there is an annual celebration for the Chinese New Year at the Shrine of the Kwan Sing Bio temple. Such entertainment include the Lion dance, puppet Tionghoa, Kung Fu stunts, and fireworks. You can watch it all for free. Don’t miss it!