Part of my work gets me to interesting places, one of them happens to be an Abandoned Chinese Temple in the outskirts of a town I live in. To be honest, i didn't even know this place existed until i happen on it.
You bet I took lots of photos of it.
We reached there using a four wheel drive for an unrelated work project. The site has a clearing as seen in the picture that's suitable for what we are doing. It just so happens that a TOTALLY RAD temple stood beside it.
The entrance looks impressive. My Mandarin is rudimentary but the main title seems to translate to "Gathering Halls of The Heavens". Anyone with better Mandarin please comment below if im wrong or if you know the meaning of the other words.
The walls are clearly not finished built but the inner courts looked impressive. Dragons stood guard on the courtyard with the altar behind them.
DRAGON HEAD AND FIREBALL IN MOUTH!
There seems to be some native people squatters in the area, it's also why i was not edge. I went to ask them about this place and according to them, this place has been abandoned for at least 5 years. Although occasionally some people do come and clean the altars and perform religious ceremonies during certain festivals. They also hinted that they are paid somewhat by the worshipers at least watch over the place. Who knows what will happen to this place if there isn't anyone staying here. (I was worrying about it being a possible drug den or worst)
There is a second floor, so it gives me a top-down view of the place.. The dragons are really long now that i noticed, wow..
After taking the pictures upstairs, i went back down to take pictures of the GOOD STUFF.
The altar is impressive! there's so many statues. I think i even recognized some of them from childhood stories. Just wow!
I think some these statues are avatars of Gods (Duh). I think i recognize one as the God of Wealth and another God of Justice (one nearest to camera, i think..) there are also life sized human statues behind these small ones.
I guess these are the Big Leagues? haha.. I know the one sitting 2nd furthest is the "Grand Master of all Deity" in the Chinese Pantheon. So i guess they are all equally powerful Gods and Goddesses in their own rights. The main ones being worshiped. I noticed the offerings are really fresh. Notice the stacked Chinese cakes in the middle of the table. Even the plants are well maintained.
Taken from the other side. The nearest says "Grand Madam of all Deity". Mister Master's wife i guess?
This was the staircase going upstairs seen in pic above. It was scary going up these stairs, who knows if they'll crack anytime.
Beside the table there is these incense altar, the ashes looked quite new so there really are worshipers recently?
beside the altars, there's a huge incense thats looks like it's recently burnt and extinguished.. behind it, is that a...
basement!
it was nice looking around the place, although, being an abandoned place, OSHA is really an issue, especially as i was at an operation in work. Being alert to everything from structural integrity to possible bats in the basement, and being careful not to touch anything. always do HIRAC at work guys. even when not wearing coveralls and hardhats.
All pictures taken by myself using a Oneplus X.
I dont have a Stemmit logo with me at the time, which is so sad. I'll look around for a sort decorative Steemit logo to be worn on me perhaps.
Amazing pictures. Follow!
Looks like a pretty cool place to explore, thanks for sharing this!
Indeed it was! And it's my pleasure!
Hi, I'm from Miri too, may I know which part of miri is this ? I'm a Buddhist myself but I've never been to this temple
Hi there, where is this actually located away from Miri? I never heard of this place. Mind to share the location?
hi there, i am mirian too. but never know got such place. Would you mind to provide me the location of it? Thanks!