Klenteng Ban Hin Kiong is the oldest and largest Chinese Buddhist temple in Manado, a multilevel complex in the old Chinatown district near the waterfront. Founded in 1819, it serves the Hokkien Chinese community that has been in Manado since the eighteenth century and remains an active place of worship.
The temple is an ornate contrast to the Christian churches that dominate most of Manado's architecture. Dragon carvings, red lanterns, incense smoke, and the sounds of prayer give it an atmosphere unlike anything else in the city. The surrounding streets of the old Chinatown quarter have a cluster of Chinese-influenced shophouses, restaurants, and smaller shrines. It takes about 30 minutes to walk through the area and the temple itself.