Vihara Dharma Sasana is the largest Chinese Buddhist temple in Tanjung Pinang and the one most visitors end up at, partly because it sits close to the waterfront and partly because it is simply hard to miss — a building decorated with elaborate dragon sculptures, brightly painted pavilions, and incense braziers the size of small cars.
The temple serves the substantial Hokkien and Teochew communities that have lived in Tanjung Pinang since the 19th century. Inside, the main hall holds large Buddha statues and smaller shrines to local deities, thick with incense smoke on festival days. The temple is active in the mornings when worshippers come to pray, and relatively quiet in the afternoon. Shoes off at the door; modest dress is expected.