Tua Pek Kong Temple

Tua Pek Kong Temple is the oldest Chinese temple in Miri, established in 1913 during the early oil boom years. It sits beside the Miri River, adjacent to the fish market, in one of the city's oldest districts. The temple is dedicated to Tua Pek Kong, a deity associated with prosperity and good fortune — fitting for a town that was about to become wealthy on petroleum.

The temple underwent major renovation in 1977 and received an elaborate ceremonial arch (paifang) in 2017 at a cost of RM500,000. The complex is active throughout the year, but most alive during Chinese New Year and the mid-autumn festival, when lanterns fill the courtyard and incense smoke drifts across the waterfront. Even outside festival times, the combination of the old riverside setting, the ornate gateway, and the smell of joss sticks makes it one of the most atmospheric corners of the city.

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A story
The temple was built in 1913 after an epidemic swept through the oil-boom town. When a Taoist monk's ritual appeared to end the outbreak, the Chinese community erected this temple in gratitude. It survived Japanese bombing in World War II and stands today as the oldest temple in Miri.