Puu Jih Shih Temple

Puu Jih Shih Temple is a Buddhist temple situated on a hilltop at Tanah Merah, about 4 kilometres west of Sandakan town centre in Sabah, Malaysia. Completed in 1987, it is the largest Chinese temple in Sandakan and overlooks Sandakan Bay. The temple features traditional Chinese Buddhist architecture, ornate halls, dragon motifs and landscaped gardens, and is known for its panoramic views and tranquil setting.

Visitors can expect a hilltop Buddhist temple complex with multiple ornate halls, brightly decorated roofs, dragon sculptures, Buddha statues and landscaped gardens. The site is elevated above Sandakan Bay offering panoramic views of the town and sea. Areas to explore include the main prayer hall, outer courtyards, viewing terraces and garden paths. The environment is generally quiet and used for worship and sightseeing.

Construction of Puu Jih Shih Temple began in the early 1980s and was completed in 1987, funded and supported by the local Chinese Buddhist community in Sandakan. It was built to serve as a major Buddhist place of worship for the area and has since become a prominent religious landmark in Sandakan District.

The temple is an important Buddhist religious site for the Chinese community in Sandakan and Sabah. It serves as a place of worship, festivals and community gatherings, reflecting Chinese Buddhist traditions, architecture and cultural practices in the region.