Tua Pek Kong Temple (Sibu)

Tua Pek Kong Temple is the oldest Chinese temple in Sibu, Sarawak, located on Jalan Temple near the Rajang River waterfront in central Sibu. Dedicated to Tua Pek Kong (Fu De Zheng Shen), it was originally established in the 1870s by early Chinese settlers and rebuilt after World War II. Notable for its ornate traditional architecture and prominent seven-storey pagoda added in 1987, it remains an important religious and cultural landmark for the local Chinese community.

Visitors can expect a traditional Chinese temple complex set on the Rajang River waterfront in central Sibu. The site includes the main prayer hall with ornate altars, incense offerings, dragon and deity sculptures, and a prominent seven-storey pagoda that offers views over the river and town. The grounds are compact and walkable, with decorated rooftops, courtyards, and illuminated structures in the evening. It is an active place of worship with a calm, respectful atmosphere.

Originally established in the 1870s by early Hokkien and Teochew Chinese settlers in Sibu, making it the oldest Chinese temple in the town. The original structure was destroyed during World War II bombing and subsequently rebuilt. The temple predates the large-scale Foochow settlement led by Wong Nai Siong in 1901. A seven-storey pagoda was added in 1987, becoming a distinctive landmark of the temple and Sibu waterfront.

Dedicated to Tua Pek Kong (Da Bo Gong / Fu De Zheng Shen), a deity revered in Chinese folk religion and Taoism as guardian of prosperity, well-being and safe passage. The temple serves as a central religious and community gathering place for Sibu's Chinese community, especially during Chinese New Year and other traditional festivals, and reflects the early Chinese migration history of the Rajang Basin.