Chin Swee

Chin Swee Cave Temple is a popular tourist attraction located on a rocky slope before the peak of Genting Highlands. As typical of Chinese religious sites, the Chin Swee Temple employs frilly architecture with generous use of curving arches, meticulous sculpting, bright landscapes and opulent paintwork, but occassionally reeks of gaudy design. For example, a random procession of life-sized camel, elephant and horse statues greets visitors as they walk along the entrance pathway. Still, the temple is a fine structural display personifing many Chinese tradition and beliefs; complemented with the incredible landscape views, makes this destination worthwhile for sightseeing.

Chin Swee Temple was built by the founder of Genting Highlands, Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong, a year after he constructed the first resort and casino on the peak in 1975. Born in Fujian, China, Lim Goh Tong spotted a lush rocky outcrop that reminded of his village landscape back home. Inspired, he decided to build a temple here to venerate Buddhist figure Chin Swee. The temple's foundation was dug from solid bedrock using manual labour and tediously constructed over 18 years. Modern machinery was eschewed because of steep risky terrain, resulting in a lengthy build process.

In 1994, Chin Swee Temple was finally open to public, but additonal layers were added over ensuing years to create the sprawling complex visitors see today. Evolved heavily from its roots, the temple no longer pays sole homage to Chin Swee, but is a pastiche of Buddhism, Taoism, Shamanism, Confucianism and, as one writer pointed out - A host of other 'isms'.Various deities linked to those beliefs litter the compound in the form of stone statues, sculptures, shrines, altars and paintings. The main temple hall that houses the black-faced Chin Swee altar lies below the complex; the building extends from a mountain slope, which is why you'll notice the back walls are all solid rockface.

The most prominent structures are; a nine-storey pagoda lit by lamps; Sky Terrace, a massive square with an amazing view of rainforest valleys below and Kuala Lumpur; 'Ten Chambers of Hell', a sloping hilltop walk past story-telling statues built into small cave recesses; and a giant 15-meter high Buddha statue. Lim Goh Tong Hall provides temple accommodation for visitors while a vegetarian restaurant serves meals. Genting Skyway has a cable car station in Chin Swee at MYR3 per trip from Gohtong Jaya, but most visitors will drive directly to the temple as it lies along the main road 2km before the peak.