Gun Yan Temple

The Gun Yan Temple is located in the ancient small Village of Mongh Ha, which existed at the time of the arrival of the Portuguese.

As most of the temples in Macau, started by building a small altar or the attribution to supernatural powers to a rock or tree, and had grown until become a shrine. In 1573 was established a Buddhist monastery.

The main temple is from 1627. In the spatial organization was followed the traditional formula of courtyards and pavilions, profoundly ornamented with ceramics and decorated with colorful paintings and Chinese characters related with the Buddhist mythology and local tales.

Three rows of pavilions and courtyards are separated by narrow corridors and gates that create a inner maze circuit of streets. The side gable walls are made of dark brick. These pavilion walls hold to each other by timber round logs that make the vertical support for the tiles roof.

The monastery is above the street level and walled. The entrance is through a main gate that brings us to large open hall paved in granite, where a huge bronze incense burner and two gracious trees mingle together their branches, a occasion that is a occasion for other Macau legend of two lovers…

A garden at the back, in the hill slope had create a peaceful environment.

Nearby is the gracious Lin Fong Temple (Lotus) Temple built circa 1592 was expanded in 1723, named to the flower in the water pound existing in this area.

Was the “council” place for Chinese merchants, as well as a residence for visiting Chinese officials. This building was often use as the “council” place for the administration to the Chinese area of the peninsula as well for discussion of maters related with foreigners.

Its most famous visiting officer was commissar (Lin Zexu). The complex, rebuilt in 1801 was renovated in 1876. Now is holding in its premises a school and a small museum. Commissar Ling statue is the imposing presence on this area.