Johor Bahru Old Chinese temple, Chinese temple in Jalan Trus, Malaysia

Johor Bahru Old Chinese Temple stands on Jalan Trus, flanked by modern skyscrapers. The temple enshrines five deities, each worshipped by a different Chinese dialect group: Yuan Tian Shang Di by the Teochews, Hong Xian Da Di by the Hokkiens, Gan Tian Da Di by the Hakkas, Hua Guang Da Di by the Cantonese, and Zhao Da Yuan Shuai by the Hainanese. Inside, a century-old bronze bell and a plaque dated 1870 are kept.

The temple was founded between 1870 and 1880 by Tan Hiok Nee, head of the Ngee Heng Company, with land and encouragement from Sultan Abu Bakar. Its earliest relics, a 1870 plaque inscribed "总握天枢" and a bronze bell, date its establishment. A restoration costing RM1.5 million was completed in December 1995, preserving the century-old bell, incense burner and wooden tablet.

The temple brings together five Chinese ethnic groups—Teochew, Hokkien, Cantonese, Hakka, and Hainanese—each worshipping their own deities within the same building. Visitors can observe how different communities share this space and maintain their separate practices side by side.

The temple stands on Jalan Trus in downtown Johor Bahru, ringed by tall skyscrapers. The annual Chingay procession, held over the first lunar month, brings the five deities out along the city's main roads and draws crowds from across Johor and Singapore, so expect heavy traffic and closed streets on those days.

Each year during the first lunar month, a Chingay parade takes place with deity processions stretching across four days. The celebration draws thousands of participants and stands as one of the city's biggest festive events.