Sam Poo Kong Temple, Semarang
The Sam Poo Kong temple means “The Magic Cave”. This temple is located on Jl. Simongan Number 129, Semarang. This temple is a legacy of an admiral from China, Cheng Ho or Zheng He, who had lived in Semarang area. This temple is the pride of the people of Semarang City. This temple is a destination for tourists because of its distinctive Chinese architecture. When visiting this Klenteng (temple) Area, you will be presented with the history of Admiral Cheng Ho who sailed all the way to Semarang.
Apart from offering educational tours, Sam Poo Kong Temple also provides a place for tourists who want to capture their moments while visiting this area. During Chinese New Year, the Sam Poo Kong Temple is crowded with visitors who want to pray or who want to have a Chinese New Year tour by seeing various performances such as lion dance, barongan, jathilan, drumblek, reog, culinary bazaar, and also live music.
Dewi Kwan Im Temple, Belitung Island
Bangka Island is one of the popular tourist destinations for vacation. Not only for vacation, Belitung Island is also one of the destinations to celebrate the Chinese New Year because many residents of Chinese descent. The center of the Chinese New Year celebration on Belitung Island is at Vihara Dewi Kwan Im, the oldest monastery on the island which is located in Jelitik Village. Inside the Dewi Kwan Im Temple, there are bathing pools and springs.
The local people believe, if they want to stay young, they need to take a shower or at least wet their faces, hands and feet with water from this source. You can enjoy the Chinese New Year solemnly while looking at the natural beauty tours of this monastery.
Selat Panjang, Riau
Selat Panjang is located in Meranti Regency, Riau Islands. In Selat Panjang, you will feel like you are in a Chinese country because the residents are mostly Chinese. Just before the Chinese New Year celebrations, red will be your days color in Selat Panjang because the buildings and streets will be filled with interesting Chinese decorations. In addition, there is a unique tradition here, namely the tradition of water wars. The tradition of water warfare or commonly known as Cian Cui takes place with residents walking around using motorized pedicabs carrying buckets and toys in the shape of plastic guns filled with water.
This festival has been used as a Chinese New Year tourism event since 2013, where residents and tourists from all ethnicities in Meranti Regency celebrate the arrival of the new year.
Kemaro Island Temple, Palembang
The Kemaro Island Temple is always the center of the crowd by the public and tourists during the Chinese New Year. Tourists and the public can see this temple complete with various kinds of unique Chinese knick-knacks.
Chinese people often come to this temple to pray for a match. Yes, the prayer was specifically about a mate because people believed in the legendary love story on Kemaro Island, namely the folk tale of Tan Bun An, a merchant from China and Siti Fatimah, the king’s daughter. Inside this temple, a grave is even made to commemorate the symbol of love from Tan Bun An and Siti Fatimah.
–sh
