Photo Gallery

King & Gereja Streets (early 19th century onward)

Lebuh King and Gereja Streets have a fascinating blend of colonial temple architecture. Following the rowhouse typology typical of the city, the district association temples and guild houses along this street are all interconnected.

If one walks from the clocktower to the intersection of Lebuh Gereja and Lebuh Pantai and walks westward along Leguh Gereja, the historically significant Chung Keng Kooi can be glimpsed (image 3). Cheng Keng Koii was the leader of a 19th century Hakka-dominated secret society called the Hai San. The society fought two wars in Perak known as the Larut wars. Afterward they were able to defeat their rival society, the Ghee Hin Triad. Chung Keng Kooi built the townhouse (image 2) as well as the temple here in the 1890s.

If you turn the corner onto Lebuh King and walk southwards you can find the Ho Seng secret society base (images 4-5). Next to it is a broad building called Poe Choo Seah (image 6) which was a guild for members of the surname Chin.