Kek Lok Si Temple 极乐寺

Place	Kek Lok Si Temple 极乐寺 (Temple of Supreme Bliss)
City	Air Itam, Penang
Country	Malaysia
Introduction	The Kek Lok Si Temple (Penang Hokkien for "Temple of Supreme Bliss"; Simplified Chinese: 极乐寺; Traditional Chinese: 極樂寺) is a Buddhist temple situated in Air Itam in Penang and is one of the best known temples on the island. The construction of the temple began in 1893 and was inspired by the chief monk of the Goddess of Mercy Temple at Pitt Street. With the support of the consular representative of China in Penang, the project received the sanction of the Manchu Emperor Guangxu, who bestowed a tablet and gift of 70,000 volumes of the Imperial Edition of the Buddhist Sutras. The primary benefector of the the Kek Lok Si Temple in 1906 was none other than Kapitan Chung Keng Quee. In 1930, the seven storey main pagoda of the temple or the Pagoda of 10,000 Buddhas, was completed. This pagoda combines a Chinese octagonal base with a middle tier of Thai design, and a Burmese crown; reflecting the temple's embrace of both Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism. In 2002, a 30.2m bronze statue of the Kuan Yin was completed and opened to public. The statue is located on the hillside above the pagoda. 极乐寺（Kek Lok Si）位于亚依淡（AirHitam），面积12万平方米，乃是东南亚最大的佛寺组合了中国、泰国和缅甸三种不同的建筑风格。寺内五彩缤纷的建筑鳞次栉比，无论是当地华人还是游客都乐于前往。1890年初建，花了20年才完成。其后又有扩建，现在仍在不断改建。 院额有“海天佛池”题词，石壁刻有许多题咏，一处花坞莲池中央大石块上刻着“勿忘故国”4字，系1900年6月康有为手笔。藏经楼里有万部经书。后院有高30米、共有7 层的万佛宝塔，塔的设计十分奇妙，塔身素白，塔顶为缅甸式，中层为泰国式，而底部为中国式，外形和白蛇传中的雷峰塔相似，塔内每层都摆有大理石制的佛像及全身金箔的佛像，四大金刚和弥勒佛相当引入注目，坐、立、卧姿态各异。登上塔顶远眺市区全景及附近椰林，令人心旷神怡。 地址:由乔治城巴士总站乘坐1路或91路巴士至终点站亚依淡，下车即到。
Reference	Wikipedia 亚洲旅游网