The Taoist temple of Lin Fon was built in Macau at the end of the 16th century, more precisely in 1592, near the border gate of Portas de Serco. This temple was erected in honour of Kun Yiam, the goddess of mercy, whose statue adorns the main altar of the temple.
The structure is a complex of eight antechambers. Each of these rooms is dedicated to a particular mythological character, a certain moral quality or a saint. The temple was named after the hill where it was erected.
With the advent of the Qing dynasty, which ruled from the 17th to the 20th century, the temple was used by mandarins, Chinese officials, as a hotel. It was not until the late twentieth century that the Lin Fong Temple was seriously restored. After that, it became a beautiful landmark of the city of Macau.
Macau is a major seaport, so one of the buildings of the temple has a statue of the Chinese goddess of the sea, Tin Hau. In the centre of the complex is an area bordered by a curb with relief sculptures of dragons - a courtyard with a garden. In the garden, in the shade of old trees you can admire a small pond with lotuses, whose blossoms fill the air with truly magical aromas. The front of the temple is decorated with clay bas-reliefs from Chinese mythology and history.
The temple complex also includes a memorial to Zexu Lin, a 19th century Chinese national hero. Lin Zexu, as an official, stayed often at the temple for overnight stays. Once here he proposed a law prohibiting the openly traded opium. For this, a monument was erected in his honour.
The peace and harmony prevailing here gives visitors a soulful grace.
