This Cantonese temple in the Providence district is the oldest Chinese Temple in Phnom Penh and built in the second half of the 18th century. The inscription says: “Mountain of the Jade Palace”. After the Khmer Rouge era people returned to Phnom Penh and took any roof which could provide shelter and any kind of accommodation and also this temple has been used as residence area. Until nowadays the temple has not its original function, but still private makeshifts (apartments) built with bricks, wood and plywood are developing under the ancient roof. That is a unique characteristic in Phnom Penh, that most buildings have not acquired the original function after 1979. Jean-Michel Filippi describes it as “The sacred and the profane” in his book “Strolling around Phnom Penh”.
Cantonese temple
