Built in 1852, Tin How Temple is the oldest surviving Taoist temple in Chinatown and one of the…read moreoldest operating Chinese temples in the United States. Everyone is welcome to enter, and we walked up three or four flights of stairs to find it. No photographs are allowed inside. As you enter, you'll see incense urns, or censers, ahead of you, out on the balcony, and around the room. I don't speak Chinese, but the lady at the counter spoke English and explained the customary donation and asked whether I would like to buy incense or have my fortune told using Kau Cim, traditional Chinese fortune-telling sticks. It was extremely reasonably priced--around $5 for the donation and incense, with an additional charge for the fortune telling. You receive a bundle of incense sticks and can light them one at a time. You face the altar and can bow once or three times. I didn't know the proper protocol, so I simply prayed and placed my lit incense stick upright in the incense urn. Tin How, or Tian Hou (Mazu), the Empress of Heaven, is traditionally associated with protecting seafarers and travelers, although I didn't know that when I visited. I prayed to God and let God handle the distribution of prayers as needed, while keeping reverence in my heart for the deities depicted in the statues around me. I also tried the Kau Cim fortune-telling sticks. It was surprisingly tricky to shake just one stick out without dumping the entire container. The patient lady warned me several times not to tip it too far and seemed quite relieved when I finally managed to get one stick out without all the others toppling onto the floor. The stick has a number on it, and she gives you the corresponding paper containing rather old-fashioned sayings that you interpret in relation to your question. Mine wasn't particularly good news in response to what I had asked, but that was okay. I wasn't there because I needed a fortune to tell me what to do. It was simply fun to respectfully participate in a tradition that was completely new to me. For me, that was part of what made Tin How Temple worth visiting. It wasn't just another historic building to look at. For a few dollars and a willingness to try something unfamiliar, I was able to participate, however briefly, in traditions that have been practiced in Chinese temples for generations.

They are finally OPEN back! The latest hour update per the call today is: open 9:30am - 2:00pm…read moreeveryday except Thursday. I miss the grandma temple attendant in the temple :) This temple is the oldest Chinese temple in California and it's very promising on your wishes.(For your strong wishes, like wishing your family health or kids' academic success, talk with the elder temple attendant to guide you on the right praying ceremony)

The business actually belongs to the Kong Chow Benevolent Association…read more Growing up in Chinatown, I learned a lot of things in my childhood years from my parents who owned a business in the neighborhood. My father was particularly active in this association as well as the related Bo On Tong. Besides the political groups, family associations, and provincial associations, new immigrants found their comfort zones in joining these and making friends and business contacts in starting their life in a foreign country; it was particularly challenging for those who did not speak a word of English. These men, as it was a very sexist culture in those days, found refuge with people who shared their political views, spoke their dialect of Chinese, or came from the same districts or villages. Kong Chow mainly serves immigrants from the greater Guangzhou (Canton) area and its neighboring districts (Toishan, Chung Shan, Jiang Men, and my dad's Sun Wui). This association has changed over the years with mainly only members living in Chinatown being here on a regular basis. There is a shrine on the upper floor the building, a memorial to members who passed over the years. To get a spot for a memorial, one must make a donation to the association. I learned of this after ordering a plaque for my late father a couple years ago. The association also has its own memorial park in Colma but I am not sure they are still offering plots and the site is pretty well filled now. During the Spring memorial holiday, flocks of family will come to the memorial park for picnics, either family only or along with the family associations. Remains to be seen how this will go this year on April 4th. This association also used to host annual banquets as a fundraising source as well as a community reunion for its members. Needless to say, it's been a while since the last event which used to be held at one of the few remaining banquet hall restaurants in Chinatown (see Far East Cafe and New Asia Restaurant - one is struggling to survive and the other is now a converted supermarket). Let's hope and pray that the pandemic is closer to its end than start and the community can restore its life like before. After all, if we lose our culture, who are we?

Love this place. Always take out of town guests here. They will be taken through a ceremony and…read morehave their fortune read afterward for a $5 donation. I don't speak any Cantonese, and the people who work here are not quite fluent in English and are a little shy at first. But once they warm up they are actually very welcoming and love to joke which is difficult with no common language. Oh, don't even think of taking pictures here. This temple is located above the post office on Stockton, on the top floor, with an elevator!

Integrated Taoist and Buddhist temple started in 1957. It enshrines Immortal Patriarch Lu Sun Yang…read moreas its patron deity. It was started ordained Taoist master of the Quan Zhen tradition and holds regular chanting ceremonies. Authentic sacred space.....like stepping into another spiritual realm and time. Amazing vegetarian food served after ceremonies.

...and it's 5 stars IF...and only IF...you speak Chinese. There is nobody there that speaks…read moreEnglish. I happened to go there because my family was once affiliated with it and I am studying Daoism. Unfortunately, although the love of Dao was passed on to me...the language was not. After speaking to the older man in my broken mandarin chinglish (which by the way, he speaks cantonese...so this was already a bit of a scene as you can see) he repeatedly told me...nobody speaks English. I found this odd though because when I called, they said there was one person that did and could help me learn more. I don't know. It's on the 2nd floor of the building (not the third...the third floor is a place for chinese opera singers to practice. And not the first floor either...although...the first floor is a friendly chinese restaurant "the potsticker"). The temple is open from 10-4pm. I found a website for it...not sure if its applicable: http://www.angelfire.com/anime5/ibisworld/linkgoals.html

I passed by this place bunches of times on my way to get dim sum or tea or something... it's right…read morenext to the Chinatown branch of the San Francisco Public Library. Part of what makes this place so spooky is the entrance is way up there, so you can't see in without nearly entering the place... And with a name like "Quong Ming Jade Emperor Palace" it seems right out of one of those 1980s horror movies where the villains are all spooky Chinese mystics. Because nothing scares white movie goers like Chinatown. Where did the demon-summoning box in Hellraiser come from? "Gizmo" from Gremlins? The cursed monkey's paw that grants wishes that damn the wisher? I think you see where I'm going with this. Well, you might be disappointed. The Jade Emperor is a Taoist figure, and as expected, this is a Taoist temple. Taoism is one of the most innocuous religions in existence... I wandered in here randomly one day and the worshippers/community members were very accomodating, especially since they mostly spoke Cantonese and I only speak English. The building is very pleasant; it has a nice smell and a beautiful look. For events: twice each lunar month (they may have a calendar there?) they have some veggie lunch available. I hear there is music performed and a small service. Yay culture tourism!

We chanced upon this one day, an ex teacher from my high school and I, while looking for…read moreinteresting things to add to a school reunion's itinerary of things to do in SF. It's small and cramped but is jam-packed with interesting things to see. The person on duty that day was really excited in helping us and showed us around. I was especially amazed by the room (shrine?) dedicated to one of the Tibetan (I think it was that) monks who was an ancestor of the guide. During the year there are celebrations and special events going on, so if you are interested, pick up the schedule on your way out.

I went by and saw the gates closed. I called multiple times and even texted the number but no…read moreresponse. It says that it's open for public but when I finally got the lady's attention from inside she was so rude. Looked at me like I was crazy and very unwelcome. I was just trying to learn about the culture/ religion but instead got sent away.

A confession: I have never been *inside* of the Ma Tsu Temple, and it's highly unlikely that I ever…read morewill (or can) go inside, not being a Taoist or of Asian ancestry. The temple is small inside, and I would be conspicuous, to say the least! In some ways, that's a shame, but then again -- some romantic notions are best maintained from the outside, lest they be displaced by a cheesy reality. But I am fascinated by the remnants of old Chinatown that have survived, and the Ma Tsu Temple is a very evocative example. A 3-storey brick building, it's the only thing of real interest in the alley, which makes its impact all the more striking. As you approach the Temple from Jackson or Pacific -- especially at night -- it is quite a dramatic sight, with about 40 spherical red lanterns hanging on the fire escape, glowing in the dark and gently swaying. The interior is a profusion of red and gold glitz with an altar and a number of small shrines. Ma Tsu (AKA Mazu) is an indigenous goddess figure worshiped in southeast Asian coastal areas -- especially the islands in the Straits of Taiwan. A goddess of the sea, she is believed to protect fishermen, sailors and those who travel by sea. Considering that all early Chinese emigrants to San Francisco reached these shores by sea, it's hardly surprising that some of them, grateful for a safe passage, would establish a temple in her honor here. If you find yourself in the neighborhood at night, take a walk over to Beckett Alley, stand near the Temple and let its dusty old Chinatown magic cast a spell over you.

This is a small temple on clay street in the heart of CT, located across from Portsmouth Square…read more Their sister temple is in Oakland Chinatown. The temple volunteers are very welcoming and will take the time to explain the history

My first visit to a temple. They were very nice. Upon entering the lady at the door greeted me, but…read moreexplained shortly she didn't speak English. I then said to her in Cantonese that this was my first visit to a temple. She then showed me the rest of the place. I knelt where there was a skate for prayer. I Said short prayer, praying for the new year, thanked them, and left.

We had continuous taoist praying sessions for my deceased father from around 8 am to 12 pm. The…read moretai-see were accommodating and helpful in guiding us through the needs our dad's funeral service with Skylawn. They will be praying during the service as well. So far so good.

Everyone here is so kind and every time I visit, they greet me with a smile. Going inside, the…read morearchitecture and treasures are beautiful, and they offer many Buddhist recordings and readings. Its's a very welcoming space, and I would recommend anyone else to come if they're interested in culture.

The problem is you think you have time---the Buddha…read more This is a beautiful Buddhist temple in the heart of the Mission. I lived over a year in an intentional Buddhist community with 30 folks along with a Tibetan Lama. There are different branches of Buddhism just as there are different styles of jazz music. The nuns here were very kind giving us a tour of the facility. One giant Buddha was here that was quite impressive. One of the Buddhist nuns was doing an interesting ritual carefully lighting heaps of candles. Lovely welcoming place. Be sure to have a look inside and except to be greeted by warm hospitality. The outside architecture is beautiful as well.