Chinatown Architecture

Before we leave this Victoria Chinatown series, here's a couple more of the unusual and distinctive buildings in the area. Above, though it lacks the pagoda style roof trim, the third floor balconies seem to be characteristic of other Chinese buildings nearby. See, for instance, the two narrow buildings below, The First Chinese Empire Association (on the left) graced with two balconies. The Yen Wo building on the right actually has a balcony on the top floor that is walled in. The Lee's Benevolent Association building featured here a few weeks ago has a similar top floor balcony over looking the street.

Tam Kung

Victoria's Chinatown is very small but contains numerous hidden gems. One of these is the Chinese Temple located at 1713½ Government Street on the top floor of the Yen Wo Society Building. This is the oldest Chinese Temple in Canada and is dedicated to the god, Tam Kung, whose statue is pictured above. The moment I entered the red door on the ground floor I realized I was entering another culture. Three flights of stairs rose before me, not zig-zagging back and forth from floor to floor but in a steep straight ascent. The temple is on the top floor and is well worth a visit if only to smell the joss and listen to the voices of the past.Tam Kung is the patron deity of seafarers and there is another temple to Tam Kung in Hong Kong. You can find out more about Tam Kung and these temples by clicking HERE.