Pien Hou Temple

I absolutely love this temple. I’ve been coming here since I was a young child.
Back in the day, they had a Chinese school, which I attended for a few years, until they shut down. Many Asians used to come here when old Chinatown was poppin’, but as Chinatown in Bellaire flourished, most Asians left for the bigger temples.
On ordinary days, you won’t find crowds here. I recently visited in July, and it was literally me, my mom, the temple keeper, and the groundskeeper for about two hours. During festivals and holidays, it does get crowded, but it’s not terrible. It can get annoying from the incense smoke and screaming children though.
The temples themselves haven’t changed drastically. The deities and layout are the same from my childhood. The standing structure at the temple gate is relatively new. They recently gated the small pond. The old basketball court often serves as an extension of festival activities. Also the old playground was taken out and cemented into a garden area.
This temple is not spectacular but is great if you’re looking for something quiet, peaceful, and soothing.

Serene, and quiet. Felt fully refreshed after the visit.

Happy Lunar New Year!!!

I absolutely adore this temple. I might be biased since I grew up visiting this one, but I think it’s absolutely beautiful. Temple visits always make me feel at peace, even if it’s just a quick stop to light some incense and listen to the bells jingling on a windy day.
It’s a nice little place to check out day to day. However, during festival time this place gets very packed and the incense smoke lingering in the air can make your eyes burn. I prefer not to go during peak festival times.