Sam Poo Kong, also known as Gedung Batu Temple, is a Chinese temple site in Semarang, in the Indonesian province of Central Java. Its foundations were set when the Chinese Muslim admiral Zheng He arrived in the area via the Garang River, sometime between 1400 and 1416. After disembarking from his ships, Zheng found a cave in a rocky hillside and used it for prayer, establishing a small temple on the site. The temple later became an important site for both Chinese Indonesians and Javanese worshippers. Destroyed by a landslide in 1704, it was rebuilt and repeatedly renovated, notably in 1724, 1937, 1950, and 2002–2005. The complex contains five temples in a mixed Chinese and Javanese style and includes shrines dedicated to Zheng He and his crew. It is now shared by Indonesians of multiple religions, including Buddhists and Muslims, and hosts an annual carnival procession. This photograph of Sam Poo Kong was taken in 2014 and shows, from left to right, the main temple, the Kyai Juru Mudi Temple, and the Tho Tee Kong Temple.Photograph credit: Chris Woodrich
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