LION CITY HUB • NATIONAL EDUCATION & HERITAGE
Kusu Island: Faith and Folklore
Discover an island where Chinese and Malay sacred traditions meet stories of rescue at sea.
A Pilgrimage Island
Kusu Island lies south of mainland Singapore and is known for traditions linking the island with a life-saving tortoise. Its name means “Tortoise Island” in Chinese, while it is also known as Pulau Tembakul. The Tua Pek Kong temple, built in 1923, and three Malay keramat shrines make the island an important shared religious landscape.
During the ninth lunar month, pilgrims visit to give thanks and pray for health, peace and prosperity. Beaches, lagoons and coastal views add a quieter recreational side to the island.
The temple, dedicated to Tua Pek Kong and Guan Yin, remains the focus of the annual pilgrimage. On the hilltop, the keramat shrines are reached by 152 steps, and different versions of the tortoise legend share a theme of rescue and gratitude.
Did You Know?
Kusu means “Tortoise Island”, recalling legends in which a giant tortoise rescued sailors in danger at sea.
Pilgrims climb 152 steps to reach three keramat shrines dedicated to a pious man and members of his family.
What Makes Kusu Island Special
Tua Pek Kong Temple
Built in 1923, Kusu Island Tua Pek Kong Temple is dedicated to Tua Pek Kong and Guan Yin. It remains the focal point of the annual ninth-lunar-month pilgrimage and the island’s Chinese heritage.
Keramat Shrines
Three hilltop shrines reflect Malay sacred traditions and are visited by people praying for health, family and harmony.
Annual Pilgrimage
Thousands traditionally travel to Kusu during the ninth lunar month to make offerings and renew personal vows.
Tortoise Legends
Different versions of the island’s origin story share a theme of rescue, gratitude and friendship across communities.
Trail Routes
Route 1 Kusu Island
Explore Kusu Island’s temple, hilltop shrines and folklore through its different traditions of devotion.
Duration: 60–90 minutes on the island · Distance: 0.7–1.1 km, including return · Stops: 3
1. Da Bo Gong Temple
Built in 1923, Da Bo Gong Temple houses Da Bo Gong and Guan Yin. It is a focal point of the annual ninth-lunar-month pilgrimage, when devotees visit to pray for well-being and prosperity, sustaining an enduring religious tradition on this small offshore island.
2. Kusu Keramat
Three hilltop shrines commemorate Syed Abdul Rahman, his mother Nenek Ghalib and his sister Puteri Fatimah. Their presence alongside the Chinese temple reflects different traditions of devotion on Kusu Island, adding another layer to its identity as a place of pilgrimage.
3. Tortoise Story and Return Waterfront
Kusu means “Tortoise Island” in Mandarin and is also known as Pulau Tembakul. The tale of a tortoise rescuing shipwrecked sailors belongs to folklore. Tortoise sculptures connect this island legend with the setting of its documented pilgrimage traditions.
