On 12 October 2026, the MCG, with our expert guide, photographer Sean Liew, visited the historic Nan Tian Gong (Kau Ong Yah) Temple in Ampang New Village, to witness the Nine Emperor Gods festival. For nine days, this quiet sanctuary transforms into a vibrant, smoke-filled spectacle of Taoist devotion. Devotees dressed in white offer incense in atmospheric prayer halls, while massive dragon incense coils smolder outside. We saw the unique prayer items, such as the iconic, vibrant red and yellow tortoise buns (Mee Koo), baked exclusively for the festival, and the specially prepared charcoal offerings. Sean explained the significance of the blessed yellow talismans and sacred yellow threads that devotees receive when making a donation in the temple. 

After touring the historic temple, we were invited to step inside the dormitories to visit with generations of devotees who call the temple home for the entire nine-day festival. A tour of the bustling temple kitchen allowed us to see how massive communal feasts are prepared daily. The temple is flanked by a big carnival-style market packed with colourful stalls and a unique, sprawling spread of traditional, festive vegetarian street food. To round-off our visit, we indulged in a sampling of delicious vegetarian dishes.