Compared to other states, Johor is quite overlooked as a tourist destination. It is truly a shame, as the state has beautiful beaches as well as interesting places to visit. One of these quirky places has to be the Fortune Dragon, located in the town of Yong Peng.
Enter the Fortune Dragon
Image Credit: Chee Seng Wong on Google Review
The Fortune Dragon Statue is a relatively new attraction, having been completed in 2016. It was a costly endeavour, with construction costs estimated at around RM8 million. Still, it is an impressive sight, being the world’s longest dragon tunnel at nearly 107 metres.
But why is it here anyway? The dragon and the land which it occupies belong to a local association dedicated to improving society’s morals. Perhaps, the society thought that building a dragon tunnel would contribute to this lofty goal.
Sacred creatures
Image Credit: Jeckchew Kee on Google Review (Left), Jennifer Lai on Google Review (Right)
To be fair, in Chinese culture, dragons are considered to be sacred creatures. Featuring heavily in many Chinese myths, they are often associated with prosperity. The Fortune Dragon, likewise, has an impressive appearance, with its bright blue, orange and green colours.
On that note, the Fortune Dragon is not the sole structure of its kind in the country. Perak’s Tua Pek Kong Temple has a similar one, but Yong Peng’s Fortune Dragon has sole claim to the title of the longest of its kind.
Here’s one more piece of trivia: the Fortune Dragon’s body is coated with over 3,000 tiles. Visitors can enter the tunnel inside the Fortune Dragon via the entrance at its mouth. 36 teeth line the dragon’s maw, making it a good spot for creative photography.
Heading in
Image Credit: Paul Lim on Google Review
With how hot the weather is these days, it is a relief to know that the tunnel itself is air-conditioned. Still, be prepared to walk for a bit as there are over 100 steps for you to navigate through the tunnel. That said, photography is actually not permitted inside.
Divided into two halves, the first half of the tunnel has its walls lined with 24 paintings depicting scenes from Chinese folktales. These paintings also have captions in Chinese, English and Malay. That said, photography is actually not permitted inside.
Most of these paintings tell stories relating to filial piety, with children going to great lengths to care for their parents. For example, one story tells of how a boy lured mosquitoes away from his father to ensure he would sleep well. Parents with kids, take note!
A hellish place
Image Credit: Mura 1967 on Google Review (Left), Lee Kokliang on Google Review (Right)
The second half of the tunnel takes a somewhat darker turn, with 18 paintings depicting the afterlife. Sinners are depicted as suffering painfully for their misdeeds. Though it is not explicitly required, parental guidance and supervision would probably be recommended here.
You will eventually reach the end of the tunnel, which is interestingly placed close to the dragon’s tail end. Completing the full journey through the dragon is said to bring good luck and protect one from evil.
Gorgeous gardens
Image Credit: Jennifer Lai on Google Review (Left), Lee Joonmin on Google Review (Right)
Regardless of whether you believe that, you can spend the next few minutes strolling around the gardens adjacent to the Fortune Dragon. It is beautifully landscaped, with a temple, gazebos and a koi pond to admire.
Also, placed around the garden are statues of Chinese gods and mythical figures. Quite a few of these have donation boxes next to them, encouraging visitors to leave a token of appreciation for good luck.
Worth your time?
Fully exploring the length of the Fortune Dragon takes about 30 minutes. The gardens outside are also likely to draw your attention for a while, so expect a visit here to last an hour or two. Given the quirkiness of the place, the Fortune Dragon is almost always worth a visit.
Fortune Dragon Yong Peng
Address: Lot HS 2677, Pt 2446, Jalan Kota Impian 1, 83700 Yong Peng, Johor Darul Ta’zim
Opening Hours: 8.30 am – 10 pm daily
Contact: 07-4679800
You should also check out: Ditch your friend and go make BFFs with turtles and sharks at this secret private island in Johor
Feature Image Credit: Chee Seng Wong on Google Review (Left), Bea Bianca on Google Review (Right)
