Ancestral hall and cultural heritage site Chan She Shu Yuen (CSSY) yesterday launched its AI-Guided Tour System in conjunction with its 130 years anniversary this year.
Founded in 1896, CSSY Clan Association Kuala Lumpur & Selangor is a cultural landmark that has stood in the heart of Kuala Lumpur for over a century. Located on Petaling Street, this building is more than just a place of ancestral remembrance. It is a living testament to the rich heritage, resilience and contributions of the early Chinese community in shaping Kuala Lumpur into a vibrant city today.
Chen is one of the most common Chinese surnames in the world, with variations of Chan (Cantonese), Tan (Hokkien and Hainan), Tang (Teochew), Chin (Hakka) and Ting or Ding (Hockchew).
The historical building, founded by Chan Sow Lin and three others from the Chan clan, incorporates the essence of Lingnan (Cantonese) architecture and is modelled after CSSY (Chan Clan Temple) in Guangzhou, China.
Where heritage meets innovation: AI-guided tour system
CSSY’s AI-Guided Tour System consists of 30 languages for visitors from all over the world, from English, Mandarin, Malay, Tamil, to Arabic, German, Spanish, French and more.
Visitors just need to use their smartphones and scan a QR code, which will open in a browser and take them through a tour.
The tool features Standard and Child options for both adults and children alike. Visitors can choose to listen or read about CSSY on their smartphones during the tour, and choose either a brief or detailed version of information available to them.
There is also an interactive Scavenger Hunt, allowing visitors to find treasures in CSSY by snapping photos and collecting stamps.
CSSY cultural and history affairs director Tan Hui Sean said the AI-Guided Tour System will be free for visitors now, before implementing a fee of RM10 two months later. The entrance fee for CSSY stands at RM5. Free Wi-Fi is also available at CSSY.
She said CSSY receives about 60–200 visitors a day and expects the AI-Guided Tour System to boost its visitors to 300–500 a day. Funds from the entrance fees will be channeled towards repair and restoration works.
“We have students from primary schools, secondary schools and tertiary institutions visiting CSSY. This place is also an education platform for them to learn more about culture and history of the Chinese community,” she told theSun.
Malaysia’s first AI tour system for ancestral hall
CSSY president Datuk Tang Zhi Nian hopes that by using technology as a bridge, culture will no longer remain a static display, but instead become something that can “speak”, “interact” and be personally experienced by everyone.
This initiative of preserving cultural roots, while stepping into a new phase of empowering culture through technology, is especially meaningful with Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
“As visitor numbers continue to grow, we recognise that traditional guided tour methods are no longer sufficient to meet demand. We hope this AI-guided tour system will not only accommodate more local and international visitors, but also allow them to experience the beauty of culture, hear the voice of history and take away a meaningful cultural memory from this century-old building.”
He said 130 years is not merely the passage of time, but a testament to generations of dedication in preserving and upholding cultural heritage.
“Over the years, CSSY has evolved beyond being just an ancestral temple and become an important platform for promoting culture and education. In today’s rapidly evolving era, we are no longer only asking ‘how to preserve culture’, but more importantly how to make culture visible, audible and understandable, so that it can continue to create value in a diverse society. If culture is only preserved, it risks being frozen in time – only through experience and sharing can it truly endure.
“With the launch of the 130th anniversary celebrations, we will also be rolling out a series of cultural and educational activities, inviting more people to visit, understand and appreciate the ancestral hall. Let our century-old heritage not remain confined to history, but live in the present and move into the future,” said Tang.