Established as the clan association for the Chinese surnamed Lee, the Lee Sih Chong Soo serves as both an ancestral temple and a community hub. The association was founded to assist Lee clan immigrants in settling into Penang, finding employment, and maintaining their cultural roots. The current building at 39 King Street was modified in 1926 to better serve as a clan temple. It is culturally significant for its connection to the renowned Ming Dynasty scholar Li Shizhen, the author of the Compendium of Materia Medica (Ben Cao Gang Mu). During cultural celebrations like the Penang Chinese New Year (Miaohui), the temple often hosts educational exhibits about traditional Chinese medicine to honor this lineage.